From our perspective as rosemary seeds, the journey begins in a state of enforced rest called dormancy. This is a survival strategy. Our tiny, hard outer coats protect the delicate embryo inside from germinating during a fleeting favorable period, only to be killed by a subsequent frost. To break this dormancy and convince us that winter has passed and spring has arrived, we require specific environmental cues. The most crucial trigger is a consistent, moderate warmth. We do not respond well to extreme heat. Furthermore, many of us possess a slight physiological dormancy that is best broken by a process called cold stratification. While not always mandatory, simulating a mild winter by placing us in a moist medium in a refrigerator for 1-3 weeks can significantly increase our germination rates by softening our coats and signaling that it is safe to grow.
Our genetic lineage traces back to the dry, sunny hills of the Mediterranean. Therefore, the conditions you provide must mirror that climate for us to successfully sprout. We demand a well-draining germination medium; a heavy, waterlogged soil will cause us to rot before we even emerge. A fine, sterile seed-starting mix is ideal. The warmth we crave is not from a heating mat set too high, but from a consistent ambient temperature of 70-80°F (21-27°C). Light is also a critical factor. We are photoblastic, meaning we require light to germinate. You must sow us on the surface of the soil and gently press us in, but do not bury us in darkness. A bright windowsill or a grow light will provide the energy we need to begin our transformation.
Do not expect swift results. From a rosemary seed's viewpoint, germination is a cautious, deliberate process. It can take anywhere from 15 to 25 days for our first tiny cotyledons (seed leaves) to appear above the soil, and sometimes it can take up to 3 months. This slow and uneven germination is normal for our species. Once we emerge, our initial growth is equally slow. Our true leaves, the narrow, fragrant needles you recognize, will develop gradually. At this stage, we are extremely vulnerable. Our roots are fine and delicate, requiring moist but never soggy soil. Overwatering is the fastest way to end our journey, causing damping-off disease which swiftly rot our stems at the soil line.
As we establish ourselves and develop several sets of true leaves, our inherent hardy nature begins to show. We are preparing to become woody, perennial shrubs. This means we require space for our root systems to expand. Transplanting us into individual pots once we are a few inches tall prevents crowding and competition. Our light requirements intensify; we need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct, strong light daily to grow compact and bushy instead of becoming leggy and weak. Gradually, you can acclimate us to outdoor conditions, a process known as hardening off. Once mature, we are drought-tolerant plants. Our roots prefer to dry out between waterings, and we thrive in full sun and poor, rocky soil, just as our ancestors did on the Mediterranean coast.
