When to Plant Rosemary
Set out young rosemary plants from your last frost to 3 weeks after it.
Rosemary at a glance
- Plant out
- from your last frost to 3 weeks after it
- Time to harvest
- 60 to 90 days from planting out
- Harvest lasts
- about 24 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per square foot
- Frost
- Takes a light frost
- Comes back
- Every year, as a perennial
Growing rosemary
Rosemary is a woody, evergreen herb for full sun and sharp drainage. Buy young plants rather than seed. In pots, use a gritty mix and let the soil dry out between waterings.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Plant out | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | May 28 – Jun 18 | Jul 27 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 3b | May 17 – Jun 7 | Jul 16 – Oct 9 |
| Zone 4a | May 12 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 – Oct 12 |
| Zone 4b | May 8–29 | Jul 7 – Oct 15 |
| Zone 5a | May 3–24 | Jul 2 – Oct 19 |
| Zone 5b | May 1–22 | Jun 30 – Oct 24 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jun 28 – Oct 30 |
| Zone 6b | Apr 23 – May 14 | Jun 22 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 7a | Apr 16 – May 7 | Jun 15 – Nov 8 |
| Zone 7b | Apr 5–26 | Jun 4 – Nov 15 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | May 28 – Nov 12 |
| Zone 8b | Mar 17 – Apr 7 | May 16 – Oct 31 |
| Zone 9a | Mar 2–23 | May 1 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 9b | Feb 1–22 | Apr 2 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 10a | Jan 24 – Feb 14 | Mar 25 – Sep 9 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so plant rosemary in the cooler months and let the roots settle before summer heat. | |
Questions about rosemary
Can I grow rosemary from a cutting?
Yes, and it is quicker than seed. Take a few inches of soft new growth in late spring or summer, strip the lower leaves and root it in moist, gritty soil.
How often should I water rosemary?
Only when the soil is dry. Rosemary dislikes wet roots far more than a dry spell.
