This beautiful, fragrant, pest-resistant plant is an ideal choice for any Lehigh Acres garden. Rosemary has an honored place in my herb garden next to my front walk. Brushing past it provides a wonderful scent when entering and exiting my home. Plant it in our sandy soil without adding anything to amend the soil. If you are short on space, rosemary also grows well outside in a container.
Rosemary is practically carefree. Heat and humidity are friends of rosemary, however it does suffer with our dry winters. Prevent rosemary from getting bone dry in the winter with an occasional deep watering and it will beautify your garden for a lifetime.
Rosemary can be used as a single specimen or in hedges. A tall upright variety can reach up to 6 feet high and wide; a short variety can reach 2 feet high and wide; a ground cover can spread up to 8 feet in diameter. All varieties of Rosmarinus officinalis can be used in cooking, but the upright kinds are more aromatic. I prefer to trim my “short” rosemary once or twice a year to keep it looking its best, but this is not necessary. After every “haircut”, it always rewards me by growing back fuller.
Both rosemary leaves and stems flavor foods. The stripped woody stems can be used as kabob sticks for grilling. Whole sprigs or just the needle-shaped leaves can be sprinkled over whatever is in the crock-pot or roasting in the oven. Rosemary can also be used to flavor bread, vinegar, and tea. It can also be dried or frozen for storage, but why would you when it grows all-year-round here in Lehigh Acres?
