HERBS - Vegetable, Fruit and Herb Growing in Small Spaces - page 97

Rosemary
To us, lamb without rosemary just isn't lamb and on those rare days in the summer when the
barbecue sees action, some rosemary on the coals fills the patio with that gorgeous aroma.
Rosemary is more of a shrub than herb but it will do well in a pot as well as the border.
Like the bay, rosemary is best bought as a plant rather than seed and cultivation is similar;
except rosemary doesn't appreciate being pot bound as the bay does.
Try to avoid disturbing the roots when potting on or transplanting and ensure good drain-
age. If planting into a border and the soil is heavy, dig the hole about a foot to 18 inches
(30-45cm) deep and put some gravel and sand in to ensure the roots don't get waterlogged in
the winter.
It also seems to appreciate a tablespoon of lime dusted around the plant in the winter as it
doesn't like an acid soil. Feed monthly in pots through the spring and summer with a general
purpose liquid feed or use a slow release fertilizer in spring like Osmacote.
Rosemary isn't as amenable to topiary as the bay is but a clip in spring and autumn will
keep it tidy. Many varieties have a trailing habit so can look a little untidy to say the least.
For pot growing, I'd recommend an upright variety, my favourite being the quaintly named
Miss Jessops Upright. Miss Jessops is fairly easy to obtain, looks well and has very aromatic
foliage but there are around 20 other varieties available in the UK. Some are better than oth-
ers for culinary use and some better just used as a decorative shrub.
Prostrate rosemary is very low growing, almost a ground cover plant, ideal for pot grow-
ing. Its trailing habit means it overhangs and softens the edge of the pot. It's also good in a
large wall mounted pot or window box for the same reason.
If your shrub starts to get too big for your situation, then you can easily replace it for free
by taking a cutting in May or early June. Snip off a 3 inch (8cm) cutting from the end of a
young shoot and strip the leaves from the lower half.
Dip the root end into hormonal rooting powder and then stick into a 3 inch (8cm) pot of
multi-purpose compost. Cover the pot with a plastic bag to keep the moisture in and keep in
a warm place but out of direct sunlight. In six to eight weeks it should have rooted and you
will have a new plant.
Sage
Sage has been used since at least Roman times as a medicinal herb and even today trials have
been carried out to test those medicinal properties. Sage was reported to have some effect in
boosting memory and in the management of Alzheimer's disease. However, we just like it in
sage and onion stuffing. Sage dries well and can be frozen to provide year round supplies.
It's ideal for pot growing and will do well indoors on a sunny window sill. It can be started
from seed but is far easier to grow on from a nursery bought plant. Sage prefers to be on the