How To Plant Rosemary

Does Rosemary Grow In Full Shade

Rosemary thrives in full sun but can tolerate a partial shade environment.This plant loves full sun (6-8+ hours of direct sunlight) but will grow in partial shade (2-6 hours of direct sunlight) as long as the area is dry and has excellent drainage and air circulation.Rosemary is an evergreen perennial shrub in USDA Zones 8 and above, which means it will thrive in dry, warm Summers.This herb does not overwinter well, particularly in the Midwest, so the plant should be brought indoors before the first frost during the wintertime if you live in Zone 7 and below.Similar to Tumeric, rosemary can tolerate part shade (2-6 hours of sunlight).These plants are great candidates for patio containers because of their dislike for root disturbance and need for excellent drainage.Select a well-draining site in your landscape or plant this herb in a pot to ensure adequate drainage.Placing the pot on a pebble-lined saucer filled with water will keep the humidity high around your indoor rosemary as well.In this case, because rosemary is susceptible to root rot, mulching heavily around this plant is not advised.Rosemary is often grown as a topiary, so using methods of pinching and pruning can lead to a desired shape of the plant.Over-fertilizing rosemary will prevent flowering, but light applications of fertilizer will also keep your plant looking healthy.But without understanding how the basics of growing Rosemary, you aren’t setting a proper foundation.Plants started from seed also may not have the desired traits that cultivated varieties grown from cuttings may have.Rosemary prefers bright sun, excellent drainage, and good air circulation.The plants can be pinched to promote a bushier habit and also clipped into desired shapes when larger.If you plant your rosemary directly into the ground, be sure to dig it up about two to three weeks before your first expected frost and transplant it into a pot.Leave the rosemary outside as it establishes in its new container, then bring the pot inside before the first frost.When rosemary is brought indoors, choose a spot with bright light, but do not put this plant in an area of high heat.Just make sure the plant receives adequate humidity in the form of misting or keeping the pot on a pebble-lined saucer filled with water.Once flowering has passed, you can severely cut back the plant to promote fresh green growth.Harvest rosemary by cutting off branches or tips and using the leaves or sprigs fresh or dried.Medicinally, this herb was used in the past mostly for respiratory ailments, but also for treating the plague, melancholy, gout, arthritis, and more.Today, rosemary can be used in herbal remedies for sore throats, colds, and even bad breath.Rosemary is an excellent accent for food, especially when used to flavor fish, pork, lamb, poultry, and even wild game.Adding dried or fresh leaves to roasts, dressings, garnishes, mushrooms, cheeses, and eggs are also other great uses for rosemary.The tips of rosemary leaves will start to turn brown if you’re overwatering your plant or if it is too wet.First, you can pinch the top of your rosemary transplant when it is small, which will promote branching and keep the plant more compact.Second, after your rosemary plant has flowered, you can cut back the branches hard to promote new fresh, green growth.This shrubby plant is a superb candidate for container gardening because of its need for excellent drainage and little root disturbance.If you’re worried that you don’t have enough sun for this Mediterranean herb, just know that you’ll need at least 2 to 6 hours of direct sunlight for rosemary to do well.