Grow Rosemary, Thyme & Basil in Hot Indian Summers (Video)

Transcript

Can you keep rosemary alive through India’s monsoon?

Can you keep rosemary alive through India’s monsoon?

Growing Herbs in Pots

I'll show you how to keep rosemary, thyme and basil thriving in tiny pots, and reveal the single trick that saves them during the monsoon.

Can rosemary grow?

Rosemary can live on a roof in Lahore or Delhi if you give it desert-style conditions: gritty soil, a clay pot, morning sun and barely any water. The monsoon’s July-August rains clash with its need for dry roots.

Why rosemary dies

The most common killers are over-watering, heavy garden soil that holds moisture, and the humid monsoon that invites fungus, black spots and a musty smell, leading to soft roots.

Kindness trap

Only water when the top four to five centimeters are dry. Stick a finger or a chopstick in; if it feels damp, wait. In winter you may wait a week, in a hot May it may be every two to three days.

Pot recipe

Use an unglazed terracotta pot of four to eight litres for rosemary, two to four for thyme. Mix two parts potting soil, one part coarse sand and one part small briquettes. Skip the stone layer, because it traps water. Aim for five to six hours of bright morning sun, with light shade after two p.m.

Morning sun needed

Aim for five to six hours of bright morning sunlight, then give a little shade after two p.m.

The one tip for monsoon

The one tip for monsoon is to move every pot under a roof overhang, lift it on bricks so water drains fast, and tilt it on its side after a heavy rain. Thin the inner stems, stop feeding, and empty any saucers to avoid standing water.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.