Rosemary Growing Guide
Rosemary is a great next step in your growing journey. Follow this guide from planting to harvest and you'll do great.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -10°C
Plant Family
Lamiaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer; they root easily and grow far faster than seed. The standard method.
A woody Mediterranean evergreen that's easy once established — full sun, sharp drainage, and little water. Seed is slow and germinates poorly, so almost everyone propagates from cuttings, which root readily and give a plant true to its parent. Harvest sprigs year-round; trim after flowering to keep it bushy, but don't cut hard into old bare wood, which rarely re-sprouts.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
After last frost — rosemary is frost tender
Last Chance to Plant
~90 days before first frost so it roots in
When should you plant Rosemary?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Rosemary Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Rosemary Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant rosemary in a hot, well-drained spot
1 week after your last frost· every year
Trim rosemary after flowering (not into old wood)
120 days after your last frost· every year· optional
The Journey Ahead
Rosemary's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Rosemary is slow and unreliable from seed — start it from a cutting instead.
- 2Give it gritty, sharply-drained soil and let it dry between waterings; soggy roots are what kills it.
- 3In zones below 7, grow it in a pot and bring it to a bright, cool spot indoors over winter.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
90 cm
Mature Height
90 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Snip sprigs anytime once established; flavour is strongest just before flowering
How to Harvest
- 1Once a plant is established, cut 8–10 cm sprigs from the soft new growth as needed, never taking more than a third of the plant at once.
- 2Cutting often keeps it bushy.
- 3Strip the needles from woody stems for cooking.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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