rosemary

[Shellerz]

My darling mother tells me that it is possible to grow a new rosemary plant in my garden from taking just a branch clipped from her rosemary bush. Is this true or is she just senile?

thanks

[Lizald]

Hi

Your mother is not senile - you can indeed grow rosemary (and many other types of plants) from a branch of her plant - it's called a 'cutting' and they're quite simple to make.

Instructions here Growing Cuttings on my website.

Once you've mastered the art - and it really is easy - you just need patience - you'll be able to increase your stock of all plants in your garden.

Might even end up with a surplus to sell

Liz

[hellojerry]

I will make one in my garden. Thank you for instruction.

[tezmac]

I have some Rosemary in tubs out the front, they dont take much looking after, we cook a lot of roast veg, Yams, red onions, potato wedges ect. Just throw some sprigs of Rosemary and its lovley. Goog luck with the growing
Tez

[paulsherwin]

Rosemary plants seem to take a couple of years to get going, but once established they grow steadily and can turn into quite a big bush if you don't watch out. One plant will give you all the rosemary you will ever need, even if you run a restaurant

Finely chopped rosemary leaves work very well in chilli.

Paul

[mclarke18]

I've had 3 rosemary plants in a trough in the garden for over a year now (even through winter) and its stood rock solid through out...its my favourite as someone else said, lovely a top of a roast and the smell in the garden is amazing, brings back memories of being a child without a care in the world !!

I've just took some cuttings from mine using the same technique I used to use on plants years ago which had 99% success rate at the time....

I use rootmax rooting hormone, its like a green jelly type stuff with a strong "yeast" smell, I use the old double sided type disposable razors blades as they are sterile and some small sized peat pellets....


1. Soak some peat pellets in a very mild nuted water (few drops to a litre)

2. I take the cutting around 4-5" in hight, then re-cut at a 45 degree angle

3. After making the second cut quicky dip the cut stem around a cm up the stem in the rootmax (Don't dip into the bottle of rootmax, poor a small amount into a seperate clean container to avoid contamination) and leave it for around 5 mins.

4. Make a hole in the peat pellet and put the cutting into the peat pellet.

5. Gently squeeze the pellet round the sides so that cutting is nice and snug.

6. Mist daily with water

I used to use a small (unheated) probagator but I've so far seen no signs of wilting with the rosemary.

Not sure how long it would take to root, but what I used to grow took around 2 weeks, all being well after 2 weeks, just touch the stem to see if its firm inside the pellet, be very gentle not to damage any micro roots...if its firm its rooted but I always wait till the roots poke out the pellets before potting them.

Other folk have other ways, but that the way that works for me and if its not broke, dont fix it i say....

Good luck