Rosemary Propagation Methods
Answering netizens' questions about rosemary propagation, here are some experiences related to rosemary propagation. The following editor will explain in detail for you.
Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae family, a perennial evergreen shrub. The leaves are narrow and long, similar to pine needles, with edges curving backwards, gray-green, leathery, and become needle-like when dry. The stems are square-shaped, with white small flowers growing from the axils in racemes, 1.2 cm long. Flower colors include blue, pink, white, etc. They generally bloom from December to April. The small flowers contain a lot of pollen, which is very attractive to bees, and the honey produced is of good quality. The fruit is a very small spherical nut, ovoid or inverted ovoid, with tiny, brownish seeds. There are many varieties of rosemary, roughly divided into upright and creeping types, with most commercial cultivation focusing on the upright type. The whole plant can be utilized, with a strong aroma, slightly bitter and sweet in taste.
Propagation Methods
1. Seed Propagation
Generally carried out in greenhouses in early spring. Both traditional sowing and seedling tray sowing can be used. For traditional sowing, the seedbed should be prepared first. The seedbed can be flat or slightly raised, with the soil finely crumbled and leveled, sufficient fermented base fertilizer applied, and enough water灌溉ed. Broadcasting or drilling can be used. However, try to sow the seeds sparsely, or mix them with fine dry soil, then sow on the seedbed and water lightly to ensure the seeds make full contact with the soil. The seeds have phototropism, so they should be directly sown on the medium without covering. Set up a small arch shed on the ridge to ensure soil temperature and prevent the soil surface from becoming compacted. The seeds rely on the water in the seedbed for development but the soil surface should always be kept moist. Water again after the seedlings emerge, using frequent light watering. The optimal germination temperature for the seeds is 15-20 degrees Celsius, and they will germinate in about 2-3 weeks. When the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, about 70 days old, they can be transplanted.
For seedling tray sowing, mix peat and vermiculite in a 3:1 ratio, then sow. Cover with a thin layer of vermiculite and water thoroughly. Set up a small arch shed, and the management is the same as traditional sowing. The difference is that after rosemary seedlings emerge, the trays should be moved frequently to prevent the roots from penetrating into the ground through the holes at the bottom of the tray, which could damage the roots during transplantation. If the trays are placed on a shelf, this is not necessary. Rosemary has a low germination rate, generally only 10-20%, and its growth is very slow in the first year. Even by autumn, the plant size is not much larger than when it was transplanted. It takes 2-3 years to form a large yield, which is very slow. Therefore, asexual propagation methods are generally used in production. However, plants started from seeds have a more fragrant aroma, so the choice of propagation method depends on the need.
2. Cutting Propagation
Usually carried out from winter to early spring, selecting fresh, healthy, and not fully lignified stems as cuttings, cut about 10-15 cm from the top, remove about 1/3 of the leaves from the lower part of the branch, and insert them directly into the medium. Keep the medium moist, and it will root in about 3-4 weeks. It can be transplanted to the open field after 7 weeks, with the minimum night temperature for cutting being 13 degrees Celsius.
3. Layering Propagation
Using the characteristic of rosemary stems that can produce adventitious roots, bend the branches close to the ground, cover them with soil, leave the top in the air, and when new roots have grown, cut them from the mother plant to form a new individual and transplant them to the open field.
The above [methods] introduced for rosemary propagation are for reference only.