Planting and care
How to grow rosemary
Warm season · Woody perennial
Rooted nursery transplant
2–4 ft tall and wide; cultivar-dependent
Light sprig harvest about 30–60 days after transplant once new growth is strong; allow the first season for establishment.
Light feeder
Large Herb
How to prune
Shape lightly in spring after new growth begins. Snip flexible green tips above a leaf node; do not cut old bare wood, which may not resprout. Avoid hard pruning late in fall.
How to harvest
Snip small leafy sprigs with clean scissors after dew dries. Take no more than about one-third of growth at once and leave healthy green foliage on every retained branch.
Harvest and kitchen use
Aromatic leaves for roasts, potatoes and breads; remove tough stems before serving.
Nutrition and garden value
Aromatic herbs provide flavor and small amounts of vitamins/phytonutrients
High customer value in small space; flowers on many herbs support pollinators/beneficial insects
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Bolting, winter injury or root rot varies by herb