The specific climate of the region affects the rules, requirements and timing of sowing specific crops. To grow rosemary in open ground, you don’t have to do anything special in the Rostov region. It is enough to patiently and carefully follow the instructions, and the spice will repay you with an excellent, aromatic harvest.
Specifics of growing rosemary in the Rostov region
Grow rosemary in several ways, the summer resident himself chooses the preferred one.A peculiarity of the Rostov region is that the plant does not tolerate winter frosts well, so it is recommended to dig it up or cover it well for the winter. Otherwise, the cultivation of this spice in the area does not have any special features. It is important to show more patience, and the result will not be long in coming.
Plant propagation method
Frosts in early spring are detrimental to the crop, so summer residents do not advise planting the plant in the ground too early. Presumably, for the Rostov region this period falls on April 1-20. When the threat of severe frost has passed.
The plant is propagated in 2 main ways: by planting seeds and cuttings. The first method is very labor-intensive, as you need to have patience to wait for the first shoots of rosemary. But it's worth it, because the spice is used not only as a seasoning for a dish. But there are many other ways to use it.
Propagating a crop by cuttings is quicker and easier; this is the most effective and fastest method used by most gardeners.
There are other ways to propagate rosemary, this is by dividing the bush. Mainly used for home-grown spices. The method is complex and time-consuming.
The plant is propagated by layering; this method is widely used for bushes growing in open ground.
Landing dates
The time for sowing seeds in the Rostov region falls on the first ten days of April. You should be wary of extreme cold. In order for the plants to begin producing healing spicy greens earlier, they are planted in pots at the end of February or beginning of March. Or they grow seedlings and then transfer them to open ground.
Plants are propagated by cuttings or layering after warm weather arrives. Because rosemary is very vulnerable at this moment.
Landing
In the open ground of the Rostov region, it is preferable to grow spices using planting material, since this method is more reliable. But summer residents who want to get a harvest faster and earlier actively use other methods of propagation.
Growing from seeds
Seeds must be soaked before planting. It is enough to put it in warm water for several hours. Swollen rosemary is sown in containers to a depth of 3-4 cm. It is advisable to use sand. The planted material is covered with polyethylene or glass until germination.
Don't forget about humidity. Spray the soil with a spray bottle, not allowing the soil to dry out.
The optimal temperature for germination is +20…+25 ⁰С. Then all that remains is to wait. Rosemary sprouts very slowly; in the best case scenario, the sprouts will hatch in 1.5 months, in the worst case, in 2 months.
Propagation by cuttings
When using this method, rosemary produces harvest much earlier. For this method you need:
- Several 1-year-old spice shoots 8-10 cm long.
- The lower leaves are removed from the shoots, and the cut is treated with brilliant green. To improve the result, they are left in a root formation stimulator for several hours.
- Then they are placed in a permanent place or in water until roots appear. Instead of water, some summer residents use wet sand.
Further care consists of regular irrigation or spraying. In order not to harm rosemary, it is placed away from direct sunlight. The first roots will appear only after a month.
In order for the bushes to produce side shoots, the tops are pinched off.
Layerings
Layering is the rooting of the branch that is closest to the ground.It is bent and firmly secured with staples or stones. Then the branch is covered with soil so that only the top remains on the surface.
It should be watered regularly, at the same time as the main bush. As soon as growth appears, separate it from the mother bush and plant it. Several cuttings are separated from one bush.
Circumcision and care
No matter in which area the spice is grown, it requires some care. In addition to fulfilling standard agrotechnical requirements, such as watering, weeding and loosening, the plant requires pruning.
Every 7-8 years, rosemary completes its life cycle and the plant begins to wither. Pruning at the root will help save it from death. You need to remove all the branches and give the spice a chance to recover from scratch.
Shelter rosemary for the winter
The Rostov region has cold winters; rosemary cannot withstand temperatures below -5...-10 ⁰С. Therefore, in order to preserve this perennial plant, it is worth working hard since the fall.
As soon as the first frost begins, the rosemary root system begins to freeze. Summer residents recommend transferring it to pots and storing it in a warm place. An unheated utility room is suitable for storage. Rosemary will overwinter well at room temperature.
To reduce plant stress, gardeners grow rosemary in wide containers. This is necessary in order to take it back outside in the spring and dig it in, thereby not harming the spice.
It is useless to cover it with anything, since a plant covered on top with covering material may freeze. This is due to the fact that the ground near the bush freezes, and it gradually, during the winter, dies completely.
Harvest and storage
The plant is most powerful during the flowering period.At this time, it contains the maximum amount of essential oils beneficial to the human body.
For culinary purposes, the leaves are used in fresh and dried form. Whole branches are also actively used, which are used to decorate ready-made dishes.
The leaves are carefully cut and dried in a dark, well-ventilated area. After they are completely dry, they are crushed and used to prepare spicy mixtures. Leftovers are stored in a tightly sealed container. Rosemary retains its properties for 2 or more years.
Growing spices in the Rostov region is practically no different. To get this product you will have to work hard. But the result is worth it. The beneficial properties of rosemary are difficult to overestimate; after using it, every person will feel its effect on the body.
