How to grow Rosemary

At a glance

🌱 Grow your Rosemary with GardenDex

• Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
• Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
• Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
• Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it

🗓️ When to plant

Plant after the last frost in spring, or plant from established seedlings in mid-spring for faster results. In mild climates, spring or autumn planting both work well.

🌰 How to plant

1. Choose a sunny, well-draining location and amend soil with sand or perlite if needed.
2. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and plant at the same depth as the pot.
3. Water gently after planting, then water sparingly until established.
4. Mulch lightly around the base, keeping it away from the stem to prevent rot.

💧 Care

• Prune lightly and regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent leggy stems.
• Pinch off flower buds if you want to maximize leaf production, or leave them for ornamental pollinators.
• Feed sparingly—once or twice during growing season with balanced fertilizer; too much nitrogen reduces flavor.
• Protect from excessive moisture and humidity; ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.

🧺 Harvest

Pinch or cut sprigs from the top of branches as needed once the plant is established, harvesting more heavily in mid-summer through early autumn. Rosemary is evergreen, so you can harvest year-round, though growth slows in winter.

🐛 Common problems

Root rot: Improve drainage immediately by repotting or amending soil, and reduce watering frequency.

Powdery mildew: Remove affected leaves and improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering.

Spider mites: Spray foliage with water or use insecticidal soap, and increase humidity slightly.

🤝 Companion plants

💚 Good neighbours: Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Beans

⚠️ Keep apart from: Cucumber, Fennel

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