Herb Gardens With Rosemary in Alabama

Rosemary Requirements

• Rosemary, a semiwoody evergreen subshrub, needs lots of sun -- 8 hours minimum daily. Wet, poor-draining soil is its enemy. In areas with heavy clay soil, amending with peat moss and compost is a must. In areas where Alabama’s infamous gray clay hardpan is obstinate, container growing may be a better option. Rosemary prefers sandy soils. An inexpensive soil test kit, available through cooperative extension service offices and garden centers, will show any need for more nutrients or acidity adjustments.

  Rosemary’s white, pink, blue or purple flowers are a draw for bees, butterflies and birds. Attaining heights of 3 to 5 feet, the drought-tolerant herb is used for hedges, topiaries, backdrops, accents for masonry or rock walls and as ground cover on terraced hillsides. Prune in spring or summer up until two months before first frost to shape or reduce size. Clip in small increments, removing 1 to 2 inches of tip at a time, trimming back in several sessions rather than one big chop.

Perennial Companions

• Aromatic sage and thyme have similar needs, including adequate soil, light and circulation. Like rosemary, both are easier to grow from nursery plants than seeds. Provide breathing room of 2 to 3 feet between plants -- or one plant per 18-inch container -- to help prevent downy mildew during humid summer months. Set in holes to the depth of the root ball.

  Sage, the taller of the two, may be pruned at maturity to remove dead wood and reduce spread before it produces magnificent purple flowers in spring. Low-growing thyme spreads to about 18 inches wide by 8 inches tall, flowering in late summer. Greek oregano (Origanum majorana), is another easy-care perennial choice that shares the same general characteristics, including sensitivity to overwatering.

Annual Herbs

• Many annual herbs, those that experience an entire life cycle in one year, are easily grown from seed. Parsley, actually classified as a biennial with a two-year life span, is an exception. You’re better off buying a starter plant, but if you really want to sow your own, soak seeds overnight in hot water to kick-start germination.

  There are no such challenges for dill (Antheum graveolens), a prolific self-seeder favored for showy yellow flowers as well as flavor. Tall varieties grow to 3 feet. Sow every few weeks to keep production cranking, spacing or planting in clumps. Cover with a 1/4-inch of fine soil, firm lightly and keep moist. Germination takes 10 to 21 days.

  Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is another easy-to-grow favorite. Sow seeds 6 to 12 inches apart. Seedlings emerge in 7 to 14 days. Pinch established plants regularly at leaf nodes to encourage continued production. If allowed to flower, basil stops growing. For a steady pesto supply, plant in mid-May and again in July.

Containers vs. Beds

• You can keep perennial herbs in the ground year-round in USDA plant hardiness zone 8. Overwintering is iffy in zone 6b and possible-but-not-guaranteed in zone 7. Hot weather brings different challenges for tender herbs like basil, which bolts to seed if left to bake in the sun all day.

  Seasoned gardeners hedge their bets, using a mix of bedding areas and containers for protection from heat waves and cold snaps, and they bring less-insulated potted herbs indoors when frost warnings are issued.

  Herbs don’t require fertilizer. Container plants need to be watered more often than bedded plants. Allow soil to dry out between waterings. Soil should be crumbly to the touch; containers should feel light.