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Growing rosemary in open ground in the Moscow region is possible only in the summer. A spicy evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean, where it grows in warm and humid climates. In regions with frosty winters, growing an annual or perennial crop is possible, but with the bushes being moved indoors in cold weather.
Where can you grow rosemary?
The root system of a heat-loving plant dies already at a temperature of -5... -7°C. Therefore, wintering rosemary in open ground in the Moscow region and Leningrad region is impossible.
In Krasnodar, when growing rosemary in open ground, you need to protect the fragrant leaves from exposure to bright sunlight. Growing crops in this region is most favorable in greenhouses.
The evergreen shrub does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, so in order to grow rosemary in the Urals and Siberia, you need to build temporary shelters for it. For the convenience of moving plants indoors, during the cold season or in case of sudden frosts, it is best to grow rosemary in Siberia in planting containers.
Recommended planting times
The crop is planted in open ground by direct sowing, cuttings or seedlings. Growing by any method involves warming up the soil and establishing above-zero daytime and nighttime air temperatures. In Krasnodar, spice cultivation begins at the end of April. In the Moscow region and Leningrad region, the threat of return frosts disappears from mid-to-late May. In Siberia and the Urals, rosemary begins to be grown in early June.
Rosemary is not planted in open ground in the fall. At this time, the cuttings are rooted, which are then kept in cool rooms until spring planting.
How to plant rosemary correctly
Planting rosemary seedlings begins in late February - early March. The seeds of the plant are small, dark and light brown in color. They are characterized by low germination - about 15%, as well as a long germination period - 6-8 weeks after sowing. In some cases, it is necessary to grow seeds up to 3 months after sowing.
Choosing a suitable location
It is best to grow rosemary in a high, sunny place. In areas with good lighting, the crop shows its best qualities and acquires intense color and aroma. It is impossible to grow the spice in lowlands where moisture remains for a long time after precipitation or where groundwater is close.In such conditions, its root system quickly rots and the bushes die.
During the hottest sunny days there should be the possibility of shading the plant. Foliage easily gets sunburned. Growing in open ground on overheated soils, as well as sudden changes in day and night temperatures, are not beneficial for rosemary.
Preparing the soil for rosemary
It is necessary to grow rosemary on light, loose soils. And also in soils with good moisture and air permeability. Sandy and crushed stone areas and slopes are also suitable. To loosen heavy soils, vermiculite and sand are added to garden soil. Lime is added to acidic soils.
How to plant rosemary seedlings
The seeds of the crop can be grown dry or pre-soaked. To speed up germination, they are kept in a damp cloth for 1-2 days. While in water, mucus forms around the seeds, which is their botanical feature.
To increase the percentage of germination, the seeds are soaked in hot water for 4 hours or sown in soil spilled with boiling water. Various root growth accelerators are also used.
For planting, drainage layers are poured into the container: expanded clay, then river sand, fine sand. Before placing the components in the container, they must be disinfected by pouring hot water over them. For sowing, take light, fertile soil: a universal substrate or a mixture of sand and peat in a ratio of 1:2. Before planting the seeds, the soil is thoroughly mixed and moistened.
Landing Features:
- You can grow seeds in individual cells or in a common planting container.
- Seeds are planted, scattered over the general surface of the soil or in rows.
- It is more convenient to place pre-soaked seeds in the soil using tweezers.
- The seeds are laid out, not deeper than 3-4 mm, then covered with a small layer of soil.
- Plantings are sprayed with a fine sprayer so as not to wash away small seeds from the soil surface.
- The planting containers are covered with a film in which several holes are made for the passage of air.
- Covered containers are placed in a lighted, warm place.
- Seeds must be grown at a temperature of +28°C.
- While waiting for the sprouts to appear, the film is periodically opened for ventilation and the soil is sprayed.
After the first shoots appear, the cover is removed. You can grow rosemary in a common container until 3-4 true leaves appear, and then transplant it into separate ones. Growing rosemary is more favorable in clay pots due to their good air permeability. The root system of the spice grows quickly, so planting containers should not be less than 10 cm in diameter. But you shouldn’t grow it in disproportionately large pots either.
Growing seedlings indoors requires constantly turning the pots on different sides to the light so that the foliage of the stems is formed evenly. During strong spring sunshine, seedlings must be grown with shade so that the plant does not get burned.
How to plant rosemary in open ground
Before taking seedlings out of indoor conditions into open ground, they should be hardened off. Hardening off will help the plant grow safely in conditions with more air and sun.To do this, the planting boxes are taken outside, placed in a warm and windless place. Every day the duration of stay in the open air is increased by several hours.
Growing and caring for rosemary in open ground or planting it in a greenhouse depends on the weather conditions of the current season. The heat-loving plant can only be grown at above-zero temperatures.
