How to Grow the Herb Rosemary

Rosemary is a fragrant herb with flat leaves that will grow into a sizable bush under the right conditions. It's easy to care for, and the stems and leaves can be frozen or dried for use year-round. Rosemary adds a distinctive flavor to beef dishes such as pot roast and prime rib. Sprigs of rosemary make an attractive garnish for almost any dish. Grow the herb rosemary from cuttings because seeds frequently don't produce healthy plants.

Things You'll Need

• Rosemary cutting Rooting hormone Seed starting mix Starting pots Terra cotta pots

Instructions

1. Cut about 2 inches of a rosemary branch off the new growth of an established plant.

2. Strip off the lower leaves and dip the bottom in rooting hormone.

3. Add seed starting mix to a small container. Gently insert the rosemary stem into the soil.

4. 

   Place in indirect sunlight in a warm spot. Mist the cutting every day, and make sure the soil stays slightly moist.

5. Transplant the rosemary after 2 to 3 weeks, or when it has established roots. To test this, tug gently on the plant to see whether there's resistance from roots.

6. Plant the rosemary outside if you live in an area that only has light frost in the wintertime. Put it a sunny spot with good drainage.

7. Repot the rosemary once it starts to flourish if you plan to keep it inside. Make sure it gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Let the soil dry out before you water.

8. Periodically pinch off the top of the plant to encourage it to spread out.

Tips & Warnings

• Rosemary is drought-resistant, so only water it if it wilts. Harvest rosemary in the morning. That's when the oils are at their peak. To start the herb from seed, soak the seeds, place them on a propagation mat until they sprout and then transplant them outdoors or into pots for indoor use. Rooting hormone, seed starting mix and propagation mats are all available at your garden store.

Resources

• Herb Growing Tips and Herb History
• The History of Rosemary in Food
• Medicinal Uses of Rosemary