How rosemary reproduces

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub found in Africa, Turkey and other southern regions. The plant has a decorative appearance, it is used in medicine, cooking. Growing rosemary from seeds is one way of propagating this shrub. New plants are also obtained from cuttings, branches, by dividing the bush and layering.

How can rosemary be propagated?

There are several ways to propagate rosemary:

1. Cuttings. In an adult shrub, the tops of the shoots are cut off. Then they are rooted in a special substrate. Cuttings provide a number of conditions that promote root formation. Prepared seedlings are planted on the site.
2. Seeds. With this method of propagation, it is important to prepare the planting material and soil. To increase the germination of seeds, they are treated. The seedlings are constantly looked after, they create a special microclimate in the room. When the bush grows up, it is planted outside.
3. Twigs. The cut branch is kept in warm water. When the roots appear, the plant is planted in a pot or outside.
4. By dividing the bush. The breeding method is used when transplanting rosemary. Its rhizome is divided into several parts, then planted in the right place.
5. Layers. The rosemary branch is bent down and covered with earth. With intensive watering and feeding, roots appear at the shoot. Then the plant is transplanted to the site.

How to propagate rosemary by cuttings

A stalk is the top of a bush shoot. It is pruned from adult plants, bought in markets or in stores. For reproduction, a cutting 8 - 10 cm long with 3 - 4 internodes is sufficient.

The order of planting rosemary cuttings:

1. Containers and soil are prepared for planting. The substrate is bought in a store or obtained by mixing black soil, humus, peat and sand.
2. Expanded clay or broken brick is poured at the bottom of the container, then filled with soil.
3. Depressions are made in the ground and cuttings are planted to a depth of 3 cm. All leaves are cut off at the bottom.
4. The soil is well watered. The containers are kept in a warm, lighted place.
5. When propagating a shrub, it is necessary to water the cuttings 4 times a week.
6. After 1.5 months, the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place.

In the south, cuttings of rosemary are resorted to at any time of the year, with the exception of winter. In the middle lane, cuttings are prepared in September-October. In winter they are rooted, and in summer they are planted outside.

How to dilute rosemary seeds

Planting rosemary seeds is best in late February or March. For reproduction, the seedling method is used. Planting is carried out at home, then the seedlings are transferred to the ground.

Before you start breeding rosemary, it is important to prepare the containers and substrate. For planting, choose pots no more than 15 cm high. A layer of expanded clay or other drainage is placed on the bottom. Openings must be provided in containers.

Soil for rosemary is prepared independently or you can buy a ready-made mixture. The best option is to mix garden soil with river sand and compost in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. Any soil with neutral acidity for indoor plants will also work.

Rosemary seeds are very small and take a long time to germinate. To improve germination, they are processed. First, the planting material is kept in water. When the seeds are swollen, they start planting.

The order of reproduction of a plant by seeds:

1. Containers with drainage and soil are watered abundantly.
2. The seeds are spread over the ground. A layer of earth of no more than 0.5 mm is poured on top.
3. Plantings are watered with warm water using a spray bottle.
4. The container is covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm place.

Seedlings appear at temperatures from +25 ^oC. The film is regularly turned over and the condensation removed from it. To prevent the soil from drying out, every 2 - 3 days the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. The first shoots appear in a month. Then they remove the film and rearrange the containers to a lighted place. On average, when propagating rosemary seeds, seedlings wait 6 - 8 weeks.

Planting rosemary seeds is not enough; it is important to provide the seedlings with good care. The containers are rearranged on the windowsill. The room temperature is maintained from +18 ^oC.

When the 2nd - 3rd leaf appears in the rosemary seedlings, they are dived in separate containers. Use soil of the same composition as when planting seeds. When transplanting, they try not to damage the root system.

When the seedlings reach 3 - 4 cm in height, they begin to harden it. First, they open the window and ventilate the room. Then the containers with seedlings are transferred to the balcony or loggia. Before planting in the ground, the plants must fully adapt to natural conditions.

