Rosemary

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, where it enjoys rocky, well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Select a location that receives full sun and has good drainage. Rosemary prefers alkaline soil but will tolerate a pH as low as 6.0. It is a perennial in zones 7-11 but can be grown in containers and brought indoors in climates with harsh winters.

Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Surface sow seeds into a light, pre-moistened seed starting mix and water thoroughly. Rosemary seeds require light for germinating and therefore seeds should be started in a location that has access to sunlight or artificial light.
Keep soil moist until germination has occurred (approximately 15-25 days). Although not necessary, germination rates can be improved by cold stratifying seeds for 2 to 4 weeks prior to planting.

Seedlings can be transplanted into larger pots once they are at least 3 inches tall. If transplanting outdoors, wait until the last frost has passed. Rosemary is frost sensitive and will not overwinter in cold climates. Place plants 8 to 24 inches apart.

Insect Pests

Diseases & Other Problems

The most common challenges to growing rosemary are its long germination period and dislike for saturated soil. When starting seeds, placing a plastic dome on top of the trays or pots will keep the soil consistently moist without the need for constant watering. Once established, allow the soil to dry between waterings. If black spots appear on the leaves, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Clip individual leaves or branches at any time or harvest the entire plant before frost and dry for later use. Dried rosemary can be stored in an airtight container for up to a year before it begins to lose flavor.

CONSIDERATIONS:

Under optimal growing conditions, rosemary will produce flowers in the spring and early summer months, usually beginning the second year after sowing. Although rosemary is self-fertile, studies have demonstrated a high degree of spontaneous abortion among seeds that result from self-pollination. Therefore, it is advised to have several plants available for pollination in order to increase the rates of cross-pollination. Pollination is most often performed by insects, however isolation is not required unless multiple distinct cultivars are present.

HARVESTING SEED:

After pollination has occurred, allow seed pods to dry thoroughly on the plant. Once mostly dry, clip branches or pull entire plants and place in a paper bag to finish drying. Crush the pods by stomping or rubbing between gloved hands. Shake the stems into the bag to collect the seeds. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

SEED LONGETIVITY:

Rosemary seeds will remain viable for up to four years when stored under ideal conditions.