Rosemary from seeds - how to achieve good germination and get strong seedlings
The easiest and easiest way to grow rosemary at home is from sapling or having got hold of a cuttings. However, this is not always possible. and then one thing remains - to grow rosemary from seeds. Of course, this way is more troublesome and time-consuming, however, it allows you to get a lot of aromatic spicy bushes. Some craftsmen not only use seedlings themselves, but also exhibit them for sale. There are several secrets on how to get friendly shoots rosemary and grow strong seedlings.
Do the seeds need Preliminary processing
Rosemary seeds sprout reluctantly and take a long time, so it is better soak them for 2 to 5 hours before sowing. You can add a stimulant to the water growth - this will accelerate germination. Considering the tightness, proceed to planting it is necessary early - about February.
After soaking, the seeds are covered with a sticky film, which makes them difficult to sow. To prevent the grains from sticking to your hands, they need to be laid out on a napkin and dried well.
Often on sale you can find seeds on the package which indicated that they have already received preliminary training. Such planting material can be sown immediately, without soaking.
Rosemary from seeds - the subtleties of sowing
For growing spices with seeds, you can use a common container in the initial stages. But besides rosemary, no other cultures should be there. This culture has very long germination time - the first shoots may appear in 3-4 weeks. Seedlings most plants are already germinating by this time and require removal of the shelter. If this is done, then the rosemary left without a greenhouse will freeze and will not rise at all.
The container should be filled moderately with nutritious, but always loose soil. In heavy soil, it will be difficult for seedlings to break through, which will significantly reduce germination. Seedlings will feel good in a mixture of a universal seedling substrate and a small part coconut fiber and sand. It remains to spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and cover the flowerpot with a film or glass.
It is not necessary to deepen the seeds, it is enough just to spray the soil abundantly after sowing. It can be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil.
How to care for rosemary seedlings
Until the seeds hatch, it is necessary keep the temperature at least 25 ° warm and periodically ventilate greenhouse. Instead of watering crops, you just need to spray, but without fanaticism. Excess moisture will kill rosemary.
After about a month, when the seeds sprout, shelter can be removed. From this time on, the seedlings should be kept in a well-lit window. If landing was early, you need to install additional lighting. Rosemary very picky about lighting and with a lack of light will quickly stretch out and will frail.
Further care for seed-grown rosemary is not difficult and includes:
- moderate watering;
- picking (if the seeds sprout well and the distance between seedlings is less than 3 cm);
- stabbing before planting in a permanent place in open ground.
Do a rosemary transplant when the bushes reach a height of 8 cm. They can be planted in a pot or garden. In the latter case, do this not earlier than the frost has passed, and stable heat is established.