Rosemary

gardengalrn · February 2, 2008

Has anyone successfully grown this from seed? I've always bought Rosemary at the garden store as a plant. A month or so ago I attempted to germinate some seed, as I heard it was hard to grow them that way. It was a no-go. Just for that, I bought another packet and planted some again with a little more care to the conditions. A bit of a challenge, so to speak. The container is currently on top of the fridge covered in plastic wrap with a few holes punched for air circulation. I may try Doug's idea of putting the container in a water cooler in the next week or so, being the germination time is listed as 14-22 days on the packet I bought. Of course, it also listed it as an "easy to grow" seed.

robin303 · February 2, 2008

That stuff almost grows like weeds down here. Real good plant for Xeriscape. Seen this topic on other forums and a lot of people do not have a good success rate.

felpec · February 2, 2008

I've never had any luck with rosemary seeds. Pinetree Seeds lists the "best" germination rate at about 20% - some places say 5-10% is average. I just take cuttings and overwinter the plants inside.

Worth1 · February 2, 2008

Here is a link with all knids of information on Rosemary.

Almost all Rosemary plants are clones taken from cuttings.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=1799

Worth

gardengalrn · February 2, 2008

Thanks, Worth, tons of good info there. I grew it in KY and it got pretty big that first year, a couple of feet. I'm one who have recently discovered that I love rosemary, LOL. I always felt it was too perfumey but when I put it in some good pairings it really brought out a delicious flavor.

jenn_sc · February 4, 2008

I've managed to get a few tiny plants from seeds, but the germination rate is awfully low, and for some reason the plants never make it past a few inches tall.....very delicate seedlings, in my experience. So any sizeable plants I've ever had were bought that way!

I love rosemary chopped up and rolled in butter along with some minced garlic. You can chill a log of rosemary-butter, cut it into pats, and freeze it that way. Then throughout the winter you have little awesome herb butter bits to add to potatoes, meats, veggies, whatever....yum!

Jennifer

Worth1 · February 7, 2008

I like Rosemary so much I think I might like it in ice cream.

Worth

gardengalrn · February 7, 2008

I was shocked to see 2 sprouts yesterday!! I've put them under lights but they are pretty slow going. I'm used to tomato sprouts that will literally bend towards the light in hours. Hopefully a few more will decide to pop up.

akgardengirl · February 10, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I like Rosemary so much I think I might like it in ice cream.

Worth

Worth,
I have a rosemary sugar cookie recipe that you just may like. I had the rosemaries down at work and they really weren't doing so good there so I drug them home today. I see there are a couple of fatalities, Gorizia and Foresteri. Do they come back from twigs? Maybe they are dormant.
Sue

penguingardener · February 10, 2008

I was able to get a 30% germination rate on Rosemary seeds (Burpee) by starting with a wet coffee filter in a ziploc bag, then transferred to a starbucks plastic cup (pro mix).

It took a couple of attempts for a few years.

DH says I baby my rosemary plants.

Last year, I built a winter box with my DD and the rosemary even gets transplanted when I change my mind where it'll be for the winter.

Amazingly, we've also been able to harvest fresh rosemary over the winter. 2 seasons ago, I gave branches of rosemary to a neighbor, she was able to keep them over winter in a vase and then planted them for last season. I haven't been by her place to see how they're holding up.

Worth1 · February 10, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by akgardengirl

Worth,
I have a rosemary sugar cookie recipe that you just may like. I had the rosemaries down at work and they really weren't doing so good there so I drug them home today. I see there are a couple of fatalities, Gorizia and Foresteri. Do they come back from twigs? Maybe they are dormant.
Sue

You need to post the cookie recipe I'll keep an eye out for it.

Rosenary does not go dormant so it is more than likely DEAD.

Several of mine died last year from too much rain.
Who ever heard of TOO MUCH RAIN in Central Texas?

just about the time the ground would start to dry out it would come another 10 inches.

Poor Rosemary.

How about Rosemary short bread cookies.
I love short bread cookies.

Worth

akgardengirl · February 10, 2008

Worth,
Google the shortbread recipe and you'll come up with a few. I may have to make you some to restock my supply of rosemary this summer!!!

