Known for its strong aroma and versatile culinary uses, rosemary is one of the best-known herbs. It’s also incredibly simple to grow and maintain. Capable of flourishing either inside as a potted plant, or outside in the garden, rosemary is easiest to cultivate from cuttings, rather than seeds. While there are a number of variants, Gorizia, Arp and Salem are the three types that are best suited for planting in warm climates such as in the UAE.
If you’re propagating rosemary from cuttings, begin by putting each cutting into a small pot of soil and place in a warm, sunny spot, though not in direct sunlight. Water regularly. Once the roots have formed (which usually takes about three weeks), or if you are growing your rosemary from seeds, plant in well-drained soil. You can mix the soil with slow-release fertiliser or garden lime. If you’re growing rosemary in a garden, plant in full sunlight and, if possible, in proximity to beans, cabbage, carrots or sage. As the bush can grow to about four feet tall and spread four feet wide, be sure to give it enough room – planting each seed or cutting two to three feet apart should suffice. Watering should be done intermittently, as rosemary prefers drier soil. Unlike other plants, pruning is not necessary. However, because rosemary grows tall and wide, you can prune your plant to help it retain its shape.
Although rosemary is generally a robust plant, there are still a fair share of pests that can be problematic. Powdery mildew and root rot are two major issues for the herb, particularly in humid regions. To prevent this, ensure that your plant is properly drained and has good air circulation.
To harvest, pick as many sprigs as needed and allow the rest of the bush to continue growing. Those looking to dry the herb can use a rack or hang it upside down in bunches. Alternatively, you can strip the leaves from the stem and place them in an airtight container. You can also preserve them in vinegar or use them to flavour oil or butter. When harvesting rosemary for cooking purposes, make sure to choose sprigs that are supple, rather than woody.
Aside from being a hardy plant that flourishes in just about any climate, rosemary also seems to complement almost any dish. For steak lovers, try garlic-rosemary steak – it’s simple to prepare and only requires a few sprigs of rosemary, sea salt, garlic and olive oil. Vegetarians can indulge in a number of rosemary-based dishes, including a lemon, rosemary and roasted vegetable stack served on a bed of lentils. You can even use it in sweeter recipes, including as a garnish on an apple-cranberry crisp or mixed directly into salted caramel ice cream.
While rosemary is clearly a popular kid of the culinary world, it also works wonders as part of a number of home-improvement ideas. To adopt a more natural route when disinfecting your home, mix half a cup of borax into four litres of hot water. Add a few sprigs of rosemary and allow the mixture to seep into it for 10 minutes. Strain out the sprigs, allow the solution to cool and then store in a spray bottle.
If you’re trying to train your cat not to walk on, or enter into, certain areas of your home, rosemary acts as the perfect natural repellent. Because cats detest the smell of rosemary, keeping your cat off these surfaces and out of these rooms is as simple as leaving fresh branches of rosemary on and around the desired areas.
You can also keep your locks looking glossy and dandruff-free with a homemade rosemary-based hair moisturiser. Boil two-and-a-half cups of water with half a cup of rosemary, allow to cool and then rinse through your hair. Finally, rosemary has been linked to treating hair loss. Simply mix rosemary oil with olive oil, warm and apply directly to the scalp. Wait 30 minutes before rinsing and repeat once or twice a week.
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