Rosemary

Rosemary is a versatile herb, providing evergreen interest all year round, fragrant leaves for use in cooking, and nectar-rich flowers for bees in spring. Grow rosemary along a path, either in a well-draining pot or plant-ed in the soil once it matures, so every time you brush past, the leaves release their aromatic oils.

Overall, rosemary requires little maintenance during the year except cutting back after flowering to prevent plants becoming straggly and woody. Save the trimmings to propagate new plants or dry them for cooking.

Light and Water

Rosemary grows best in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. It can struggle in heavy clay soils, par-ticularly in winter, when the ground tends to be wetter. Although frost resistance, the combination of the cold and waterlogged soil can kill immature rosemary plants. We suggest you move them inside during the winter. As they prefer to be on the drier side a terracotta pot will suit it well as they allow the soil to dry out faster.

We also suggest you grow rosemary in well-drained soil in full sun. Young plants can suffer if their roots are sitting in wet soil in winter, so it’s a good idea to grow rosemary in a container for a couple of years before planting into the garden. Cut back annually (after blooming) to prevent the plant from becoming too woody. These cutting can then be dried out for cooking or propagated.

Water when the soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly and allow it to drain and dry completely before wa-tering again.