Herb Gardening with Gil & Ann Martin-Fornaciari: Relentless Rosemary
Herb Gardening with Gil & Ann Martin-Fornaciari: Relentless Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis = dew of the sea), a favorite herb of ours, is easy to grow and can be dried or frozen for use year round. From various people we talked with this summer it was so nice to hear that rosemary is an herb that is a favorite on the Island to grow and use in various recipes. The abundance of recipes using rosemary is phenomenal, from meat to fish, salads to dressings, for medicinal use, and of course for landscapes. Not only is rosemary easy to grow, once you have decided to place it in your garden or container, it will “take off” beautifully.
Have you ever wondered how we, living in the United States, came upon this stunning plant? It was brought to us from the Mediterranean area! From the definition, rosemary was frequently found in the Mediterranean area near the sea. In this area people believed that rosemary strengthened the memory. In fact, according to many studies, if you put a small pot of rosemary in a place where you are trying to concentrate, the results are amazing – bravo, you remember more! The symbolism attached to rosemary is fascinating, as it was used at weddings and funerals due to its smell and “magical” spells. Europeans also believed that rosemary was a safeguard from witches and evil influences and buried the deceased with rosemary. As early as 300 B.C., the now modern day Mediterranean people used rosemary as a stuffing for fish. They truly believed that landscape rosemary produces the best flowers for honey production because obviously, the bees love it. If you know of anyone planning a wedding, suggest to the bride that a few sprigs of rosemary in her headpiece will guarantee a happy and beloved marriage!
The plant is easy to take care of and will grow in almost any soil with drainage. Place the seeds or young plant in a large pot or container outdoors when the chance of frost has passed. Once the plant has matured, the time has come to enjoy your rosemary. There are many varieties, with some varieties growing better in cooler areas, such as the Midwest. Check your local nursery for varieties available. Rosemary is so hardy that you can take a mature shoot from the plant, stick it in the soil in the pot, and it will live and grow into another beautiful plant. Or, for total success, toward the end of August take mature shoots, place in water in the house, cover with a glass container to create a solarium affect, and then plant in the spring outdoors. What a joy it is to go outdoors, cut a few sprigs of rosemary, smell the intoxicating aroma, and then use it in your favorite recipes. When temperatures become too cool for the pot to remain outdoors, simply take the pot indoors and place in a sunny location to enjoy your rosemary throughout the winter months. It may be difficult to keep the rosemary indoors during the cold months, so don’t be disappointed if your plant doesn’t survive.
Because of its resilience to the environment, rosemary should be grown in full sun, but it is also successfully grow in partial sun. Rosemary does not do well with over-watering and can be planted in almost any soil.
Landscapes are gorgeous and easy to prune into any shape you desire, but in the Midwest it is seldom grown for landscape purposes due to the cold weather in the winter months. Of course, we need to have rosemary for consumption and therefore grow it in our herb garden as well in the Southwest. Growing rosemary from seeds works very well too.
Once you have produced a splendid plant and are ready to be using it regularly, cut sprigs and store them in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator. To dry rosemary for use during any time of the year, hang fresh sprigs upside down in a warm, dry place indoors. After they are dried, remove the “leaves” and store in an airtight container in a cool and dry place. Keep the container out of the light to preserve a fresh flavor. How easy is that?
There are numerous medicinal ways to use rosemary today, from washing your hair, keeping your hair, warding off a weak heart, and even smoking it (for people with asthma). If you are interested in additional medicinal uses there is a vast amount of research, as we are not experts in this field.
A recipe that I use that is popular is as follows: wash and peel Washington Island grown potatoes (if you have them), cut in quarters, and then add to a frying pan with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Simmer the potatoes until almost done and then add crushed fresh rosemary to the pan and continue simmering for 10-15 minutes. Everyone is delighted when we serve rosemary potatoes for dinner. You can also put small red potatoes, cut in ½, on an oiled cookie sheet and bake in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees covered with foil.
Dribble olive oil on the potatoes and add rosemary, as well as sliced onions and peppers. This potato recipe we have used as a side dish with fish, meat, and chicken. You see; rosemary is an invaluable source for a tremendous meal.
Enjoy rosemary, as it is one of the best herbs for flavor and is easy to grow!
by Gil & Ann Martin-Fornaciari