It is necessary to grow a bush in open ground, taking into account its growth, leaving a space of about 50 cm on each side. For replanting, prepare holes with a volume slightly larger than the earthen lump in which the plant was grown before. Transplanted using the transshipment method. In order to less injure the root system, the earthen ball is well moistened beforehand.
To plant cuttings, make a small narrow hole, lowering the planting material at a slight angle 5-7 cm down. To plant a cutting, several of its lower leaves are torn off. After transplanting seedlings and cuttings, lightly press the soil around them so that air voids do not form and the plants take root faster. Cuttings take root after 1 month.
Flowering of rosemary can be seen from the second year of the bush’s life, subject to a cool winter. During flowering, the spice has the highest percentage of nutrients.
How to grow rosemary in a greenhouse or in open ground
The agricultural technology for growing rosemary is simple and consists of systematic moderate watering, loosening and sufficient lighting of the crop. Proper cultivation of the spice promotes the formation of a densely leafy crown with bright green leaves. And rosemary reacts to violations in care by dropping its leaves and changing their color.
Watering schedule
Both drying out and waterlogging of the soil is unfavorable for growing rosemary. In the summer, the bushes should be watered once every few days. Each time you should wait until the top layer of soil dries 2-3 cm. Do not use cold water for irrigation. The bushes are additionally moistened by spraying the leaves.
Rosemary feeding
On highly fertile soils, rosemary can be grown without fertilizing. In other cases, mineral fertilizers are applied once a month.
Ratio of components for feeding:
- 10 g ammonium nitrate;
- 10 g of potassium sulfate;
- 15 g superphosphate;
- 5 liters of water.
Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied to the root zone in the spring, phosphorus-containing fertilizers - in the autumn. For fertilizing, a solution of mullein is also used in a ratio of 1:5.
Weeding and loosening the soil
The place where rosemary is grown in the country should be clean from weed. Loosening the soil under the plant and between the rows promotes better air circulation. It is especially important to loosen the soil after watering and precipitation to destroy the crust that has formed on its surface.
Rosemary pruning
Pruning is carried out for bushes older than 2 years. Pruning shoots provokes the appearance of new shoots and allows you to form the crown in different ways. The bare stems from which greens have been harvested during the season are also removed. Pruning is carried out in winter or early spring, excluding flowering time.
Growing a plant older than 7 years requires renewal pruning. At this time, the shoots are cut to the ground.
How does rosemary overwinter?
It is necessary to grow rosemary in winter at a temperature of +12... +14°C. At high room temperatures, the plant will overwinter, but will not bloom the following season.In winter, it is not recommended to grow it near heating radiators.
It is necessary to grow rosemary in bright rooms in winter. In the absence of natural 7-8 hour lighting, plants are illuminated with phytolamps. The lamps, in this case, are placed at a distance of 15 cm above the crown.
Rosemary diseases
The appearance of a white coating on rosemary may indicate infection with a fungal disease - powdery mildew. Pathogenic microorganisms arise when cultivation occurs in a waterlogged environment, with insufficient ventilation and stagnant moisture in the soil. Infestation can also be transferred to rosemary from other plants.
To treat fungal diseases, various fungicides are used, including those with a biological basis. But it should be borne in mind that powdery mildew is difficult to treat and it is best to prevent its occurrence. To prevent fungal diseases, you should not grow spices in dense plantings, but choose dry, warm and ventilated areas.
Why do rosemary leaves dry out?
One of the main reasons is growing with a lack of humidity and light. Leaves dry out when the soil ball is not watered completely or too often. You should streamline your watering: soak the earthen ball completely and wait until its top layer dries before the next watering.
The light-loving crop needs to be grown under 8-hour light from the south during the day.
Why do the tips of rosemary leaves turn black?
Incorrect watering.Watering must be carried out with complete moistening of the entire volume of soil so that water appears in the pan. But you can’t leave water in the pan; it’s better to lift the pot onto a stand after watering without covering the drainage holes.
Growing in a small pot causes the roots to grow below the soil. Where, when they get into the drainage layer, they receive excess moisture.
Growing at high air temperatures and low humidity. It is favorable to grow rosemary in summer at a temperature of +22... +25°C. In winter - from October to February, at a temperature of +10... +12°C. To increase humidity, rosemary bushes are watered with a warm shower, covering the soil with film.
Sudden temperature change. When moving a plant indoors for wintering, the temperature change should be smooth, with a difference of several degrees.
Rosemary pests
Thanks to its pungent odor, rosemary is easy to grow without the fear of pests. But if the air humidity is disturbed, spider mites may appear on the bushes. Plants that are grown only for decorative purposes are treated with insecticides. When eating rosemary, wash all leaves and stems with laundry soap.
Conclusion
Growing rosemary in open ground in the Moscow region is possible if you create conditions for the crop in which it grows in its usual climate. With sufficient lighting, on light soils and with moderate watering, the shrub will show its best decorative and taste qualities.
