Due to its intense aroma, rosemary is one of the most popular kitchen herbs and can be used in many different ways, both in the kitchen and in natural medicine. The Mediterranean shrub is usually propagated via cuttings, which usually succeeds without complications. Propagation by seed, on the other hand, is difficult to achieve.

Rosemary is a light germinator

The fine rosemary seeds should be spread under glass from around mid-March or in the cold frame from mid to late April. Since, like so many herbs, rosemary also needs light to germinate, the seeds should only be covered very thinly with soil or simply pressed on. The germination time is about three to five weeks. You can proceed as follows when sowing:

  • Fill small seed pots with herb or lean potting soil, which you mix with sand in a ratio of 1:1.
  • The soil should be as fine as possible. For this purpose, you can sift them beforehand.
  • Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
  • Now bring out the seeds evenly.
  • To make this work better, you can also mix them with sand and only then sow them.
  • Scatter a thin layer of fine soil - about twice the seed strength.
  • Using a board or similar, press the seeds down lightly.
  • Place the planter in a warm and bright place.
  • The temperature should be between 18 and 22 °C.
  • Keep the substrate evenly moist.

Germination can be stimulated by the application of gibberellic acid, a plant growth hormone.

Seeds germinate very unevenly

Rosemary seeds germinate very irregularly, you may need a lot of patience. The seedlings are pricked out in individual pots as soon as the first real leaves grow after the two cotyledons. However, planting out should only take place in the following year, as the young plants are still very sensitive in the first year and can under no circumstances overwinter outside. You would most likely freeze to death. The plants are placed in the bed at a distance of approx. 30 x 40 centimeters from the middle to the end of May - ergo after the ice saints.

tips and tricks

Young plants should be evenly moist - but never wet! - be kept until they have reliably taken root and are well established. Fertilization, on the other hand, is not necessary.

IJA

Category:

Vegetable garden