Growing Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    P P

(Best months for growing Rosemary in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Plant cuttings . Best planted at soil temperatures between 59°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 39 - 59 inches apart
  • Harvest in approximately 1 years. In warmer areas, harvest time might be shorter.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, Carrots, Cabbages, Sage
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes
  • Prostrate Rosemary

Rosemary will grow from seeds but this is not recommended as the success rate is very low. Small cuttings are easy to grow. Put in light, sandy soil where you want your plant to grow or start in small pots and plant out when established.

Rosemary comes from warm Mediterranean areas but adapts well to colder climates. In areas of heavy frost, a cutting potted up and kept in a sheltered spot will insure against total loss of your plant over winter.

Dryness suits rosemary, so well-drained soil and sunshine will be best.

Once established rosemary can be harvested all year round.

Rosemary grows well in patio pots or tubs.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rosemary

Leaves sprinkled on roast potatoes, meat and barbeque food make them extra tasty.

Rosemary can also be used to add flavour to vinegars and oils.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
24 Apr 22, Gina Jones (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there - I am establishing my first vege garden and have 6 raised beds - where can I go to for advice on crop rotation ( I note you have advice on what follows and precedes but where can I find the basics)
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12 Nov 15, Lee (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Tip: Rosemary doesn't play well with many other herbs. I've consistently seen it's stems grow almost at right angles away from nearby parsley, for instance. To avoid this you'll need approximately a 1.5 metre radius/distance away from parsley. Oregano and thyme tend not to affect the rosemary much, but these will begin to grow around or away from rosemary - it's quite funny to watch a plant do a slow-motion about-face; and if you think that following that the idea of the old folk song sounds nice and you plant parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in a pot, pretty much everything stunts and dies. Start cuttings in the spring thru summer (just snip off the top 30cm of a stem and plant it 15cm deep in-situ) and keep the soil damp/watered (once a day is usually enough) until you see the end of the soft tip of the cutting stand up under it's own wieght, consistently. For a few days-to-a-week after making the cutting, the soft tip will rise and fall with the heat/light of the day and then finally stand up. That's how you know it's taken. It'll shoot away pretty quickly after that.
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11 May 15, Gwenn (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy Rosemary seeds in NZ.
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18 Jul 15, Philip (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Gwenn, Put your question in a Google search. Here are three places that came up early when I tried it: oderings.co.nz/Shop/Oderings-Plants/Herbs-Cooking-Fresh/Herbs-Cooking-Fresh-__I.84__C.24353 gstuff.co.nz/shop/garden/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=806 egmontseeds.co.nz/herbs/rosemary You will probably also find them in your local garden centre e.g. Mitre10, Bunnings, Placemakers, will have them, as do some supermarkets.
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We have rosemary planted in the ground. We have had it in full sun as well as in partial shade - it thrives either way. Rosemary will get to be at least three feet tall and may create 3-4 foot diameter bunches so be sure to give it some space.

- Patricia Foster

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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