Area
It grows naturally in Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), Turkey, Cyprus, northern Europe, the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France. Most often, it is found in soils rich in lime, on dry rocks, on the southern slopes of mountains, in places where the sun shines well.
Botanical description of the plant
Medicinal rosemary, evergreen shrub up to 50-100 cm in height. Stems erect, branched, young branches four-sided. The root system is well developed and penetrates into the soil up to 3-4 m. The leaves are 4 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, oblong-pencil-shaped, opposite the stem with no band or short band. The flowers are small, pale purple with two lips. Seeds ovoid, brown, smooth surface, 2-2.5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide. The fruit is round-smooth, brown walnut. The weight of 1000 seeds is 1.2-1.4 g.
Medicinal properties
At the top of rosemary twigs, flowers, leaves store essential oil. The essential oil contains a-pinene (30%), camphene (20%), tsineol (10%), borneol, L-camphor, caryophyllene, bornilacetate, limonene, resin and other substances. Rosemary has a strong fragrance and a pleasant aroma. Leaves, flowers, young twigs are used in the processing of dry fish products. It is added in small quantities as a seasoning to fried meats, fried chicken, minced meat, eye-catching salads, vegetable stews and other dishes.
Growing technology
First of all, it is necessary to prepare seedlings for the organization of plant plantations. In our conditions the plant does not produce seeds. It is therefore propagated by cuttings in a vegetative way. A mixture of low-grade, medium-sized, and high-grade cuttings is used to process unripe (not yet wooded) cuttings. It is recommended to prepare the solution in two stages. First a dry solution-thick mixture is prepared, then a working solution with the appropriate mixture. To prepare a dry solution, 1 g of growth medium is dissolved in 50 ml3 of 96% alcohol in a glass jar, then 1 l of distilled water is added. This produces a dry solution of 0.1% in a volume of 1 l, which is stored in a cool place. The working solution with the appropriate mixture is formed by adding drinking water to the dry solution. For example, to prepare 1 liter of working solution with a mixture of 50 mg / l, it is necessary to take 50 ml of dry solution. To prepare 8 liters of solution with a mixture of 25 mg / l, respectively, ie 200 ml of dry solution, the total amount of working solution reaches 8 liters. Also, the use of heteroauxin (in the absence of a mist-forming device) in the preparation of cuttings increases rooting by 10-15%. Treatment with a small amount of manganese solution also accelerates rooting and reduces the process of soil rot. Cuttings are cut in July-August, the stems are 15–20 cm long from the wooden branches. Wraps wrapped in a damp cloth are tied in 25 pieces and placed in a tub with a garden or in any glass, glazed, stainless steel container. The solution layer should be no more than 3-3.5 cm and not less than 1.5-2 cm. The cuttings are processed from 17.00 to 17.30, left overnight, washed thoroughly in drinking water in the morning and planted. To take root, such cuttings should be planted in specially prepared substrates in greenhouses. The optimal environment for planting cuttings in the greenhouse fertilized with rotten manure (2 buckets per 1 m2) and well-chopped, leveled, covered with river sand 15 cm thick. Cuttings are planted at an angle of 5–10 cm. Watered 4 times a day, every three hours. 20–30 days after planting the cuttings appear swelling of rooting points. By this time, the amount of daily watering is reduced to 2 times (morning and evening). In October, the amount of watering is reduced to 1 (in the morning). Then once a week the seedlings are watered until ready. Cuttings are ready seedlings in early spring in greenhouses.
Before the finished seedlings are planted in the plantation, the area is plowed to a depth of 25-30 cm, leveled, mulched and rowed at a distance of 60-70 cm. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 20 cm from the tubers and watered sparingly. Plants are watered 8–9 times a year.
Cultivated after every 2–3 waterings, weeded. With strict adherence to the recommended agronomic techniques, plant growth and development will be at the required level. Yields (10–15 cm of the main stem and side branches of the plant and the leaves on the whole bush) is 5–7 quintals per hectare.