Bushes 7 - 8 cm high are planted in a permanent place. For them, they choose a sunny place, protected from cold winds. The best soil for rosemary is light, fertile, and drained. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground in May-June, when frosts pass and warm weather sets in.

How to grow rosemary from a twig

A large rosemary bush can be successfully grown from a twig. It is best to choose young shoots 5 cm long. They are cut from an adult bush. I use this breeding method at any time of the year. The twig is rooted at home.

The order of reproduction of a shrub using a twig:

1. The cut shoot is placed in a jar of water. A cornea stimulant can be added to the liquid.
2. The water is changed every 3 days.
3. When the branch has roots, it is placed in a container with light nutritious soil.
4. Rosemary is watered in moderation, kept in a warm and lighted place.

When the seedlings grow up, they are planted on the site or left in a pot. You can root rosemary with branches in a greenhouse, where the desired microclimate is provided.

Propagation of rosemary by dividing the bush

If rosemary is already growing on the site, it is propagated by dividing the rhizome. This method is used when transplanting a bush. Every year, a shrub over 5 years old needs rejuvenation. By transplanting, you can not only rejuvenate the plant, but also get new seedlings.

The need to transplant rosemary also arises when the shrub grows in the wrong place: it lacks moisture or sun. It is recommended to carry out this procedure in cases where the shrub is in the lowlands or suffers from excess moisture in the soil.

Work is carried out in spring or autumn, when sap flow slows down in plants. As a result, the shrub tolerates planting better and takes root faster in a new place.

Instructions for propagating rosemary by dividing the bush:

1. The shrub is dug out of the ground or removed from the pot.
2. The roots are cleared of the earth and divided into parts. Use a pruner or other instrument that has been previously disinfected.
3. Each seedling should have several roots and shoots. If there are old, diseased or dried branches, they are removed.
4. Places of cuts are treated with charcoal.
5. The roots of the seedlings are immersed in water with the addition of a growth stimulant.
6. It remains to plant the rosemary in containers or on the garden bed.

How can rosemary be propagated by layering

It is convenient to propagate rosemary using layering. The procedure is performed in the spring. For this, choose 2 - 3 of the strongest shoots.Under them, furrows are dug with a depth of 5 cm. The branches are lowered down, fastened with metal brackets and covered with soil. Part of the cut must remain above the ground. Then the shoots are watered abundantly.

Mineral complexes are used for feeding. Mullein infusion and other natural remedies are used at the beginning of the season. An excess of organic matter inhibits the development of rosemary. Fertilizer is applied 2 - 3 times a month.

By autumn, the layers will take root well. They are separated from the mother bush and planted around the site. In cold climates, it is better to transplant the layers into pots for the winter, and move them outdoors in the spring.

Which way is better

The choice of breeding method for rosemary largely depends on the source data. The timing of the work is chosen taking into account the weather conditions in the region. If the shrub has not yet been grown, then it is better to purchase seeds or cuttings. If the plant is already on the site, then choose the propagation of rosemary by cuttings or layering.

The most popular breeding method is cuttings. It is recommended to divide the bush during transplantation in order to less injure the plant. These are reliable methods in which all varietal characteristics are preserved. Reproduction using layering is more suitable for shrubs growing in the garden. At home, it is better to choose other methods.

Seed propagation is the most laborious method. To obtain healthy seedlings, it is important to use a good substrate, care for the seedlings and create a microclimate for them. When using seeds, the plant may lose varietal characteristics.

Conclusion

Growing rosemary from seeds is not an easy process and requires careful preparation. First, containers, soil and planting material are prepared. To get seedlings, you need to create a certain microclimate at home. Rosemary is also propagated by cuttings, layering and other methods.

Recommended entries

Rosemary: planting and care in the open field and in the greenhouse

Seasoning rosemary

Rosemary herb: what it looks like, where it grows in Russia, description

Rosemary: planting and care at home

Tibetan lofant: useful properties and contraindications, cultivation

Growing stalked celery seedlings

Edible fern: photos, types

Savory and thyme (thyme): differences, photos

When to collect rhubarb for food and medicinal purposes