Rosemary Plant
The Beautiful Rosemary Plant: A Guide To Care And Enjoyment
The rosemary plant does well as a fragrant ornamental plant, with its intricate leaf structure and plush mild color. It will become a thick and lush window accessory, in wait of its destination toward the dinner table. As a garnish, the herbaceous cuttings of the rosemary plant are enticing and wonderful, and the striking hew of them enough to spike even the lowest of moods and appetites. The Latin name for this herb translates to “dew of the sea” and is derived of its indigenes Mediterranean roots. Despite the regional conditions which perfected the rosemary plant that we enjoy so much today, they are really quite amiable when it comes to growth and maintenance. The idea of perpetual summer and a constant mist of sea spray is a romantic one, but is not at all necessary for the health or flavor of your precious herb.
When used as an addition to a dressing or a recipe, it is basic tradition to first snip a stalk or two from your rosemary plant. Once you have done this you may gently strip the small, delicate leaves from the stalks with a soft downward pull. Once you have a nice little pile of fresh rosemary plant leaves, you can begin to chop them into a more fine spice. Remember, the more that you stimulate the moisture within the leaves, the more flavor will be released into your dish. Some chefs not only chop the leaves finely, but also press the chopped pieces with the flat surface of their knives for a better release of flavor and aroma.
If you are interested in growing a rosemary plant or two of your own, it is strongly suggested that you begin with cuttings from a fully established and mature plant. The seed of this herb can be quite temperamental and often will not even try to sprout. Cuttings, however, tend to be quite hardy when handled correctly, and should produce viable plants within six to eight weeks. In order to achieve this type of success, you will want to begin with at least six cuttings and a dampened, well drained, mineral rich soil placed in a medium sized pot.
Find some larger and more richly colored stalks for your cuttings. Clip them low from the base of the rosemary plant and place them immediately into your nutrient rich and well dampened soil. Be sure that each cutting has about one inch of room in order to take root. They will need to be misted each day, and you will want to finger test the soil for moisture content as dry soil will spoil your efforts. Within three weeks, you will be able to test your cuttings for root growth by gently pulling upward on the stalk. Once resistance is achieved the cuttings can be transplanted into individual two inch pots. Be sure to clip the head of your new rosemary plant, and then stand back and watch it grow.