Rosemary

[twinklestar]

Quick question please. Had a friend round for lunch at the weekend and we went out for a wander around the garden. Found what she thinks is a load of rosemary growing in one of the beds. Do I need to do anything over winter with it? Also when can I use it. Thanks in advance

[veggiechicken]

Before you use it, you need to be certain it is rosemary!
If it is, its evergreen, winter hardy and can be used whenever you like. If its big and leggy you may want to prune it back a bit. A photo would help.

[twinklestar]

Lol very good point don't want to be sprinkling random weeds on my potatos! It smells lovely but yes is very tall and leggy. Will go take a pic tomorrow - Thank you

Before you use it, you need to be certain it is rosemary!
If it is, its evergreen, winter hardy and can be used whenever you like. If its big and leggy you may want to prune it back a bit. A photo would help.

[vixylix]

You should hopefully be able to tell by the smell! I LOVE the smell of rosemary

[bramble]

Twinkle Star, not to mind about sprinkling random weeds on your potatoes, you dont want to be sprinkling poisonous weeds on.

[danmow]

If it's rosemary just leave it. Probs a bit late now but it's a great plant for taking cuttings.

[Kirk]

If it is rosemary then you need to do nothing.
It is a tough beastie.
Think you can use the stuff at any time, it is an evergreen and as best I know there is no "not use" time.
Check that it is rosemary however.

[hamamelis]

Be careful cutting it back hard if it's cold- while rosemary is pretty tough, it does sometimes get frost damage near fresh cuts, and die back a bit. Picking it should be fine, but best to leave heavy pruning til spring.

[DannyK]

If it's a nice one take cuttings as back up as rosemaries do sometimes die without warning. My Miss Jessop's Upright just expired before had time to take cuttings.

Everyone just talks about rosemary as if there's only one. Just found a site offering 25+ varieties!!Buy Rosemary Plants

[Filbert]

The different varieties have different growing habits and different flowers. Also different levels of hardiness but then I am growing in Scotland. I lost a low growing one a few years ago but it was very cold for a long time. I bring the replacement into the greenhouse over the winter, just in case.

[Python15]

Sorry if this hi-jacks the thread but does anyone have any tips about growing Rosemary from seed. I've tried and failed for the past few years and again this year no show. I realise it takes a good while for germination but I put these seeds down in February on the kitchen windowsill.

[veggiechicken]

I wouldn't worry about hijacking the thread, the OP hasn't been back since! Maybe it was't rosemary after all
Could you try them in a heated propagator?

[Python15]

Sorry VC, I don't have a heated propagator. Everything else that was on the windowsill germinated, including Parsley. I've been and bought new seeds even though the seeds I had were "In Date". I will persist

[veggiechicken]

?Airing cupboard? I'm sure they need heat to germinate.

[Python15]

Mmm, I may get some hassle from the OH but worth a go. Just pop them out again if they germinate??

That really didn't need to be asked I'm sure