From the Garden to Your Kitchen Table | A Complete Guide to Growing Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most useful herbs that you will find in any kitchen. Along with being a major part of different cuisines, the herb also possesses numerous medicinal properties, which is the main reason why there are many gardeners interested in knowing how to grow Rosemary. This brief guide will provide you with the correct steps that tell you when, where, and how to plant Rosemary correctly for a thriving plant. 

Planting Rosemary 

• You should plant rosemary in spring, well after the frosts have passed, once the soil is starting to warm up (around 70ºF or 21°C). In warmer regions, you can plant in spring or fall; it just depends.  

• Most gardeners prefer rosemary from young plants bought at a nursery. The thing is, this herb does not sprout easily from seed, and seedlings grow kinda slow, like you blink and nothing happened.  

• That said, if you already have a rosemary plant nearby, you can start it from cuttings, which is pretty straightforward.  

• If you want to grow from seed indoors, just know it can take several years before the plant is big enough for regular harvesting. Start seeds or cuttings indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost (see your local frost dates).  
  

How and where to plant Rosemary?

Rosemary grows fine in the ground or in containers. However, it does not like wet roots, so if your soil is heavy or holds water, plant it in a pot or a raised bed instead. Also, rosemary does not like being moved from ground to container, so start in a container if you plan to bring it inside, especially when winters get rough.  

• Before you plant in the ground, mix in several inches of organic matter like compost to make the soil richer and more fertile.  

• In a pot, use a lighter container mix, because rosemary likes airier soil, not something dense and soggy.  

• Space starter plants 2 to 3 feet apart. Rosemary really doesn’t enjoy being crowded; it’s a bit picky like that.  

• If you are starting seeds or cuttings indoors, keep the soil lightly moist while seeds germinate and the roots develop. Seeds can take 2 to 3 weeks to germinate, so don’t quit too early. Plant outside when the seedlings are around 4 inches tall.  
  

Once your Rosemary plants have grown, you can harvest them anytime you see the leaves green. It is always recommended to harvest young and fresh stems to get the best taste and benefits.