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Rosemary herb is considered the herb of friendship, loyalty and remembrance. We can envy California gardeners who can grow their rosemary herb to its full size, making lovely scented shrubs. Most of us must be content with a much smaller plant that adapts to our weather. Keeping rosemary herbs indoors through the winter can be difficult. This herb requires a lot of light and the soil must be allowed to dry out between waterings... but beware of overwatering afterwards. Rosemary is one herb that may not be happy on your kitchen windowsill. All is not lost if your plant dies, however; it can still be tossed into a cooking pot or added to a potpourri bowl. Minus the roots and soil, of course. No one knows for sure just how much cold the hardier varieties of the herb Rosemary can stand. There have been instances where it survived a "normal" winter as far north as Vancouver Island, but it definitely froze out during the winter of 1968-1969 when that same area endured temperatures that dropped to zero F. If you live in area of mild winters, your rosemary herb should survive. However, I would try it with one or two established plants and I'd bring another few potted rosemary herbs into a protected area, just in case. Rosemary herb thrives with a winter temperature of 45 F. (7 C.) so a greenhouse or even a cold frame should keep it happy. Rosemary herb comes in a variety of forms. There are beautiful upright plants and there are lovely trailing vine-like versions. In general, the upright varieties can stand more frost in your garden than the prostrate or trailing types. |