[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Growing rosemary makes a superb addition to any garden, whether in-ground or in containers outdoors or indoors on a sunny windowsill. These beautiful, evergreen, perennial herbs produce needle-shaped leaves that provide intense flavor and fragrance.
Rosemary is readily used in the culinary world to season meats and stews, and its lovely edible flowers make unexpected accents on salads. They also simply make stunning ornamental plants.
Follow our guide for essential tips on how to grow rosemary indoors & outdoors so that you can access this magnificent plant all year round.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background__as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner]
Growing rosemary from seed indoors may seem daunting, but with the right techniques, it can be quite rewarding. Fresh rosemary adds incredible flavor to soups, roasts, breads and more. Having your own rosemary plant means you can harvest it anytime you need it.
In this complete guide you’ll learn everything you need to successfully grow rosemary from seed indoors including
- Choosing the Right Rosemary Variety
- Improving Rosemary Seed Germination
- Providing the Right Growing Conditions
- Planting and Caring for Rosemary Seedlings
- Harvesting and Preserving Your Rosemary
Choosing the Right Rosemary Variety
When starting rosemary from seed, choose a variety suited to growing indoors in containers Some good choices include
- Blue Spire – Upright variety, 10-12 inches tall.
- Arp – Cold hardy variety with light blue flowers. Grows 12-24 inches.
- Barbeque – Upright growth, reaches 16 inches tall.
- Tuscan Blue – Upright growth, 12-24 inches tall.
- Miss Jessop’s Upright – Cold hardy, grows up to 4 feet.
Trailing or prostrate rosemary varieties also work well for indoor growing, including Huntington Carpet and Blue Rain.
Improving Rosemary Seed Germination
Rosemary seeds naturally have a low germination rate because of their hard seed coats. But there are easy ways to increase the odds your seeds will sprout.
The most common method is soaking seeds in water overnight before planting. This softens the seed coat so moisture can penetrate.
Another option is cold stratification – storing seeds in a cold, moist environment for 2-4 weeks before planting.
You can also try winter sowing – planting seeds outdoors in late fall so they undergo natural cold conditioning.
Whichever method you use, plan on starting seeds 8-12 weeks before your last expected spring frost.
Providing the Right Growing Conditions
Rosemary thrives in a Mediterranean-like climate – warm days, cool nights and not too much moisture. Replicating these conditions indoors will let your rosemary flourish.
Light
Rosemary needs at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. A bright, south-facing window is ideal.
If natural light is insufficient, provide supplemental lighting with grow lights. LED full spectrum bulbs work well. Place them very close to the plants.
Rotate containers frequently so all sides receive equal light.
Temperature
Rosemary grows best with daytime temps of 65-75°F and nights around 50°F though it tolerates temps down to 40°. Maintain these temperatures year round.
Water
Rosemary hates wet feet! Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Use gravel trays or pebbles in trays to increase humidity.
Soil
Rosemary thrives in fast-draining, sandy soil. Use a cactus mix or mix sand or perlite into regular potting soil to achieve this.
Terracotta pots also improve drainage. Add pebbles or sand below the soil line to keep roots dry.
Planting and Caring for Rosemary Seedlings
Once sprouted, rosemary seedlings need attentive care to grow into healthy, productive plants. Follow these tips:
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Pot up seedlings when roots fill containers. Use sandy, well-draining soil.
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Pinch off flowering stems the first year. This encourages bushy, compact growth.
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Turn plants regularly so all sides get equal light.
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Prune lightly and often to prevent leggy growth. Don’t remove more than 30% at once.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during active growth.
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Monitor for common pests like spider mites, mealybugs and aphids. Treat promptly.
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Bring outdoor rosemary inside once night temps drop to 40°F. Acclimate for 7-10 days first.
Harvesting and Preserving Your Rosemary
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Begin harvesting rosemary once plants are at least 12 inches tall.
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Cut stems just above leaf nodes to encourage branching and new growth.
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Harvest lightly and often, removing no more than 30% at once.
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For drying, hang full stems bundled in a dark, well-ventilated area.
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Store dried rosemary whole until needed then crumble leaves as used.
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Dried leaves retain aroma but lose some flavor. Use fresh herbs when possible.
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Make rosemary-infused vinegar or oil to preserve flavor.
With the right variety, seed starting techniques, growing conditions and care, you can successfully grow abundant rosemary from seed indoors. Homegrown rosemary adds incredible flavor and aroma to so many recipes. Plus, harvesting your own fresh rosemary anytime you need it makes cooking so much more convenient. Follow this guide and you’ll be harvesting homegrown rosemary year-round!
How to Grow Rosemary
Growing rosemary can be done outdoors in containers, raised beds, or in-ground in backyard gardens. It is also an excellent candidate for indoor growing in a sunny window.
Note that, unlike many other herbs that perform well when grown outdoor and brought indoors, rosemary can be a bit more temperamental when it comes to adapting to a change in growing conditions.
If you plan to bring potted rosemary plants indoors for the winter:
- Ensure adequate sunlight.
- Consider that indoor heating may cause more arid conditions for the plant than it had outdoors. Misting rosemary plants with water occasionally can help this plant acclimate better.
