The Sunday Mail
Andrew Mangwarara
Very few herbs get the admiration enjoyed by the rosemary. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is called the remembrance plant. lt releases its perfume when you brush against it and it will make you think of the good old days. Enjoy the fragrance of the rosemary as it is sure to tingle your brain one way or the other. Rosemary is botanically known as
rosmarinus officinalis. It is a popular evergreen plant for the garden useful in different situations.
Use it in flower borders, at entrances, in pots, as a hedge and in hanging baskets, particularly for the miniature species. Although small, the blue flowers are attractive when in bloom. In happier localities, it can reach 1,5m in height. However in some places, it is restricted to less than a metre.
A number of health benefits are attributed to the rosemary. lt boosts the immune system, prevents cancer, it is anti-inflammatory and also works in eye health and for diabetic patients.
Use rosemary for cooking purposes in moderation as it is quite strong in its flavouring capabilities. lt is particularly good for lamb, goat and game meat. Cook it with your vegetables and potato dishes.
Fresh or dried leaves can be used to make delicious tea. Add sugar or honey to cure the common cold. The invigorating tea boosts your energy levels. The tea will relieve nervous headaches.
You can make an anti-dandruff hair shampoo as well, bringing new life to your hair. Just boil a few leaves then cool the mixture, which you can then use to wash your scalp and hair. It’s scent is used in juices, teas, cosmetics, soaps and many others.
It is always advisable to use herbs in small quantities to avoid any serious side effects. However, pregnant women are advised to avoid herbs altogether, unless advised by medical practitioners.
To grow rosemary, take soft wood tip cuttings which have to be kept in a high humidity propagation house. A rooting hormone such as seradix will do the trick in three to four weeks. However, the easiest way to multiply rosemary is to ground layer a couple of stems, which will be cut from the parent plant when they have rooted.
Pot the new plants in a well-drained potting mix and grow until pot bound then transplant to its final growing position. Mix the soil with well decomposed manure after preparing the bed. Grow the herb in a well-drained site in a sandy loamy soil, preferably with a pH ranging from six to seven.
Like many herbs, water liberally. Once well-established, the plant will withstand dry conditions and does not like water logged conditions. You can plant it with other plants, helping to ward off pests in vegetables such as cabbage or carrots in what is called companion planting.
To enjoy the herb, you can just break off a few leaves with of a pair secateurs or sharp knife on any part of the stem and it will quickly grow new branches. If you have not tested the tea try it today, the flavour is sure to leave a memorable taste in your mouth. Enjoy!
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