How to Grow and Harvest Rosemary

Here are our top tips for growing rosemary. For more in-depth information, keep reading below.

• Sunlight: Plant rosemary in a spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily.
• Soil: Rosemary needs well-drained soil. Improve beds with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil, or use Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix for outdoor containers.
• Planting: It’s best to start with young plants. Space them 2 to 3 feet apart.
• Watering: Be careful not to overwater. Water established plants infrequently.
• Feeding: A month after planting, start feeding with Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food, or if you prefer to feed while watering, use Miracle-Gro Organic™ Plant Food.
• Winter Care: In colder regions, protect plants by covering them or bringing them indoors during winter.
• Harvesting: Snip sprigs anytime once the plant is several inches tall.

Rosemary is a must-have for any garden. This aromatic, woodsy herb is a favorite in kitchens and surprisingly easy to grow, too. Most varieties are perennial in zones 7 and warmer, so you can enjoy the fresh flavor of rosemary year after year. Some taller, upright types can even survive the winters a little farther north. Let's look at how to grow rosemary.

When, Where, and How to Plant Rosemary

Rosemary is a Mediterranean native, which means it loves sun and can handle heat and drought.

• Timing: Plant in the spring after all chance of frost has passed.
• Location & Soil: Choose a spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily. Good drainage is essential for rosemary. When planting in garden beds, improve your soil by mixing 3 inches of Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil into the top 6 to 8 inches. This same soil is also great for filling your raised beds. For outdoor containers, choose a pot at least 14 inches across and fill it with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix.
• Planting: It's best to start with vigorous young plants, like those from Bonnie Plants, as rosemary can be tricky to grow from seed. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart in your garden beds, and water them thoroughly after planting.

How to Care for Rosemary Plants

Once established, rosemary is a low-maintenance plant as long as it's kept on the dry side.

• Watering: The biggest challenge with growing rosemary is giving it too much water. During the first growing season, provide newly planted rosemary with consistent moisture. After that, water established plants deeply but infrequently, only when the soil is dry. For rosemary in pots, especially those brought indoors for the winter, water sparingly.
• Feeding: Rosemary grows best with regular doses of plant food. Starting a month after planting, feed it regularly with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Plant Food. For a granular, continuous release option, use Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food. Always follow the instructions on the label.
• Preventing Mildew: In humid regions, you can help reduce mildew by mulching around plants with 2 inches of pebbles or fine limestone gravel. When heated by the sun, the warm stones help water evaporate quickly, reducing humidity around the plant.
• Winter Care: If you live in zone 7 or warmer, your rosemary can stay outdoors year-round. In colder regions, you’ll need to protect it from winter conditions. Cover in-ground plants and bring containers into a sheltered spot for the winter.

How to Harvest and Use Rosemary

Once your rosemary plant is several inches tall, you can start harvesting at any time. Simply clip individual leaves, growing tips, or longer branches as you need them.

• In the Kitchen: Rosemary provides a fantastic woodsy seasoning for meats, soups, stews, and vegetables. Unlike many herbs, its flavor is strongest when it is fresh. Try chopping it into olive oil with a sprinkle of salt to make a tasty dipping sauce for bread.
• In the Garden: Rosemary isn’t just for cooking! Use upright varieties to create a beautiful, fragrant hedge. Creeping varieties, known as prostrate rosemary, create a wonderfully scented ground cover.

Ready to start growing rosemary? With these tips, you'll soon be enjoying a harvest of aromatic, earthy flavor right from your own garden.