How to Manage Pests

Cultural Tips for Growing Rosemary

In This Guide

Site selection

Rosemary grows best if the plant receives full sun to partial shade (at least 4 to 6 hours a day). Try to plant away from areas that will be watered by lawn sprinklers. Whenever possible, select a location that is not heavily infested with weeds, especially weeds that can be hard to control with hand weeding. Also avoid areas that have had previous disease problems. Planting on level ground may be easier to work on than sloping ground.

Rosemary will do well on a wide range of soils and especially in well-drained soils. If your soil forms a clump when squeezed, then it is too wet; if the soil crumbles easily, it is a good soil to use. Damp soil surfaces encourage snails, slugs, sowbugs, and root diseases; leaf spot diseases may also increase.

Adding organic matter (compost, peat moss, manure, sawdust, ground bark) makes clay and sandy soils easier to work with. The soil should be kept at a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5. Lime or gypsum can be added to soils low in calcium.

Soil recommendation

Well-drained rich to average soils.

Soil preparation

The preparation of your soil is just as important as adding fertilizer and soil amendments. Before working the soil, make sure it is moist but not thoroughly wet.

1. Use a shovel, rototiller, metal bow rake, or all of them together to loosen the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. Rake the area to remove weeds and old crop debris. Be sure to dig out roots.
2. Irrigate the plot deeply to encourage the germination of weed seeds.
3. In a week or two, after a substantial number of weeds have germinated, work the area again to kill the weed seedlings. Be sure to break up the clods in the soil, as seeds planted in cloddy soil will germinate poorly and won't live long because the soil dries too quickly.
4. Form soil into beds if desired, and plant while soil is still wet.

Time to plant

Sow seeds indoors 10 weeks before planting outdoors. Transplant in spring without concern for frost, as plants can survive temperatures as low as 15ºF.

Planting Rosemary

Rosemary can be grown from seed, starts, or propagated from cuttings. Rosemary does well in full sun. Plant rosemary 2 to 3 feet apart in landscapes.

Fertilizing

It may not be necessary to add fertilizers or amendments when growing herbs in well-amended soil.

Watering Rosemary

In the first year of planting, water regularly to keep the root ball moist. Once established, rosemary is drought tolerant and needs little watering.

Harvesting and Storing Rosemary

Harvest rosemary any time. Trim up to 4-inch sprigs from the longest growing branch tips. Rosemary can be used fresh or dried. Once harvested, rosemary will keep in in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks. Harvest or prune regularly to encourage new growth.