Starting Rosemary Seeds Indoors
- Sow rosemary seeds indoors approximately ten weeks before the last frost date in your area if planting outdoors.
- Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in a seed-starting mix.
- Keep the seed starting soil moist and use a warming mat if necessary to maintain soil temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Seedlings should emerge in approximately 14-21 days
- Provide seedlings with plenty of sunlight on a bright windowsill or under a grow light.
- Transplant seedlings into small pots and allow them to grow indoors for a couple more weeks so they can establish a healthy enough root system to thrive.
- Harden off seedlings before planting outdoors for at least one week in a protected spot.
How to MASTER Growing Rosemary From Seed – Complete Guide
FAQ
Should you soak rosemary seeds before planting?
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Soaking Benefits:Soaking rosemary seeds in water for about 24 hours can help soften the seed coat and potentially speed up the germination process.
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Alternative Method: Cold Stratification:Another effective method is cold stratification, where you place the seeds in a moist, cold environment (like a refrigerator) for 4 weeks before planting.
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Why Soaking Helps:Rosemary seeds are known to be slow to germinate, and soaking or cold stratification can help break dormancy and increase germination rates.
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How to Soak:Simply place the seeds in a cup of water and let them sit for 24 hours before planting.
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Planting Tips:
- Sow the seeds directly onto the soil and do not cover them, as rosemary seeds require light to germinate.
- Keep the soil moist but not wet until germination.
- Once the seedlings are large enough, thin them out, spacing them 12-18 inches apart.
- Sow the seeds directly onto the soil and do not cover them, as rosemary seeds require light to germinate.
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Important Note:Rosemary seeds are small, so it can be helpful to use a seed-starting mix and barely cover them with soil.
Is it better to propagate rosemary in water or soil?
Rooting a cutting in water typically produces roots faster, while planting cuttings in sand often results in stronger plants when they’re transferred to soil.May 30, 2022
Does rosemary need sun or shade?
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Optimal Sun:Rosemary, being a Mediterranean native, generally prefers full sun for optimal growth and flowering.
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Partial Shade Tolerance:While full sun is ideal, rosemary can tolerate some shade, especially in extremely hot climates where it might benefit from protection from intense sunlight.
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Signs of Insufficient Sunlight:If your rosemary plant is growing leggy, has pale green leaves, or isn’t flowering, it might indicate that it’s not getting enough sunlight.
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Indoor Growing:If growing rosemary indoors, ensure it receives plenty of bright light, such as a south-facing window, or use a grow light.
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Soil:Rosemary prefers well-drained soil, and it does well in poor soil as well.
How many rosemary seeds per hole?
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Low Germination Rate:Rosemary seeds can have a relatively low germination rate, so planting multiple seeds increases the likelihood of at least one seedling emerging.
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Seedling Selection:Planting a few seeds per hole allows you to choose the strongest and healthiest seedling to keep, and thin out the rest.
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Planting Method:
- Sprinkle the seeds on top of the seed-starting mix, lightly pressing them down without covering them.
- Ensure the soil is moist but not soggy.
- Rosemary seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover them with soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds on top of the seed-starting mix, lightly pressing them down without covering them.
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Care:
- Provide rosemary seeds with full light during germination (14-28 days).
- Seedlings require 8-10 weeks before transplanting.
- Provide rosemary seeds with full light during germination (14-28 days).
Can you grow Rosemary indoors?
To begin, start your rosemary indoors. If you live in a region known for cold winters, Pizzini suggests growing in containers so you can bring your plants indoors when the temps drop. This is because rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, so it does best in warmer climates.
How do you grow a Rosemary plant?
STEP 2: Plant rosemary seeds. Plant rosemary seeds by sowing them in a pot of well-draining soil and covering them gently with an extremely thin layer of soil mix. Carefully mist the topsoil without soaking it. Use bottom heat to help speed up germination.
How do I start rosemary seeds indoors?
You’ll need the following supplies to start rosemary seeds indoors: Small containers or cell packs – Use individual 3-4 inch pots or multi-cell trays. Seed starting mix – Use a lightweight, nutrient-rich mix. Plastic dome or wrap – To cover seeds and retain moisture. Grow lights – Full spectrum fluorescent or LED lights.
Can Rosemary grow in a container?
“Your container rosemary will thrive in a sunny window if you keep soil evenly moist,” she says. Give your rosemary lots of light. When you’re just getting started, Pizzini says plastic domes can be extremely useful for germinating your rosemary seeds. It helps to keep moisture levels even while you wait for seeds to wake up, she says.
Can you grow Rosemary from seeds?
Rosemary is a fairly slow-growing plant when started from seeds, so it’s usually easiest to take stem cuttings of established plants to start new ones. Propagate rosemary in the summer months in a container, then bring it inside when the weather begins to cool off.
How do you germinate rosemary seeds?
Give your rosemary lots of light. When you’re just getting started, Pizzini says plastic domes can be extremely useful for germinating your rosemary seeds. It helps to keep moisture levels even while you wait for seeds to wake up, she says. Once your seeds have germinated, remove the dome to avoid dampening off. Feed and water accordingly.