Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its leaves are long and needle-like, with curled edges, appearing grayish-green and leathery when fresh, turning more rigid and needle-like after drying. The stems are square-shaped, and white flowers grow in clusters along the leaves, forming racemes. Each flower measures about 1.2 cm in length, and the colors range from blue to pink and white. Rosemary typically blooms between December and April, producing abundant pollen that attracts bees, resulting in high-quality honey. The fruit is a small, oval or egg-shaped nut with a small, yellow-brown seed. There are numerous varieties of rosemary, generally divided into upright and trailing types, with the upright variety being most commonly cultivated for economic purposes. The entire plant has a strong aromatic scent, with a slight bitterness and sweetness.
Field cultivation techniques for upright rosemary begin with preparing the land. The soil should be tilled to a depth of 20–30 cm, and weeds are removed using chemical herbicides first. Next, the field is leveled and drained, with channels 20–30 cm deep and 20 cm wide. The ridges should be 1.2–1.5 meters wide, as wider ridges may hinder watering, while narrower ones reduce land efficiency. When transplanting, only healthy cuttings are used, spaced 40 x 40 cm apart, allowing about 4,000–4,300 plants per acre. Seedlings are planted in rows, with a small amount of base fertilizer applied before covering with soil. After planting, sufficient water must be given, but care should be taken not to flood the young plants. It's best to plant on cloudy days, during rain, or in the early morning and late afternoon when the sun is less intense. In southern Yunnan, planting can be done year-round, but spring and autumn are ideal. A second watering should be done five days after planting, depending on soil moisture. Once established, watering can be reduced, and any dead plants should be replaced promptly to maintain uniform growth.
Fertilization is important for rosemary. During the seedling stage, a small amount of compound fertilizer is applied after weeding, based on soil conditions. After fertilizing, the nutrients should be covered with soil. After the first harvest, a top dressing of quick-release fertilizer, mainly nitrogen and phosphate, is recommended. Typically, 15 kg of urea and 25 kg of calcium phosphate or specialized rosemary fertilizer are applied per acre.
Pruning is essential for maintaining the health and shape of rosemary. Pruning can start three months after planting, but care must be taken because rosemary grows slowly and has limited regenerative ability. Over-pruning can prevent new growth, so it’s safer to trim no more than half the length of each branch at a time. Although each leaf has small buds, these will develop into new branches over time, leading to a dense and untidy appearance if not pruned regularly. This can also lead to poor air circulation and increase the risk of pests. Upright varieties tend to grow tall, so it's advisable to pinch back the top when it starts growing, and prune side shoots two or three times to keep the plant compact and easy to manage.
Harvesting rosemary is usually done by cutting branches and leaves, either with scissors or by hand. However, care must be taken as the sap from the cut areas quickly becomes sticky and hard to remove. Therefore, gloves and long sleeves are essential during harvesting. The number of harvests depends on the plant's growth, typically 3–4 times per year, yielding 250–350 kg per mu per harvest. With proper care, rosemary can be harvested for many years, making it a valuable and sustainable crop.
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