Rosemary. History, cultivation and properties

A bit of history

Rosemary (from Latin - sea dew) is a perennial shrub, rather branched and tall, with small evergreen leaves that have a scent that captures notes of lemon, eucalyptus, pine.

The Mediterranean is considered the birthplace of rosemary. For centuries, it has been used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology, healing, and rituals. It was believed that the spice helps against the evil eye, the premises were fumigated with smoke, expelling evil spirits.

Rosemary flowers, as a symbol of fidelity, were added to wedding bouquets. And the ancient Greeks believed that rosemary makes a person happy and prolongs youth.

In our country, rosemary has been known since the sixteenth century. There are 4-5 types of rosemary in nature, but only two of them take root in our country. Rosemary is prostrate - it can be found in the southern regions. And ordinary rosemary (medicinal) - about it and will be discussed further.

Rosemary: growing

The plant is propagated by dividing the bush, cuttings, and seeds. With the division of the bush, everything is clear - the overgrown plant is dug up, carefully divided and planted. With cuttings, everything is also quite simple - you need to cut off the tops of the shoots (or buy fresh herbs at the grocery store or at the market).

Next, prepare the soil from black soil, sand, peat and humus, deepen the cuttings by 3-4 cm and water the ground well. Pots with cuttings should be placed in a sunny place for a month and a half, watered little by little, avoiding stagnant water. After the roots appear, it can be transplanted into open ground.

If you decide to grow this plant on your windowsill or in your garden from seeds, please be patient! Rosemary seeds take a very long time to germinate. The container with the prepared soil and seeds is covered with glass or cling film, put in a warm place (+ 18-22 єC), we moisten the earth every other day.

The first shoots should appear in about 3 weeks. From my own experience, I can say that the first sprout appeared in a month, the second in a month and a half! With the emergence of seedlings, we remove the film, put the container in a sunny place and wait for the rosemary to grow strong enough for transplantation.

If you plan to plant a plant in the country, remember that it prefers sunny places, moderate humidity (the main thing is not to overflow!), Loose and light soil.

On the windowsill in a pot, the plant will delight you all year round. But in open ground in mid-latitudes, it may not overwinter, so it must either be insulated or transplanted into a tub and brought home for the winter.

Rosemary: medicinal properties

The plant has an antimicrobial effect. On the windowsill in a pot, it is already working - it cleans your home of bacteria. Rosemary water infusion has a tonic effect, increases blood pressure.

You can also use rosemary infusion to gargle your throat. Rosemary oil is used to treat eczema, acne, and other skin conditions.

The scent of rosemary is a natural analgesic, so it can be applied and rubbed into the temples for headaches.

Rosemary: Cooking Uses

First of all, rosemary is one of the strongest spices, so you shouldn't abuse it. And there are foods with which it does not go well, such as fish, bay leaves.

In small amounts, rosemary can be added to salads, soups, baked goods, sauces, cheeses. Rosemary and meat or game are classics! It is also part of the famous Provencal Herbs bouquet.

If you're cooking outdoors, a pinch of charcoal rosemary will infuse your meals with a wonderful flavor! And it doesn't matter what kind of rosemary you use - fresh or dry. Experiment and discover!