Rosemary
The scent of the Mediterranean
The name – ros marinus – means ‘dew of the sea’. It is fitting for a plant that originally comes from the Mediterranean coast. Rosemary has a big place in myth, folklore and literature. Students in the classical academies of Greece used to put wreaths of rosemary on their heads, as it was said to be good for the memory. Its sprigs have also been used as a symbol of good luck at weddings and tucked under pillows to ward off nightmares.
Sow rosemary early
Sow rosemary as early as February-April. Cover the seeds with a couple of millimetres of seed soil and keep warm during germination. Be prepared that it may take some time for the rosemary to germinate. When the first leaves appear, it is good to have some extra light.
We usually top the small plants if they become too lanky. Another method to get chubbier plants is to put them a little deeper when replanting. New roots will then grow out of the part of the stalk that ends up underground. It is best to use seed soil when replanting too, as rosemary thrives best in poor soil.
Plant out in the open or in a pot when the risk of frost has passed. Rosemary likes to dry out between waterings. Therefore, we put lecaculas in the bottom of the pot. Pot-grown rosemary grows 40-60 cm high. In the open air it grows a little taller. Rosemary can be propagated by cuttings that are allowed to root in small pots.
Rosemary in the herb garden – and together with cabbage!
Rosemary originates in a barren environment and does not need much nutrition. It likes to dry out between waterings. Plant it together with plants like sage, thyme and tarragon. They also thrive in lean soil, like sun and can tolerate some drought. One tip is to also plant some rosemary together with cabbage plants. Practically speaking, the cabbage fly does not like rosemary.
Overwintering rosemary
It’s easy to grow rosemary in a pot – then it’s easy to lift it inside when the cold weather starts to creep in outside. But it is of course possible to grow rosemary outdoors during the warm season and dig it up for overwintering. In southern Sweden, rosemary can, with luck, survive outdoors during the winter. Cover it with leaves, straw or burlap.
Indoors, rosemary overwinters in a cool and bright place. Spray it with water from time to time, especially if the plant is starting to wither. In spring, we replant our overwintered rosemary, taking the opportunity to prune it to a third of its previous size. You can also cut back rosemary in autumn.
Rosemary in cooking and aromatherapy
Harvest leaves continuously. Cutting off twigs makes the plant branch out and become bushier.
In the kitchen, rosemary is a classic in marinades or in dishes with meat, chicken, lamb and fish. A few sprigs of rosemary on top of potato wedges roasted with oil is absolutely delicious! A few sprigs can also be added to the grill for both flavour and aroma. In small quantities, rosemary also goes very well in apple dishes. A favourite in our kitchen is to put home-grown garlic, chlii and rosemary in a glass bottle with oil. We let it sit for a month or so before we start using it.
Rosemary preserves flavour and aroma well after drying. Use an herb dryer or hang the sprigs in bunches with a rubber band and a nice ribbon. Another way to make the most of rosemary is to freeze the leaves in small ice cube moulds together with oil. Handy to pull out when it’s time for a stew or oven-baked vegetables.
Rosemary is commonly used in scented sachets and the dry sprigs can be burnt as incense. While lavender is good for sleep, rosemary is said to make us more alert instead.
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14