How to grow rosemary at home

Rosemary is a perennial herb that is used for cooking purposes. It has also been used by ancient people to treat a variety of diseases like depression, stomachache, headache, and physical and mental fatigue. It is native to the Mediterranean region and can grow 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings. Seeds take a long time to germinate and seedlings grow a bit slow. Here is how to grow rosemary in your home.

Growing rosemary from seeds.

Take a seed tray and fill it with a seed-starting mix. The germination rate of rosemary seeds is low, so sow 3 to 4 seeds in each cell. After sowing the seeds mist them using a spray bottle. Then cover the seeds with a layer of soil and mist the soil. Now cover it with a plastic sheet and keep the seed tray in a bright location that receives sunlight. The optimum temperature for germination should be between 21°C to 27 °C (70°F to 81°F). Germination takes place after 25 days. Now place the seed tray on a tray that contains a small layer of water. Water will seep through the drainage holes of the container. Keep the seed tray in direct sunlight. After the seedlings have grown at least 6 inches tall you can transplant them to containers or your garden. If you are growing them in containers you will need a container that is 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. For the potting mix add 40 % compost 30 % aged manure and 30 % sand. Rosemary needs well-drained soil to grow well. If you are growing rosemary in a garden make sure to choose a sunny location and amend the soil so that it has good drainage. To amend the soil, till it and add aged manure, compost and sand. If you are growing more than one rosemary in your garden, then make sure there is at least 18 inches of space between each rosemary plant. Rosemary is drought tolerant so water when the soil is dry. It needs 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to grow well. 

Growing rosemary from graft.

Cut a healthy stem from a mature rosemary plant. Make sure the stem is a few inches long. You can take 3 to 4 stems. Take a glass cup and fill it with water for an inch and place the stems in it. Keep the glass jar away from direct sunlight. Make sure to change the water once in 2 days. After 3 weeks roots will start to develop. After some roots have developed you can transplant it to your garden or a container.

Caring for your plant

Rosemary can get affected by pests like whiteflies, aphids or spider mites. You can use neem oil or diatomaceous earth to get rid of these pests. High humidity and poor air circulation can cause powdery mildew in your rosemary plant. To prevent such infection make sure there is proper air circulation between your plants.