This morning I planted a packet of Rosemary seeds and placed them under grow lights in the office. This is the first time I have ever attempted to grow rosemary from seed so I’m pretty excited. As I was reading the seed packet I noticed it said rosemary was deer resistant. Oh.Happy.Day. This means I can totally work these {soon to be} plants in my front yard landscape without having to worry about the deer eating it.
I LOVE that!
Brief description: Rosemary is an extremely fragrant herb, used in both beauty remedies and cooking/baking. Check out my recipe for turkey rub HERE, it totally rocks!
Where to Plant Rosemary: Grow in full sun {at least 6-8 hours of sunlight}. Rosemary is not very cold tolerant, and thrives in containers where it can be brought in during colder temperatures.
Planting Seeds: Sow seeds surface deep, using 5 seeds every 12-18″. Thin to 1 every 12-18″ when plants reach 1″ tall.
Growing Tips: Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. If planting in containers, bring in for winter. Rosemary is a perennial in zones 8 or warmer. Otherwise you’ll have to treat it like annual unless you plan on growing it indoors.
How to Harvest: Remove sprigs with fingers. Wowza! That’s hard.
My Favorite Rosemary recipe: Rosemary Jelly. I made a batch this summer and love, love.loved it!
I read you can take sprigs of Rosemary and put them in a hot bath for a DIY spa treatment. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds totally amazing, have you ever tried it?
Aggie says
Like Lauren, I also grow “Arp” and it thrives here outside DC. It even survived snow. But I do propagate new plants each year just in case.
Mavis — do you not have rosemary already? Is that why you are growing from seed? Maybe a friend can give you a couple of cuttings. Much faster than growing from seed.
Angela says
I love the smell of rosemary! I didn’t think it was cold tolerant, but my step-mom has a large, flourishing bush of rosemary outside next to her patio. While she lives in Northern Alabama, the weather there is not that much different than ours in Tennessee. I was there week before last, and every time I passed the bush, I had to run my hand through it and smell. 🙂
Heidi says
I have a rosemary bush that I planted about 15 years ago in my yard. I live in Portland Oregon and have never brought it inside or protected it in any way from the cold weather. I love this bush and was thinking of trying to grow more this year. I make wreaths out of it every year for my front door. It also makes an excellent hedging plant.
Susan says
DD (who lives in the San Juan Islands) has a rosemary hedge in her (GASP!) front yard. It has been there for 2 years and she LOVES it!
It makes a beautiful hedge and she uses the rosemary in her cooking, too.
Lauren says
The easiest way to grow new rosemary plants is by propagation. I am in Tri-Cities, zone 6b/7 and my rosemary overwinters just fine. The key is the type of rosemary you plant. The hardy type I’ve had success with is “Arp.” I have ten plants around the yard.
Random Person Named Melissa says
I kept killing my Rosemary. Apparently it thrives on neglect and ummm I didn’t know that till recently.. I should probably try to plant some again.
Kathy says
Haven’t tried growing rosemary as of yet but yes have infused it into my bathwater. Totally revitalized and feel great after a tubby soak with this fantastic energy boosting herb. Also my sister makes rosemary mint soap that’s a fabulous eye opener on those mornings when not even a 50 gallon vat of the strongest coffee on the planet will work. Just call us tree hugging dirt worshipers.
Katie NC says
I live in coastal NC so growing here is a little different than where you are but, around here, rosemary can grow into GIANT bushes. If you’re planning on making some as landscaping space them accordingly. They also like sandy soil so mix some in if you’re planting it in the yard. Mine has always been planted outside and does great in the winter, its also true that they thrive with “neglect.”
Ashley says
Just be careful with rosemary water. I had a bunch that I’d brought inside for a centerpiece. I thought I’d water a bush with the water I’d had the rosemary in. Wrong move. The bush died! And the one next to it still looks sickly…
schmei says
I got some Rosemary Body Wash for Christmas. At first I wondered, “um, am I going to smell like Shepherd’s Pie?” But I tried it in the shower and it smells lovely. Would definitely make for a nice bath.
Mavis says
Hilarious!
Veronica says
You can start rosemary cuttings in a glass of water in your kitchen. Just transfer to the ground when roots appear. Might need to change the water every couple days while in the glass.
Elise says
You can strip the leaves off a rosemary branch by holding the tender top with one hand and raking your other fingernails down the stem (against the grain). You will get some “bark-ish” material and clumps of leaves, but it’s worth not having to pull off each leaf. Then just chop it all up you’ll never notice! This works with thyme too (which is where I got the idea, actually).
Erin in MI says
Seriously, how many seed trays do you plant at the beginning of the season. That’s what I want pics of. A whole packet of Rosemary seeds!?! You are amazing. Where do you put them all? I am so pleased to have stared a few seeds of three different types of onions and can’t wait to start other stuff, but I can’t imagine planting a whole pack of anything. Thanks for all the start to finish posts. Those are really helpful and encouraging.
Mavis says
Really, you want to see my seed set up? Alright, and try and take some pictures tomorrow. 🙂
Suzi Perry says
I really enjoy your site, but I am still looking to try and find how you feed your family on $100.00 a month! More details on that one please. I have family of 5 and very limited food budget, need all the help I can get. I am hoping to convert most of my small back yard to vegie garden and hope to get 4 hens, if I can find a way to build them a coon proof pen. The coons are everywhere in my neighborhood! I live in the middle of a residential area so have limited space for livestock but our town does allow 4 hens, no roosters:(. I grew up on a farm so have a fair amount of knowledge on doing things but am always looking for new ideas. Keep up the good work, your site is informational and friendly as well asentertaining.
Beth says
Suzi if u are still looking for chicken coop ideas. Check out ” chicken tractors” u caneven put wire or fencing on the bottom.We love ours!
Alyson Shank says
This might be late to the game but I steep rosemary in hot water. Then I take cotton pads and dip them in and place over my eyes. 10 minutes of lovely smelling aroma therapy and it helps with under eye circles. Anyways, I love your site! I’m having a blast looking back on everything and catching up!
Mavis says
Thanks for the tip Alyson! 🙂