Growing Herbs: Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most deliciously pungent herbs there is. It is also one of the easiest to grow and harvest. This herb is not hardy to our area (zone 6 with protection) but it works wonderfully as a house plant, making it the perfect container herb. Where the dry air in our winter homes can make growing some plants difficult, this is not a problem for rosemary, so it's very easy to have fresh rosemary all winter long. In addition to being an attractive plant with leaves resembling pine needles, the herb has a unique and unforgettable flavor that is must for any kitchen. 

Growing and Harvesting Rosemary

Rosemary can be tricky to start from seed and because our season is so short, I recommend starting with a nursery grown plant. Planting this herb in a container will allow you to bring it in during the winter months. During this time, the plant will grow much slower than during the summer so either prune sparingly or plan to get a new plant every spring. At any rate, rosemary plants need to be replaced about every 3 years. This can be done by cuttings. 

Rosemary prefers poor to average soil with good drainage. Over-watering this beauty is the kiss of death! I found that out with all of our summer rains this year. My rosemary didn't like it one bit. When I moved the container out of the rain and let it dry out it fared much better. 

In the garden, rosemary will repel carrot fly which is a maggot that affects crops such as carrots, parsnips, celery, dill, parsley and fennel. Place near these crops to help with pest management. Indoors, rosemary will repel moths. 

Harvesting rosemary is as simple as trimming stems and stripping them of leaves. Leaves can either be used whole or chopped for use in your favorite dish. Because this plant is evergreen and does well indoors, it isn't as necessary to preserve rosemary as with other herbs. However, should you choose to, the leaves can be dried in paper bags and stored in airtight containers. Fresh rosemary can also be chopped and mixed with water to make ice cubes for use in soups and sauces.

Uses for Rosemary

Rosemary is one of those herbs that can take a dish from so-so to wow! It works wonderfully with chicken and other poultry, pork, lamb, fish, potatoes, breads, tomato sauces as well as many other foods. 

Fresh rosemary on chicken breasts is simple and delicious. My kids, picky eaters that they are, actually ask for rosemary chicken. New potatoes, butter and rosemary makes an excellent side dish. Finely chop rosemary and add to olive oil for a simple and flavorful dipping sauce for bread. Or add fresh rosemary to melted butter for use on breads and vegetables. 

For more recipes, check allrecipes.com for their Top 20 Rosemary Recipes. Just in time for Thanksgiving there's a recipe for Rosemary Roasted Turkey. Sounds divine!

Next week: Parsley--it's not just that stuff on the side of your plate!