Rosemary: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How to sow rosemary successfully outdoors?
To try sowing rosemary outdoors, wait in spring for consistently mild conditions and warmed soil. Germination is slow and can be uneven; in a cool region, starting under cover is generally more reliable. Use identified seed and follow the supplier’s instructions. Seedlings do not necessarily reproduce the characteristics of a named variety, so choose your propagation method accordingly.
Prepare a small weed-free patch with fine, well drained soil, or a pot with drainage holes and seed compost. Sow thinly, distributing the small seeds without requiring thirty centimetres between each one. Cover lightly according to the seed lot’s guidance and water gently. Maintain moderate moisture during germination without standing water or letting the seedbed dry completely. Fertiliser is not needed to trigger emergence.
Mark the sowing positions and watch young shoots for slugs and snails. If seedlings become crowded, move them when they can be handled without damaging roots. Final spacing applies to developed plants: allow at least around 45 cm, and more for a spreading variety. Gradually accustom moved plants to their exposure and protect against returning frost. Do not expect a substantial immediate harvest from small seedlings.
How to care for this plant
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Weed
If weeds compete with your young plant, hand-pull them without disturbing its roots. If you use mulch, choose a thin mineral layer to keep low shoots off wet soil and leave the crown clear. Avoid thick, damp organic mulch against the base; this is not a feeding step.
How do you harvest rosemary?
Harvest rosemary as you need it from a well-established plant. Its evergreen foliage allows small pickings throughout the year when the plant is healthy. Soft new growth in late spring and summer is especially pleasant for cooking. Take less from a young plant or one damaged by frost, giving it time to regain its vigour.
Snip a few leafy shoot tips with clean scissors. Spread the cuts around the plant to maintain a balanced shape and retain foliage below each cut. Avoid cutting into bare old wood, which is unlikely to recover well. A small regular harvest is often enough to flavour a dish; collect more only from a vigorous shrub.
Use the sprigs fresh or dry them in small bunches in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place. If you rinse them, remove surface water before hanging them up. Once the leaves are completely dry, strip them from the stems and store in an airtight container away from heat and light. Record the date and check their smell and condition: dampness and mould make a batch unsuitable for storage.
Rosemary
- Type : Aromatic plants
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical Family : Lamiaceae (labiate)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Perennial
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Mature height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Plant Spacing : 40 cm
- Row Spacing : 40 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Low
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Sandy
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing