In our latitudes, too, the aromatic rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), an evergreen herb from the mint family, is one of the most popular kitchen herbs. The plant, originally from the Mediterranean region, can be cultivated both in the garden and in pots with little effort.
The sunnier the better
From its homeland, rosemary is used to plenty of sun and warmth - which is why it prefers such a location in the home garden. The sunnier and more sheltered the chosen spot is, the better he feels. With the right soil conditions, the herb also grows very well in partially shaded but bright locations. Only in a shady place you should not cultivate it, there it will get sick and possibly die. A wall or a house wall is best suited - these offer a certain degree of protection against any bad weather - facing south or west. Rosemary is only conditionally hardy.
Poor and dry soil
In addition to a sunny location, the rosemary bush also needs lean and well-drained soil. The ideal rosemary soil is loose, sandy and slightly humic with pH values in the neutral to alkaline range. A good lime content ensures that the herb feels at home, but the soil must not be acidic or too loamy. Heavy soil is a good water reservoir, which rosemary doesn't like at all - it prefers it to be as dry as possible. Waterlogging in particular causes the roots to rot and the plant eventually dies as a result. However, it thrives very well on stone walls or in gravel beds.
tips and tricks
In the herb bed, rosemary feels very comfortable with other Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, lavender, sage or oregano. These have similar needs in terms of location and care and therefore complement each other well. Mustard, radish or rapeseed, on the other hand, are unsuitable garden neighbours.
IJA