Rosemary is aromatic and reminds of holidays. Rosemary can be grown in the garden, in pots, on the terrace or on the balcony. We give tips!
Many think of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), the popular culinary herb, of holidays and a certain Mediterranean flair. It is not surprising why many garden and balcony owners grow the herb. Rosemary has been associated with high symbolism for many centuries. The Egyptians crushed the needles to release the scent of the essential oils. This should accompany a close deceased into the afterlife. It also plays a central role in the German folk song "I dreamed the night" by August Zarnack.
Successfully grow rosemary
The cultivation of rosemary is not only successful in your own garden, but also on the balcony and terrace. The popular kitchen herb grows quite compact as a semi-shrub. There are also particularly low, creeping varieties. As a Mediterranean child of the sun, rosemary likes a sunny and sheltered location. The soil should not be too rich in humus, rather be a bit loamy and rocky. It is essential that the soil is well drained and the water can drain off easily. If the soil is too heavy or contains humus, the risk of root rot is significantly higher in the cold season.
It is best to purchase a ready-made potted plant from a specialist herb nursery. It can easily be planted from spring to autumn. Although some suppliers offer seeds, you need a lot of patience until the plants are big enough for a harvest. Propagation via cuttings is easier. Here you cut off the youngest possible shoots of existing plants and place them in potting soil. We have detailed instructions for you on how to propagate rosemary from cuttings.
How to overwinter rosemary
Porous soil that is not too humus-rich is, as already mentioned, essential, as this promotes root rot. This can become a serious problem, especially during the wet winter months. If the location is very sunny even when the winter sun is low in the sky,be watered during long periods of frost. This may seem absurd at first, but the water stored in the needles evaporates due to the intense sunlight. If the ground is also completely frozen, the roots cannot absorb moisture. This is also a reason why rosemary should be covered with some fleece or scion.
In the spring you can feed your rosemary with a dose of mainly organic long-term fertilizers, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is well suited.
You can find more about optimal care here: How to care for rosemary.
Rosemary Varieties
- Arp: very hardy variety with quite greyish needles and light blue flowers; tends to grow in width; very suitable for harsh areas.
- Blue Tuscan: vigorous, particularly upright and tall variety with very long needles.
- Bluelip: quite stocky and compact growth; well suited for cultivation on the terrace and balcony; dark blue flower.
- Boule: creeping rosemary with a very good frost tolerance; good taste and light blue flower.
- French rosemary: traditional variety from France with light blue flowers; robust and vigorous growth; fast growing; good flavor.
- Gorizia: tall cultivar with blue-purple flowers; good aroma; must be overwintered.
- Hill Hardy: Texas selection with an excellent hardiness; good flavor.
- Majorca Pink: Spanish variety with pink flowers; compact growth; short needles; must be overwintered.
- Rex: vigorous and robust variety; nice, dense and uniform growth; very good adaptation also to suboptimal soils; flowers light blue and profusely.
- Salem: optically very beautiful, deep blue flower; more sensitive to frost and only suitable for milder areas; alternatively, planting on a protected house wall is possible.
- Santa Barbara: also a creeping rosemary variety very well suited to the German climate; numerous and deep blue flowers; good flavor.
- Veitshöchheim: very strong and fast-growing selection from the Bavarian horticultural laboratory in Veitshöchheim; very robust and hardy.
You can find detailed information in our rosemary variety overview.
Harvest rosemary and store it correctly
It can be harvested all year round. It is important that the branches are as fresh as possible. This is the only way to enjoy the full aroma. Since one from the intensely tastingRosemary only needs a little, a plant in your own garden or on the balcony is worth twice. Unlike many other herbs, rosemary can also be harvested in winter. Most of the time, one strong plant is sufficient for your own needs.
Especially in a good location, rosemary can quickly become quite large. Regular pruning is important so that the plant does not become too lignified and shaggy. The question quickly arises as to how best to store or conserve the clippings. Unfortunately, rosemary can only be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. You can dry rosemary in the oven at a low temperature. However, so many flavors are lost. Olive oil is much better. Strip the needles from the twigs and chop them short. Then use a funnel to fill the chopped needles into a bottle and fill it up with high-quality olive oil. The stripped twigs can be kept as skewers, for example, and used later. You simply skewer beef or lamb on them, which is not only a great way to prepare it visually for barbecue events and other invitations.
Ingredients and uses in the kitchen
Rosemary contains many essential oils, which are obtained by distillation for concentrates, especially in Spain and the Balkans. Among other things, monoterpenes, phenols and ketones are included. However, rosemary is poisonous when consumed in very large quantities.
Rosemary is an ideal accompaniment to Mediterranean cuisine and is an excellent herb for grilling. The herb is particularly good with roasted or grilled lamb and beef. Slightly firmer branches can be used as a skewer and give off a delicious aroma during the cooking process. Rosemary potatoes are also a real delicacy and are very popular with both young and old. To do this, cut the potatoes into slices or eighths. In a bowl, mix the potato pieces with olive oil, s alt and plenty of rosemary. The whole thing then goes into the oven for about 15-25 minutes at 200°C.
Diseases and Pests
Outdoor rosemary has almost no pests and diseases. If the plant is cultivated on the balcony or in the apartment on the windowsill, an infestation with aphids, mites or whiteflies can appear, especially with inferior goods. However, this infestation can usually be removed with soapy water. However, the plants should be treated at least 3 to 4 times. There is now anInternet some dealers who also sell beneficial insects against these pests. However, this only makes sense on the balcony or outdoors. After all, you don't want to have beneficial insects in your own four walls. Pesticides can also be purchased from specialist retailers. However, one should not harvest the rosemary for a sufficiently long time after use. After all, you don't want the pesticide residues in your food.