Rosemary (Rosmarinus) is a half-hardy, Zones 6 to 9 plant that flowers from late spring to summer depending on the species. The shrubby perennial is grown for culinary use. The short, narrow, fragrant leaves cover the woody stems. Rosemary requires sandy soil with perfect drainage. It likes a pH of 6 to 7.5. It does not like wet or clay soil. Some sources say that it will not tolerate soil mixtures containing peat. I usually plant my rosemary in clay pots. These are brought into a garage heated to 45 degrees F. The soil is kept moderately dry and the plants are only infrequently watered. The plants get sunlight and supplemental fluorescent lights during the winter. In spring, the branches are pruned. The plants are hardened off and only moved outdoors after the nighttime temperatures are above 45 degrees F.

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