When is the best time to plant rosemary?

Rosemary is one of our common herbs. It emits a fragrant smell during the growing season. It is a natural spice plant. The whole body can be used in cooking. It can remove fishy smell, embellish dishes, and add fragrance and flavor. So when is it suitable to plant rosemary? Let’s take a look below.

1. When is the best time to plant rosemary?

Rosemary is mostly planted in spring. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water to germinate, absorb the moisture and put them in a wet paper towel. Cover it with plastic wrap, it will generally turn white in 2-3 days, then prepare peat soil and vermiculite to make potting soil. Place the seeds on the soil surface without covering them and spray them with water to wait for them to take root. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm, they need to be transplanted.

2. Rosemary planting methods and techniques

1. Choose the right soil

Rosemary prefers well-drained soil rich in organic matter. When preparing the soil, you can mix in some perlite or vermiculite to enhance the soil's aeration and drainage. At the same time, add organic matter such as leaf mold or compost to provide rosemary with rich nutrients.

2. Ensure proper lighting

Rosemary is a light-loving plant and needs full sun to thrive. Place it in a sunny location, such as a windowsill or balcony, and make sure it receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In winter or on rainy days, you may need to use a fill light to supplement the lighting.

3. Reasonable watering and fertilization

Rosemary is drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging. When watering, you should follow the principle of "watering when the soil is dry and watering when the soil is wet". Before watering, make sure the soil surface is slightly dry, then water thoroughly all at once. Avoid frequent watering which can cause root rot. During the growing season, a thin liquid fertilizer can be applied once a month to provide rosemary with the necessary nutrients.

4. Temperature and humidity control

Rosemary grows best in warm, dry environments. Keep the indoor temperature between 15-25 degrees Celsius and avoid exposure to cold air. In dry environments, you can use a sprayer to humidify the rosemary, but be careful not to overdo it to avoid causing disease.

5. Pruning and propagation

To maintain the shape and beauty of rosemary, it needs to be pruned regularly. Cut off overgrown, weak and diseased branches to promote a more compact and healthy plant. Rosemary can be propagated by cuttings or division. Carry out propagation operations in spring or autumn, select healthy branches or divisions, insert them into the prepared soil, keep them moist and place them in semi-shade, and gradually move them to a sunny location after they take root.

6. Pest and disease control

Although rosemary has a certain degree of disease resistance, it may still be attacked by pests such as aphids and red spiders. Once signs of pests and diseases are found, measures should be taken immediately to prevent and control them. You can use biological pesticides or low-toxic and low-residue chemical pesticides for spraying, and at the same time pay attention to improving the growth environment of the plants and enhancing their disease resistance.

That’s it