Q: Why are my herbs dying?

A: The second part in our “Herb 911” series is dedicated to one of my favorite herbs: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). The perennial herb thrives in warm sunny conditions and germinates in temperatures that range from 65 degrees to 75 degrees.

Rosemary is sensitive to frost, cold temperatures and sudden freezes. Especially if you live above Zone 8, I recommended that you plant your rosemary in pots rather than in the ground so it can survive the winters. The exception to this is Arp, which is the only hardy strand of rosemary that can handle Zone 5 temperatures.

The pH in the soil can vary from 4.5 to 8.7 and it can tolerate anywhere between 12 and 100 inches of water. Because this is such a wide range, it can be difficult to find the right balance.

Photo by geishaboy500/Courtesy Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/

Last week, Debby asked “Part of the plants branches have turned brown; is this from lack of water or too much?” Although I have not seen Debby’s rosemary plant, I think the problem lies in the watering amount. Last summer I was a little water happy and a few of my rosemary branches turned brown and the leaves fell off. To remedy this, I reduced the amount of water and watered less often. I think Debby’s plant will bounce back if it has a good drainage system and is watered less often.

Tips for Keeping Your Rosemary Alive

• Place your rosemary in a warm, sunny location to maximize its growth.

• Find a good watering balance.

• Keep an eye out for weather conditions that could damage your plants and adapt water and fertilizer amounts.

• Don’t be afraid to trim rosemary back, it is healthy to frequently cut branches. However, keep at least 20 percent of the plant in tact.

Do you have problems growing rosemary? What other herbs do you have a difficult time growing?

For further information on growing rosemary, check out Tanya L.K. Denckla’s The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food.

Q: Why are my herbs dying?   

A: Many readers have called and written our office with a common frustration: Why are my herbs dying? 

Here at The Herb Companion, we thought everyone would be interested in the answer, so we crafted this five-part series about "Herb 911."

Although finding a cure varies for each herb, I’ll do my best to touch upon common herbs and their growing conditions in this series. I will cover basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), mint (Mentha spp.) and lavender (Lavandula spp.) and on the final posting, I will take requests from readers about which herbs to address. Comment with your requests at the end of each blog post!   

Flash 'Red Rubin' basil teams up with classic 'Genovese'.

Herbs can die for many reasons; a few being location, exposure to sun, amount of water and pests. Basil is an annual herb that is hardy and easy to cultivate. That being said, I’ve had my fair share of dead basil plants.  

Tips for Keeping your Basil Alive 

• If your basil is taking a turn for the worse, it may be because of the location. Pick a location that is sheltered from harsh wind and yields lots of sun exposure. Basil thrives in warmer conditions, especially in the summer months. Choose a site that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day. (Explore the Bountiful World of Basil)

• If your basil meets the location requirements and it is still not holding up, the cure may be in the soil conditions. Like most herbs, basil loves rich, moist and well-drained soil and the ideal pH range should be close to or around 6.0. Your local nursery or hardware store will have pH test kit that comes with a color chart.

• If the location is spot on and you’ve achieved a balance in the soil, it might be a temperature issue. Anything below 50 degrees is too cold for basil, and the herb will start wilting and turning brown.

• Keep in mind that the lower leaves which are closest to the soil may turn a yellow-brown and fall off. This is normal and healthy, due to the larger and higher up leaves soaking in the majority of the sun.

What do you do to keep your basil alive? What other herbs do you have problems keeping alive? Drop me a comment and let's discuss!