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Rosemary: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rosemary Plants | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Rosemary

Photo Credit
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Salvia rosmarinus (aka Rosmarinus officinalis)
Plant Type
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Blue
Purple
Hardiness Zone
7
8
9
10
11
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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Rosemary Plants

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Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub with blue flowers. It’s an aromatic and distinctive herb with a sweet, resinous flavor. Here’s how to grow your own rosemary plants!

About Rosemary

Hailing from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, rosemary does best in warm areas with fair humidity, where it can grow into a shrub several feet in height. In fact, rosemary grows so vigorously in ideal conditions that it can become a bit of a burden if not managed properly! 

This herb can be grown outdoors as a perennial shrub in Zones 7 and warmer. In colder areas, it should be kept in a pot and brought indoors for the winter.

Rosemary is often used for seasoning poultry, lamb, stews, and soups.

Planting

Plant in full sun for the best results. The planting site should have well-draining soil; rosemary won’t tolerate being consistently wet. Ideally, the soil should be relatively fertile (mix in compost prior to planting to increase nutrient levels), slightly acidic in pH (6.0 to 7.0), and have a loamy consistency. 

Be sure to give your plants enough room to grow. Once established, rosemary can eventually grow to about 4 feet tall and spread about 4 feet horizontally as well.

In the garden, plant rosemary near beans, cabbage, carrots, and sage. Learn more about companion planting with herbs.

When to Plant Rosemary

  • Rosemary can be grown from seed, but germination rates are generally quite low and seedlings are slow to grow. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended to start new rosemary plants from cuttings taken from established plants. Cuttings grow quickly in good conditions and should be ready for outdoor planting in about 8 weeks.
  • For a head start, plant the seeds or cuttings indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (See your local frost dates.)

How to Plant Rosemary

  • Sow seeds or plant cuttings in well-drained soil. Keep it moist while seeds germinate and roots develop.
    • Note: Seeds can take a long time to germinate (2 to 3 weeks), so don’t give up right away!
  • For the best growth, the soil temperature should be around 70ºF (21°C).

Rosemary flowers

Growing
  • Water rosemary plants evenly throughout the growing season, but be careful not to overwater.
  • Rosemary doesn’t often need fertilizer, but if the plant looks small or growth seems slow, fertilize with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer in the spring before new growth appears. 
  • Prune regularly so that plants won’t get lanky.
  • For fresh rosemary in the winter, grow the plant indoors in a pot (or take a cutting from an outdoor plant and keep a second indoors). Be sure to put it in bright light and protect it from cold drafts.
  • Rosemary that’s grown in the ground does not transplant to containers well, so consider growing it in a container that can be brought inside during the colder months (if necessary in your climate).
  • Be sure to get cuttings or divide the plant for next season if it won’t survive winter in your area.
Harvesting
  • Snip off stems to use fresh, or hang them in the kitchen for dried rosemary.
  • During the winter, bring potted rosemary plants inside. Learn how to overwinter rosemary indoors.
  • Harvest young stems and leaves for the freshest taste.
  • Harvest up to a third of the rosemary at any one time, allowing the plant to replace its growth before taking more.

Rosemary

How to Store Rosemary

  • Air-dry sprigs of rosemary and store in an airtight container in the cupboard.
Wit and Wisdom
  • Rosemary tea is said to enhance one’s memory. Alternatively, wear a sprig of rosemary in your hair to improve your memory.
  • In the language of flowers, rosemary symbolizes remembrance.
  • A sprig of lavender or rosemary under your ironing board cover will release its fragrance with the heat.

The Many Uses of Rosemary

Enjoy this video showing the rosemary plant—and its many uses as a helper in the garden, kitchen, and healing home!

Pests/Diseases
  • Aerial blight
  • Bacterial leaf spots
  • Several types of root rot
Recipes
Rosemary Chicken With Spinach
Cornbread with Pine Nuts and Rosemary
Herbs
Rosemary

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Comments

Lisa May (not verified)

6 months ago

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.

Jillian M Chapman (not verified)

1 year 5 months ago

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!

Jeannie S (not verified)

6 months 1 week ago

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