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Farm Kitchen:  Freezing rosemary?  |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
 Posted - May 05 2009 : 08:05:05 AM
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I searched for this and couldn't find anything so I will ask our farmgirl group.
My family likes rosemary herb bread and I fix it about once a month with fresh rosemary. My problem is, at the market I have to buy more than I need for one loaf. Can I freeze the rest to use the next month? Any suggestions?
Patsy
I think that if a mortal ever heard the voice of God, it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. (F. Moore)
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2009 : 08:24:26 AM
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I would suggest drying it rather than freezing it. But maybe someone else has more experience. Have you considered planting your own rosemary? Then you could just snip off what you need!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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JudyF
Farmgirl at Heart
9 Posts
Judy
Cleveland
Georgia
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2009 : 08:30:36 AM
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Hey Patsy, I love Rosemary too and I agree that it would be better if you dried it, which is very easy to do (just put it somewhere and it takes care of itself.
But please try to grow some. I am so tickled that I have two patches in my yard now and can go snip it fresh anytime I want. AND it doesn't die in winter, so it's available all year.
Judy, Farmgirl Sister #578
There is Peace and Grace in our little Country Place. |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2009 : 08:34:35 AM
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Patsy, I'm not so sure about freezing it. Drying it would probably be best. And even better would be Julie's suggestion. Rosemary is extremely, extremely easy to grow. I have some in a container because like most herbs it can overwhelm a location and mine stays out year round. 'Course I'm in Alabama. I don't know how well it'd survive outdoors year-round in IL.
~~Cherry~~
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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farmdreamer
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Pat
Stites
Idaho
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2009 : 09:34:03 AM
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| Has anyone found a rosemary p;ant that can live through an Idaho winter. In California they can stay out all year and do great. I moved to Idaho and I really miss having fresh rosemary. I buy a plant each spring and stick it out in the garden. In the fall I cut every bit of it off and dry it. Wish I could leave it winter over but it always freezes and dies. Hope someone knows a hardyier variety. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2009 : 8:36:35 PM
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Rosemary can grow well in a container and will winter well indoors. Plant it in a large container and roll it in once the temps get real cold!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2009 : 07:27:50 AM
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Patsy, what I do is dry it and THEN freeze it! Keeps forever.
Each year I buy a rosemary plant and I've tried various ways to over-winter them...leave outside and they normally die off with our winters. Inside they shrivel up and die away...house too dry? Not sure. Whatever the reason, I buy a new one each year and it grows great guns in my herb garden and I do a big harvest in the fall, dry and freeze it. We use tons of rosemary at our house as we eat lots of lamb and it's a super complement for it. The reason I freeze it is just in case it's not totally dry, I don't have to worry about that molding up the whole batch I've done up.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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mulegirl
True Blue Farmgirl
184 Posts
rosemary
cottonwood pass
co
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2009 : 09:28:18 AM
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No, it's sunny today, I'm not freezing! (couldn't resist!)
Rosemary!
smile, follow your heart and don't look back
http://web.mac.com/rosemaryart |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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MissDotty
Farmgirl in Training
49 Posts
Anna
Coralville
IA
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 09:17:03 AM
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| If you are having problems overwintering rosemary indoors try tenting it. My plant is something of a topiary (in a flower pot, snipped into a nice christmas tree shape) and when I noctice it start to drop leaves, I water it well and place in into a plastic bag with just a bit of venting. This increases the humidity around the plant and seems to help keep it looking its best. Open the bag for air flow if you notice a lot of condensation. |
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farmdreamer
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Pat
Stites
Idaho
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 09:59:39 AM
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| I've tried over wintering rosemary but never had much luck. Thanks for the neat tip, Anna, I'll surely try your suggestion out this winter. Thanks so much for posting it. Pat |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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MissDotty
Farmgirl in Training
49 Posts
Anna
Coralville
IA
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 2:49:40 PM
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I live in an apartment, so it lives indoors most of the time. Rosemary isn't winter hardy in Iowa anyway, as it is a Mediterranean plant. I recommend only occasional tenting of the plant, as rosemary is quite prone to powdery mildew. I usually tent when the plant looks like it is suffering from exposure to air that is too dry (it naturally grows by the sea) as tenting prevents you from over watering and waterlogging the roots. Misting the plant has a similar result, but I think you apply more water that way and are more likely to run into mildew problems. After tenting for a day or two I always place the plant near a fan to make sure any condensation is evaporated.
I guess tenting is a bit like a deep conditioning treatment, good once in a while but causes it's own problems if you over do it. |
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knittingmom
True Blue Farmgirl
665 Posts
AnneMarie
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
665 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 3:15:32 PM
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Of course you can freeze it, since you're cooking it anyway. I freeze all my favourites that I use in cooking, dill, rosemary, basil....
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world" |
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Desiree
Farmgirl in Training
48 Posts
Desiree
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 4:20:36 PM
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Yes, I to enjoyed rosemary year around in California until 6 years ago. I planted Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) "Arp" last year in one of my raised garden beds. It did well, but was still on the small side, I did harvest some, but did not cut it all the way back in the fall. Last week when checking it out there was green at the base. Yea!!!! I trimmed off the brown top of each branch. Today it is a foot high, green and has a few blossoms. It survived. The mature size is 2'-3' tall and 2' wide. Full sun. Cold hardy to -10 to 0. Grown by Blooming Nursery in Cornelius, OR.
Simple Living With Nature........Farmgirl #157
www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com
www.beyondagarden.etsy.com
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2009 : 07:19:57 AM
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| For a Rosemary that is hardy, try 'ARP'. Oh, I just looked up and read Desiree's post. Yes, 'ARP' !! The mature size is more like 6 feet wide. I had a couple of plants that lived for about 5 years then started dying back. Don't know why, hard winter, old age, or what??? This year I am trying the varity Hill Hardy. We'll see. |
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Farm Kitchen: Freezing rosemary? |
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Freezing rosemary?
, got a silly farm girl in the ranks...love it Rosemary!