How to Grow and Care for Rosemary
Plant rosemary in the spring after the weather has warmed up and frost is no longer expected. For rosemary that is grown in containers, you can plant it any time of the year. Keep in mind that while container-grown rosemary is more flexible in terms of timing, it will go dormant during the colder winter months.
When considering where to plant, choose a sunny location that has soil that drains well. Rosemary thrives in full sunlight and benefits from sharp-draining soil to prevent water from pooling around the roots.
It is also beneficial to plant rosemary alongside certain vegetables. Good companion plants for rosemary include cruciferous vegetables like kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, as well as beans, carrots, and spinach.
Rosemary can also be successfully grown in containers, whether outdoors or indoors. When grown indoors, the plant still requires adequate sunlight. It can be somewhat challenging to provide enough light inside, so keep that in mind.
As a result, rosemary plants grown indoors typically do not live as long as those grown outside, with outdoor rosemary often thriving for about ten years.
When planting rosemary, it is important to space the shrubs at least two to three feet apart. This spacing allows for proper air circulation and growth. If you are planting seedlings or nursery plants, ensure you plant them at the same depth they were growing in their previous container.
For seeds, they should be planted just barely covered with soil to facilitate germination. Generally, rosemary does not require a support structure, as it grows well without one.