Organic Herb Rosemary (p)

Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Approx. 600 seeds per gram

Rosemary, the herb of remembrance. There are a number of named varieties, here we offer common rosemary. It is an evergreen perennial with narrow, shiny dark green leaves that are silver underneath. They are high in essential oils which are released by the sun and by crushing. The aroma is powerful and energising. Rosemary is a member of the labiatae family like mint, lemon balm, and thyme. The flowers run the length of the stems and are a bluey-mauve in colour. It has a very long flowering period. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean and prefers full sun and a well drained soil. It is also very cold tolerant. After quite a few years the plants can become large and woody and may need replacing.

How to grow:
Sow seeds at a temperature of 21°C in trays of good organic compost. Germination can be slow and erratic. When the seedlings are a few cm tall pot them up into free draining compost in 8cm pots. Grow on until they are about 8cm tall and then plant them out at a distance of 60-90cm between plants. It will also grow happily in a large container.

Pests and diseases:
Rosemary is a robust herb and does not suffer from much in the way of pests or diseases.

How to use:
Rosemary aids digestion and is often used to accompany rich meats. It makes a great herb butter or add it to roasted vegetables. Use rosemary to flavour onion, courgettes, aubergine and peppers in mixed roast vegetable. We love it, accompanied by handfuls of parsley and oregano slow cooked in a dish of roasted potatoes with tomatoes and red wine. Use Rosemary sprigs whole in cooking and remove before serving or strip the leaves from the stems and chop them finely. The larger stalks, stripped of leaves make excellent BBQ skewers.