Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rosemary Plants
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Plant in full sun in fast-draining soil; rosemary won’t tolerate being constantly wet. Ideally, the soil should be relatively fertile (mix in compost prior to planting to increase nutrient levels).
When to Plant Rosemary
- Plant rosemary is in spring well after frosts are gone, once the soil is starting to warm up (around 70º or 21°C). In warmer climates, plant in spring or fall.
- Most gardeners start rosemary from young plants bought at a nursery. This plant does not germinate easily from seed and seedlings are slow to grow.
- However, if you have access to an established rosemary plant, rosemary is very easily started from cuttings.
- If you wish to grow from seed indoors, just be aware it will take several years to grow the plant large enough to start harvesting.
- Start seeds or cuttings indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (See your local frost dates.)
How to Plant Rosemary
- Rosemary grows well in the ground or in containers. Remember that rosemary does not like wet roots, so if your soil is heavy or wet, plant in a pot or a raised bed. Also, rosemary does not transplant from ground to container well, so start in a pot if you plan to bring it inside (especially for colder climates).
- Before planting in the ground, mix in several inches of organic matter such as compost, to create nutritious, fertile soil.
- In a pot, use a container mix as rosemary needs a lighter-weight soil mix.
- Space starter plants 2 to 3 feet apart; rosemary does not like being crowded.
- If starting seeds or cuttings indoors, keep the soil moist while seeds germinate and roots develop. Seeds can take a long time to germinate (2 to 3 weeks), so don’t give up right away! Plant outside once the plant is 4 inches tall.
- Keep the soil uniformly moist, allowing it to dry out between waterings. Be consistent; be careful not to overwater.
- Rosemary shrubs growing in the ground do not need fertilizer, but a potted plant will run out of nutrition more quickly, so feed with an all-purpose balanced fertilizer after flowering.
- Mulch the shrubs to keep plants insulated in winter, but keep mulch away from the crown of the plant to avoid rotting.
- Prune annually before new growth begins in the spring and prune out dead wood. Don’t prune the rosemary too heavily.
- If you leave rosemary unpruned, it can get very woody, leggy, and straggly. After about five years, it’s best to replace.
- Be sure to get cuttings or divide the plant for next season if it won’t survive winter in your area.
- During the winter, bring potted rosemary plants inside. Learn how to overwinter rosemary indoors.
Gardening Products
Rosemary is wonderful with roast lamb, pork, chicken, pasta, stews, soups, vegetables (such as carrots), and sauces.
After drying, rosemary makes a lovely tea to aid digestion. You can also use it to infuse vinegar or olive oil or use it to flavor butter.
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Hi I have a very large Rosemary plant outside and right now it looks like it is dying there is only a little green left. Are they supposed to look like this at this time of year? Should I cut it back to see if it gets better?
Should I cut it back to the route or cut all and dry b4 I put it in a bag?
Hi Lisa, Thanks for writing in. Rosemary is a plant that thrives in a Mediterranean-like climate and does not do well in locations with cold winters. It is not uncommon for its branches to appear dead in early spring. Since there is a little green remaining, that is a positive sign. To determine if a branch is dead, scrape the bark of a few stems. If the stem is green underneath, new growth is possible. If it is brown, removal is necessary. If all branches are brown underneath the bark, it is best to remove and get a new plant.
I planted seeds, many knowing germination can be low, and I have about 25 seedlings in a 7in diameter pot! They have just started their second set of leaves. Some are spindle-y-lanky some have nice thick stems. I have been leaving them outside all the time and they seem to be loving this spring in Maryland. I am wondering at what point to I thin them? Do I have to thin them? Amazing that this isn't info I could find on the internet! Thanks in advance!
It depends on how fast you plan to use the rosemary somewhat. For a 7 inch diameter pot, I would definitely reduce this to 5 plants maximum. I would not let them get very big either, maybe 6 inches tall, as they will begin to bush out at that point, and you can then liberally cut off sprigs to use in recipes, taking no more than a third of each plant. if you choose to keep all season or over winter, I would not have more than one in that small of a pot. Hope this helps
I’ve heard a honey bee keeper claim that a sprig of rosemary placed in a beehive will control & eliminate mites that wipe out honey bee hives! Does this work? & if it does, whAt is the proper procedure? Thank you!
I bought a rosemary plant and transfer it to a bigger pot, but within a week time the plant start to change it’s colour and now it died what I did wrong?
It’s possible that the soil was kept too wet or too dry after repotting, or the plant was given too much sunlight. Freshly repotted plants can be fragile!
I've been trying to grow rosemary from seeds for about two weeks now with no results.
They're planted in miracle grow with a small amount of herb fertilizer added, there's a heating mat under the seedling tray to keep it at 72 degrees, the soil is moist and I have a UV light for both the rosemary (when it sprouts) and lemon balm. The latter has grown very well, but nothing from the rosemary.
Is there something else I should try? Maybe some tips to share? I'm at a bit of a loss.
Thanks in advance! <3
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