Growing, Harvesting, Storing, and Using Rosemary

Experience the satisfaction of self-sufficiency by growing Rosemary at home. Even with minimal effort and less-than-ideal soil conditions, you can cultivate enough rosemary to meet personal needs and share it with friends and family. Growing your own becomes a practical and cost-effective choice with rising supermarket prices. This article will cover growing, harvesting, storing, and using Rosemary.

Grown from either plants or seeds, Rosemary is an outstanding perennial performer in Zones 7 to 10. Reports of it thriving in Zone 6 are not uncommon. Plants can be brought indoors to overwinter in colder zones.

Quick Guide to Growing Rosemary

• Plant rosemary in spring once the chance of a frost has passed.
• This easy-to-grow herb is a great option for containers, raised garden beds, and in-ground garden beds.
• Rosemary plants should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart in areas with abundant sunlight and rich, well-drained soil. They thrive in soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
• Before planting in the ground, mix several inches of compost or other organic matter into the soil. For container growing, use a bagged potting mix.
• It's important to water regularly and let the soil dry between waterings.
• Harvest rosemary stems by snipping them with sharp gardening shears. The best time to harvest is in the morning when the oils are most concentrated. Once the plant is established, harvest often, but avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.

History of Rosemary

Like many herbs, Rosemary has a rich history dating back to ancient times. A member of the mint family, Greeks, and Romans revered Rosemary for its medicinal and mystical properties and culinary uses. It even found its way into the folklore of many cultures, where it was believed to ward off evil spirits and symbolize fidelity in love.

Rosemary Seeds or Plants

Although plants are available and cost-effective, where just a small amount of Rosemary is needed, the only way to impact large areas is to grow Rosemary from seed.

A packet contains 100 seeds, and if all of those seeds germinate, a rosemary hedge can be created that can add year-round color to a fence, serve as a backdrop for flower beds, or even take summer grilling to new heights.

Propagating Rosemary from Cuttings

Rosemary cuttings are the most common way to propagate rosemary. If you're looking to expand your herb garden or want to expand your garden with more rosemary plants, your mother plant is an excellent source to start with. We have a separate article to walk you through starting rosemary from cuttings.

How to Grow Rosemary from Seed

Rosemary seeds have a low germination rate, so it is ideal to start them indoors in a warm environment (around 70°F or 21°C). To improve germination, soak the seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting them in a well-draining, sandy soil mix. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

How Long Do Rosemary Seeds Take to Germinate

Rosemary seeds can take two to four weeks to germinate. This long germination period means starting seeds about three months before warm weather arrives is important.

Encouraging Plants to Grow

Cover the container with plastic wrap until you see the seeds starting to emerge. As soon as you see the tiny rosemary plants beginning to grow, giving them a good light source and a warm environment is essential. We place our seedlings on a heat mat until at least the first few sets of leaves emerge.

Allow the Rosemary to grow inside or in a sheltered area outside until they are about 3 inches high and sturdy enough to handle. If the weather is warm outside, the seedlings can be put into the garden, where they will continue to grow.

Hardening Off Rosemary Plants

When they are a couple of inches tall, and the weather has warmed up, harden them off by putting them outside during the day, bringing them in at night for a few days, and then plant them outdoors.

In warm areas, rosemary plants grow large enough to survive outside. If placed in a sunny location, the plant produces pretty blue flowers early the following year.

Rosemary Growing Tips

Rosemary thrives in full sun, well-draining soil, and requires good air circulation.

Where winters are harsh and sustained temperatures are well below 30 degrees F., rosemary plants must be brought indoors for the coldest months.

For our in-ground plants, I like to cover them with freeze cloth when ice and freezing temperatures are expected to last several days.

If low temperatures persist, bring a few plants indoors. Put rosemary plants in terra-cotta pots and water only as needed to prevent drying out. Rosemary doesn't need a lot of water, whether indoors or out, but it does need to be put in front of a sunny south-facing window. If this is not possible, use artificial light. Heat is not critical. A cool room will do fine. Move the plants back outdoors once the frost-free date has passed.

Pest and Problems for Rosemary

Rosemary grown indoors is susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungus that can develop where the air is humid and good circulation is lacking. To counter these conditions, keep indoor plants and air somewhat dry.

Aphids and spider mites, if present, can be controlled with insecticidal soap spray.

Harvesting Rosemary

Snip off Rosemary sprigs all summer and into the fall and winter as needed. Where winter temperatures are severe and bringing plants inside is not an option, Rosemary can be easily dried and stored.

Bundle sprigs and hang them inverted in a warm, airy place. A covered porch works fine. Once dried, store the sprigs or stripped-off leaves in sealable plastic bags or jars. They will keep until next season.

Can Rosemary Stems Be Eaten?

The leaves/needles are the rosemary plant's most commonly eaten portions. The actual stem is usually too hard and woody to eat. In the early spring, the tips of the rosemary plant do have a soft bright green stem that is soft enough to be eaten.

Dehydrating Rosemary

Drying rosemary leaves is a simple process that can allow you to preserve the plant for long periods of time. In this video, we cover how to dehydrate Rosemary using a dehydrator. Drying your herbs is a great way to preserve your garden, save money, and always have fresh herbs on hand.

How to use Rosemary

Rosemary has many uses, but the most common is in cooking. It can also be eaten as whole sprigs or individual needles. Since Rosemary retains flavor well at high temperatures, it is good for meat, soup, and baking. My favorite way to use it when baking is in our rosemary bread recipe.

Rosemary cooking oil is also an enjoyable treat. It's a good companion to Rosemary and Mint. Rosemary potpourris and sprays are an easy way of freshening an area and are suitable for storage inside drawers and closets. Adding Rosemary to warm bath water is incredibly relaxing.

With its attractive spike-adorned stems, Rosemary has also found its place in Christmas decorations as it is easily added to wreaths and sprays. We even used a Rosemary plant as a mini Christmas Tree in the greenhouse last year.

More Gardening Help

If you're looking for even more detailed information, check out our gardening section of the website. If you still have questions, let me know in the comments section below or contact me in our private Facebook group.

LEARN HOW TO HARVEST, CLEAN, AND PRESERVE YOUR HERBS

Discover how to effectively harvest, clean, and preserve your fresh herbs allowing you to enjoy the taste of them year-round. This course includes printable handouts and videos and that takes you step-by-step to ensure you get the most from your herbs!