Help with growing rosemary

[Lynne1975]

I love fresh herbs, especially rosemary, but I have no luck growing them. I have now killed two rosemary plants. I buy them already grown, but within two weeks, they get brown and die. I think I underwatered the first one, then overwatered the second. Any advice from a Green Thumb would be very appreciated!

[Gail]

I'm sure that even as I type some horticulturally-inclined person will come along and give you all the specifics. You don't say, though, what kind of climate you're in or what kind of light you're dealing with. And of course, even if you did, I wouldn't know what to tell you! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I will say that I'm in Southern California near the beach and our soil is pretty sandy. My late herb garden (had to pull it out when we remodeled and I'm still waiting to replant) was west-facing and got a lot of direct sunlight. I tend to "forget" to water things (which reminds me-- my poor houseplants!), so things like cilantro went belly-up pretty fast. Rosemary, however, was a survivor. Grew like a weed, survived on neglect. It was the last plant to go after we'd pulled out the rest or the construction workers had done them in. I'd ignore the heck out of it and apparently it liked it! Just my two cents worth before the real gardeners come in! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[ewatkins]

Where do you live? In Colo. rosemary isn't hardy through the winter outside, so we leave it in the pot, and sink the pot in the garden for the summer, then bring it in. Before I learned this, I planted it right in the ground and had no problem until the first frost got it.

[SusanT]

Lynne - describe the conditions - Is it in a container? Is it outside?

[Cindy Rafferty]

I like in Mass. and I'm having the same problem with keeping my Rosemary plants. Am I overwatering them, I water every day?In Birmingham I noticed they were healty and growing beautifully.

[SusanT]

I wouldn't think your rosemary would need water daily unless you have it in a very small container.

[gobluem82]

If they had turned brown due to underwatering, I think you would probably notice. Is it possible they were bug-infested? I've had this problem with rosemary in the past. Spray the plants with insecticidal soap a few times; hopefully this will help. I'm in southern NY, and although my rosemary isn't exactly taking off, it's still nice and green.

[Laura Wick]

Many herbs, especially the fragrant ones, such as rosemary and lavendar, prefer a drier soil. Rosemary thrives on full sun and minimal watering.

[Vanessa]

Although there are many popular species of the herb used in landscaping, the most common, Rosmarinus officinalis, is also the best for cooking. It grows either in sprawling, crawling hedges or in taller, bushlike shrubs. If you're planning to dry the herb and grind its leaves, either type will do. If, however, you want to add fresh sprigs to stews or use the herb as a skewer for a kebab, cuttings from the more rigid, upright variety are preferred. Rosemary is hardy and needs only sun, good drainage, some shade, and moderate watering to thrive. Growers in colder climates should be warned: The herb does not survive a hard freeze. Although you can plant your own rosemary bush from seeds, greater success comes from transplanting cuttings. Cut a six-inch new branch from a healthy plant and bury the bottom four inches in vermiculite in a shady area. Keep an inverted glass over the cutting for two or three months until it has rooted and is ready to be transplanted.

STORING
Freshly picked sprigs can be stored in the refrigerator or in a vase. The pungency and flavor of rosemary allow it to stand up well infused in olive oil and make it a good candidate for flavoring salt.

DRYING
Rosemary dries nicely. After drying, pull the leaves from the stems and store the leaves in an air-tight container in a spot away from heat and light.

COOKING
Rosemary can be used dried or fresh. Crushing dried leaves just before use in stews, soups, or casseroles helps to release the flavor. Grinding fresh leaves with a mortar and pestle or chopping them finely reduces the herb's coarse, needly texture while keeping the flavor distinct. Drop whole sprigs into marinades for cuts of meat (it is particularly delicious with lamb) and use whole branches of the upright variety to skewer raw pieces of meat and vegetables before grilling

[madpots]

How about an old wives tale? My aunt (who could grow anything) told me that rosemary won't grow for everybody. If rosemary grows it means the wife is boss of the household and if it dies the husband is boss. My daughter can't grow rosemary even though she lives about 2 miles from me and mine is great. She has tried everything - cuttings, little plants, big plants, plants from the nursery. So now she just comes and gets some of mine!

[JHolcomb]

That must be why my rosemary is doing so well. My nickname is "The Boss" as in "I don't know if we're coming over tonight-gotta ask the boss." Oh, I only water mine every few days. It gets full NC sunlight and lives in a medium-sized pot.

[Julie O]

They do need full sun. They don't need as much water as other herbs. Could it be the supplier? Some places sell lower quality herbs. Then, it's hopeless.

[Lynne1975]

Here's some specifics about my plant situation - I live in an apartment near NYC, so I want the rosemary to grow on my windowsil in a small pot, since I have no access to a garden. I don't have much direct sunlight, so maybe that is the problem. I can try to put the pots on a different windowsill that gets more sunlight than my kitchen does. Thanks for the advice everybody!

[Vanessa]

Lynne try getting a rosemary plant and then fill a pot with potting soil, plant your rosemary and put it in your window silk. Don't overwater. Let the soil dry out then water. I moved one rosemary I had all yr to the deck and its doing terrible while the other 2 in the kitchen window are still green and fine.

[Curleytop]

I live in So.Cal. I have rosemary as a small hedge in the front. It was there 30 years ago, and we never water it. Just what rain we may have, which is very little, maybe 10 inches per year. It is hot an dry out there! Remember it is a weed!!!