Sue

akgardengirl · February 11, 2008

The rosemary plants are now under the lights and do look a little perkier. They were light deprived this winter.
Sue

GIZZARDFARM · February 13, 2008

I have tried seeding rosemary find it difficult. I usually just root cuttings. My experience is just about any limb that hits the ground roots. I have a Mother Plant (more like a shrub) that has produced over 100 new plants. I sell them at my Farmers market

feldon30 · February 13, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I like Rosemary so much I think I might like it in ice cream.

Worth

I think after all those habaneros, your taste buds have melted.

February 2, 2008	#1
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	Rosemary Has anyone successfully grown this from seed? I've always bought Rosemary at the garden store as a plant. A month or so ago I attempted to germinate some seed, as I heard it was hard to grow them that way. It was a no-go. Just for that, I bought another packet and planted some again with a little more care to the conditions. A bit of a challenge, so to speak. The container is currently on top of the fridge covered in plastic wrap with a few holes punched for air circulation. I may try Doug's idea of putting the container in a water cooler in the next week or so, being the germination time is listed as 14-22 days on the packet I bought. Of course, it also listed it as an "easy to grow" seed. __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

February 2, 2008	#5
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	Thanks, Worth, tons of good info there. I grew it in KY and it got pretty big that first year, a couple of feet. I'm one who have recently discovered that I love rosemary, LOL. I always felt it was too perfumey but when I put it in some good pairings it really brought out a delicious flavor. __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

February 7, 2008	#8
gardengalrn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kansas, zone 5 Posts: 524	I was shocked to see 2 sprouts yesterday!! I've put them under lights but they are pretty slow going. I'm used to tomato sprouts that will literally bend towards the light in hours. Hopefully a few more will decide to pop up. __________________ ~Lori "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

February 10, 2008	#12
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	Rosemary Worth, Google the shortbread recipe and you'll come up with a few. I may have to make you some to restock my supply of rosemary this summer!!! Sue

February 11, 2008	#13
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	rosemary The rosemary plants are now under the lights and do look a little perkier. They were light deprived this winter. Sue

February 2, 2008	#2
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	That stuff almost grows like weeds down here. Real good plant for Xeriscape. Seen this topic on other forums and a lot of people do not have a good success rate.

February 2, 2008	#3
felpec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Zone 5/6 New Jersey Posts: 122	I've never had any luck with rosemary seeds. Pinetree Seeds lists the "best" germination rate at about 20% - some places say 5-10% is average. I just take cuttings and overwinter the plants inside.

February 2, 2008	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Here is a link with all knids of information on Rosemary. Almost all Rosemary plants are clones taken from cuttings. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=1799 Worth

February 4, 2008	#6
jenn_sc SPLATT™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 502	I've managed to get a few tiny plants from seeds, but the germination rate is awfully low, and for some reason the plants never make it past a few inches tall.....very delicate seedlings, in my experience. So any sizeable plants I've ever had were bought that way! I love rosemary chopped up and rolled in butter along with some minced garlic. You can chill a log of rosemary-butter, cut it into pats, and freeze it that way. Then throughout the winter you have little awesome herb butter bits to add to potatoes, meats, veggies, whatever....yum! Jennifer

February 10, 2008	#10
penguingardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pittsburgh 6b Posts: 29	I was able to get a 30% germination rate on Rosemary seeds (Burpee) by starting with a wet coffee filter in a ziploc bag, then transferred to a starbucks plastic cup (pro mix). It took a couple of attempts for a few years. DH says I baby my rosemary plants. Last year, I built a winter box with my DD and the rosemary even gets transplanted when I change my mind where it'll be for the winter. Amazingly, we've also been able to harvest fresh rosemary over the winter. 2 seasons ago, I gave branches of rosemary to a neighbor, she was able to keep them over winter in a vase and then planted them for last season. I haven't been by her place to see how they're holding up.

February 13, 2008	#14
GIZZARDFARM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: COMFORT TENNESSEE Posts: 300	I have tried seeding rosemary find it difficult. I usually just root cuttings. My experience is just about any limb that hits the ground roots. I have a Mother Plant (more like a shrub) that has produced over 100 new plants. I sell them at my Farmers market