Due to its sensitivity to cold, the popular culinary herb is an ideal candidate for planting in a pot or bucket. With appropriate care, rosemary thrives excellently on the balcony or terrace.
How to plant and care for rosemary on the balcony?
To plant rosemary on the balcony, choose a sunny, south-facing position, use clay pots, a loose substrate mix of sand, potting soil, lime and expanded clay and ensure good drainage. Group it with Mediterranean herbs like sage, thyme and lavender.
Selection of varieties
Anyone who thinks that rosemary is just rosemary will be very surprised by the large number of different varieties. Basically, any type of rosemary can be cultivated on the balcony, but there are a few speci alties with special growth habits or an outstanding aroma. Some creeping varieties such as Boule or hanging rosemary are very suitable for planting in balcony boxes or hanging baskets, provided the plant containers have good drainage. The long tendrils of the creeping rosemary will grow out over the box and hang decoratively. If, on the other hand, you need a little variety in terms of flower color, then plant white-flowering rosemary or the delicate pink-flowering variety Majorcan Pink. One of the varieties with the most beautiful aroma is the pine rosemary, which is quite sensitive to cold.
Good neighbors – bad neighbors
As in any other garden, not all plants on the balcony get along with each other. This also applies to rosemary, which feels most at home among its own kind. Group Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender together, but without the bushes blocking each other's light. In addition, rosemary also harmonizes very well with allium plants (e.g. ornamental garlic or chives).
Planting and caring for rosemary
A balcony facing south or southwest is optimal for cultivating rosemary. The Mediterranean plant needs a lot of sun, but can also be placed in light partial shade if necessary. If, on the other hand, you own a north or west-facing balcony, then it is better to switch to herbs that are less sun-hungry. If possible, choose clay pots for planting. These not only fit better with the Mediterranean atmosphere, but also allow excess water to escape more easily. A lean and loose substrate mixture of sand, potting soil, a little lime and expanded clay (€19.00 at Amazon) goes into the pot. Also make sure there is good drainage, as rosemary does not like waterlogging at all. Rosemary only needs to be watered moderately and fertilized only rarely - especially if you repot your plants regularly, fertilization is essentially unnecessary.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to overwinter your rosemary outside on the balcony, wrap the pot with warming protective film and also put a hood over the plant.
