Rosemary, A Great Perennial Herb To Grow In Winter
Some people start their herb garden in the fall and winter. This is a great idea if you can provide enough light for them to grow. Water, light, temperature, and soil are also critical factors when growing herbs inside. When selecting herbs to grow in the winter, look for ones that can survive harsh cold weather. Rosemary is a great herb to try as long as you have a sunny spot and a south-facing window. You can also use a grow light.
Rosemary is a perennial herb and can withstand cooler temperatures. It is fragrant, evergreen, narrow-leaved, and tastes like a blend of mint and oregano. If the plant is not harvested it will produce blue or lavender flowers. There are more than 30 different species of this herb. It is a popular Mediterranean herb and is often used in various types of Italian cuisine. It also has healing properties.
When growing it indoors it is best to use an established plant. Rosemary flourishes on light and has specific water needs to keep the soil well-hydrated but not saturated. Here are some more tips on growing this herb indoors:
Light
Rosemary plants need a lot of light, but they also need a cool place to stay. They cannot handle a warm location and you should avoid overheating them. A good rule to follow is that the colder the temperature, the more light it needs. But if you can provide rosemary with at least 6 hours of light per day, it will do well. Rotate the plant regularly to make sure all areas of the plant receive sunlight. If you can’t provide this amount of light, try using artificial light. When using artificial light, the plant will need considerably more light, about 14 hours.
Humidity
In the winter, many homes are dry. While Rosemary plants do not like too much dryness, they can’t have too much humidity because it can cause powdery mildew to cover the plant. Powdery mildew will cause the plant to have a dusty white appearance.
Water
Watering a rosemary plant is not always simple. It is important to know when and how much water needs to be applied. The following are some pointers regarding the water requirements of the rosemary plant.
- Make sure that the pot has drainage holes. This prevents overwatering and root rot. It also makes sure that the soil does not become saturated over time which will, in turn, affect its ability to support life.
- The plant can be watered up until one inch below the surface of the soil once every two weeks or when needed for optimal growth conditions. Rosemary plants are very tolerant of drought conditions, so they should only be watered if they are wilted or drooping in appearance.
Air Circulation
Having good air circulation will help keep powdery mildew and other fungal diseases away. Good air circulation is more important under humid growing conditions, which is typically not the case in the winter.
Pruning
Pruning and harvesting keep the plant from becoming bushy. This plant can grow large woody stems, which will need to be cut.
When the weather gets warmer, the plant can be moved outside to a sunny location on a patio or deck.
