Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a popular herb to grow. It matures into a woody evergreen plant that is enjoyed by many cooks for the pungent flavor it gives dishes. Some chefs are recommending that woody sticks of rosemary be used for skewers. Rosemary is also used to provide fragrance in soaps and makeup.
Most varieties of rosemary grow best in well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic soil. A good site for planting rosemary gets a half-day of direct sun. Avoid planting in a location where water stands.
To harvest the herb for cooking, cut the new growth several times in a season. Allow the plant to replace growth between cuttings. The fresh cuttings are best stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Allow the leaves to dry for use at a later time by hanging in bunches.
Propagation of rosemary is most successful from cuttings since seeds have a low germination rate. Cut 2 to 3 inch stems from a vigorously growing plant. Trim away the leaves on the bottom one third of the stem. Stems can be inserted into a mixture of peat moss and perlite or course sand or dipped in a rooting hormone before sticking into a potting soil. Maintain high humidity around the stems by covering the container with clear plastic or misting with water.
Cuttings often take six to eight weeks to produce roots and can be transplanted at that time. Rosemary grows slowly in the first year. Some varieties of rosemary are grown for the small light colored flowers and are picked to use fresh. Varieties vary in mature size, shape and flower color as well as flavor. Locally mature plants often grow to a height of 3 feet and a spread of 5 feet.
Cuttings taken this month would give the stem time to root just in time for spring planting.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center, 1791 N.C. 11/55, Kinston, NC 28504. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.
LCC recruiting for ‘Back to Work’ program
The North Carolina Back-to-Work program is a retraining program to prepare North Carolinians for new careers. Lenoir Community College was allotted $120,000 for this initiative. Back-to-Work offers short-term continuing education training in fields such as welding, HVAC, wastewater treatment operator, certified production technician, aerospace composites, aerospace sheet metal, Microsoft Office specialist, Samsung small appliance repair and NC certified commercial pesticide applicators. Veterans and National Guard members are also eligible for additional choices in the health care field. We are recruiting those who are unemployed, underemployed, Veterans and North Carolina National Guard members. The Back-to-Work program will cover registration, tuition, books, required fees and third party certification costs. Call 252-527-6223, ext. 133 or visit the JobLink Center at Lenoir Community College.