Unlock the secret to perpetually having rosemary at your disposal year after year with this simple multiplication trick.
In the midst of our lunches and dinners, we’ve often enhanced our dishes with aromatic herbs, adding a delightful touch to both flavor and fragrance. With a variety of options available, from parsley to thyme and sage to bay leaves, one herb, in particular, stands out—rosemary, especially when paired with dishes like chicken with potatoes.
Characteristics of Rosemary:
Scientifically known as Salvia rosmarinus Schield, rosemary thrives in the Mediterranean atmosphere, particularly along the Tyrrhenian and Ionian regions. It’s widespread across the Italian peninsula, from the Adriatic coasts to Molise and the neighboring Garda.
An evergreen plant, rosemary can grow to a height of approximately 50 – 300 cm, boasting long and persistent leaves measuring 2-3 cm, emitting a unique and characteristic scent. Proper maintenance dictates that this plant be exposed to sunny areas and shielded from cold, as it is not resistant to rain and harsh winter climates. When placed on a balcony, it requires soil mixed with sand.
Multiplication of rosemary, how does it happen?
Rosemary can be multiplied through a process called cutting, where a piece of the plant is severed from the mother plant and nurtured in the soil to give rise to a new specimen. This method allows for the infinite multiplication of rosemary plants without the need to purchase new ones from a retailer.
Plants born from cuttings mature more rapidly than those born from seeds, as germination for rosemary plants takes considerable time. A rosemary plant obtained from a cutting will reach a usable size just a few months after being placed in a pot. This is advantageous as the clone plant will mirror the mother plant, maintaining the same flavor, characteristics, resistance, and scent.
The Cutting Technique:
Optimally, select young, green, and fresh stems located at the base of the plant for cutting. Avoid browner and woodier stems, as they may pose risks to both cutting and growth. Using sharp scissors, detach stems at least 10 cm long, preferably more than one in case the chosen stem is not very green or fails to take root.
After removing the needles from the lower part of the stem, place it in hot water in a warm location without direct sunlight. Change the water every two days to supply oxygen and prevent deterioration of the cuttings. After 4-8 weeks, if the cuttings have survived, roots will appear on each stem.
Transplant the rooted cuttings into a larger pot with sandy soil, exposing them to direct light for at least 6-8 hours daily. Once the plant reaches approximately 15 centimeters in size, it can be utilized, and new cuttings can be taken from it to generate additional plants, taking care not to harvest more than 1/3 of the plant, given its slow growth. If cuttings appear brownish and the needles easily detach, it indicates that they have not survived, requiring the selection of new ones to multiply the rosemary plant.
