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

Rosemary is ideal for a rock garden or the top of a dry wall. It is often used for seasoning poultry, lamb, stews, and soups.

PLANTING

For a head start, plant the seeds or cuttings indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. See your local frost dates.

Plant the seeds/cuttings in well-drained soil. For best growth, the soil should be around 70ºF.

Be sure to give your plants enough room to grow. Rosemary grows to about 4 feet tall and spreads about 4 feet as well.

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

CARE

After the rosemary plant flowers, remember to trim the plant.

For fresh rosemary in the winter, grow the plant indoors in a pot. Be sure to put it in bright light and cool temperatures.

Prune regularly so that the plant won’t get lanky.

Water the plants evenly throughout the growing season.

Be sure to get cuttings or divide the plant for next season.

PESTS/DISEASES

Aerial blight

Bacterial leaf spots

Several types of root rot

HARVEST/STORAGE

Prune the stems to use fresh.

During the winter, bring 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.

You can dry the leaves as well and store in an airtight container.

WIT & WISDOM

Rosemary tea is said to enhance one’s memory.