Growing Rosemary

GROW YOUR OWN ROSEMARY 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a delightful herb to have in your own garden. It's an herb used in cooking and for its scent. It is used in many culinary dishes and is commonly used to flavor soups, sauces, and meats. In addition to being used in cooking, it has also been used as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments over the centuries. Generally not hard to grow, once it's taken, this perennial, woody shrub will be a feature in your garden for years to come. Here is how to grow it.

Planting And Growing

• Rosemary tends to be grown from cuttings and layering because seeds take a long time to germinate and are not always true to type. Seedlings can often be purchased very easily from the nursery.

To use a cutting:

• Take a 10cm (4") long cutting from the rosemary bush during late spring (it's best to do a few to ensure that at least one takes). 
• If you have a warmer climate, this can be done during early autumn as well.
• Put each cutting into a small pot of soil filled with two-thirds coarse sand and one-third peat moss. Water regularly and keep in a warm spot until the roots form.

Roots: 

• Roots can be divided for a very young plant, in the early autumn or spring but the cuttings are much easier and more reliable.
• Decide whether you want to keep growing it in pots (containers), or as a shrub in the garden. Three fundamentals for successfully growing rosemary are plenty of sunlight, good drainage and good air Circulation.
• It can also be trained as a delightfully scented hedge. For cooler climates, containers may be best so that you can move them if needed.
• If planting in the garden, choose soil that drains well. Rosemary can suffer from root rot in waterlogged soil. The more alkaline the soil, the more fragrant the rosemary will be. 
• Dig in some lime if the soil is too acid.
• Rosemary prefers a drier soil, so don't overdo the watering. It will be happy with the average garden watering. It likes to source most of its water from rain.

Pruning

• Rosemary can grow either very large or very scraggly under some conditions and should be pruned to keep the shape compact and tidy unless you don't really mind where it grows.

Harvesting And Storing Rosemary

• You can pick leaves from this evergreen all year round.
•  It's a good idea to dry some leaves at the end of summer if you want to use lots of rosemary over the winter, or add a sprig to olive oil for salad dressings. 
• Pick sprigs of rosemary leaves as needed. The bush will just keep on happily growing.

Few Health Benefits Of Rosemary

• Migraine Help- Rosemary has been a popular natural migraine remedy for centuries. Because smelling rosemary has been found to improve memory and mood, It not only helps relieve the pain of migraines, but essential oil of rosemary can also be applied topically as a natural treatment for arthritis, sore muscles, and other joint and muscle pains.
• Fresh Breath- Rosemary can be used as a natural mouthwash and is said to work very well.
• Anti-Aging- Rosemary is a popular ingredient in anti-aging skin creams because it helps reduce puffiness, stimulates cell regeneration, increases firmness, and improves overall skin tone. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and increases blood flow to the skin.
• Diuretic Properties- Rosemary is a mild diuretic, which means that it can help get rid of bloating and water retention in the body. When rosemary is used regularly, it may help in the increase of urine flow and help the kidneys function at optimal levels to help get rid of excess water in the body.
• Immune Booster- Rosemary boosts the immune system thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. Because it is healing in so many ways, it boosts the overall health of the body.

Orange Rosemary Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 skinless, bone-in chicken breast halves, each 8 ounces
• 3 skinless, bone-in chicken legs with thigh pieces, each 8 ounces
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup orange juice

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 450 F.
• Lightly coat a baking pan with cooking spray. Rub each piece of chicken with garlic. Dab fingers in oil and rub with oil, and sprinkle with rosemary and pepper. 
• Place the chicken pieces in the baking dish. Pour the orange juice over the chicken. 
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Using tongs, turn the chicken and return to the oven until browned, about 10 to 15 minutes longer. 
• Baste the chicken with the orange juice from the pan as needed to prevent it from drying out.
• Transfer the chicken to individual serving plates. Spoon orange juice from the pan over the top of the chicken and serve immediately.