Bonnie Plants Rosemary 19.3 oz

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ONLY AVAILABLE as Local Pickup or Local Delivery in Northern and Central New Jersey, Metro New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Southern Orange Counties.

Bonnie Plants Rosemary is easy-to-grow plant with great culinary and ornamental value grown in garden or containers, and has a stronger flavor when fresh than when dried.

A striking, upright evergreen shrub that is winter-hardy in zones 8 to 10, it fills the air with its fragrance as soon as you brush your hand across the leaves. The key to growing rosemary is a well-drained soil that stays evenly moist at first; as the plant takes root it becomes increasingly drought tolerant. It is also excellent for containers, which lets gardeners in colder climates to bring it indoors in the winter. Cut sprigs anytime for fresh use. Trim it regularly to encourage tender new stems or the plant will get woody.

It’s hard to have too much rosemary. The plant has so many uses that it will be enjoyed all the time. Just a few cut stems will fill a room with fragrance.

Type Perennial in zones 8 to 10
Planting time Spring, fall
Features Tiny, strongly aromatic and flavorful leaves, blue blooms
Light Full sun
Soil Well drained, on the dry side, pH 6 to 7
Plant spacing 24 to 36 inches
Plant size 24 to 36 inches tall
Garden use Herb garden, flower border, containers, low clipped hedge
Culinary use Italian and Mediterranean dishes, vinegars and oils, breads

At a glance

Light requirements: Full sun is ideal. Plants tolerate part shade, but growth will be scraggly.

Planting: Space 2 to 3 feet apart.

Soil requirements: Plants grow best in light, well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7. To improve soil drainage, add builder’s sand or small limestone gravel, or tuck plants into raised beds or atop a stone wall.

Water requirements: Keep soil uniformly moist, but allow it to dry out between waterings.

Frost-fighting plan: Established plants can survive a few hard frosts (under 28º F). Use a frost blanket to protect newly planted seedlings from late spring frosts or prolong the growing season. In general, potted rosemary can stay outdoors in a protected location until nighttime temperatures are consistently below 25º F.

Common issues: Mildew and root rot can devastate plants in humid regions. Plants can rot if mulch is piled against stems. Whitefly, scale, spider mites, and mealy bugs may attack rosemary.

Harvesting: Pick leaves at any point in the growing season. Snip individual leaves or stems.

Storage: Fresh stems last in water five to seven days. Refrigerate unwashed stems in a paper towel slipped into a loosely closed plastic bag that’s stashed in a warmer area of the fridge, like a door compartment. Use within 7 to 14 days. For longer storage, individually quick freeze leaves or stems on a parchment-lined tray and store in freezer bags, or freeze in ice cubes.

Rosemary is a woody-stemmed plant with needle-like leaves that can commonly reach 3 feet in height, eventually stretching to 5 feet in warmer climates unless clipped. In zone 8 and farther south, rosemary bushes make a good evergreen hedge. In zone 7 and colder, try growing rosemary in a container you can bring inside in cold weather. You can even train rosemary into topiary shapes. Plants are tolerant of salt spray, making them a good choice for pots on the beach.

Quick Guide to Growing Rosemary

Plant rosemary in spring once all chances of frost have passed. This delightful herb is an all-star in the kitchen and is a great option for raised garden beds, containers, and in-ground gardens.
Space rosemary plants 2 to 3 feet apart in an area with abundant sunlight and rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Before planting, set your garden up for success by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil. For container growing, consider a premium bagged potting mix.
Promote spectacular growth by feeding rosemary regularly with a water-soluble plant food.
It’s important to water regularly but be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings.
Harvest rosemary stems by snipping them with sharp gardening shears. Harvest often once the plant is established, but avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.

Uses

While rosemary blends well with other herbs, use it lightly on its own in lamb, pork, chicken, and veal dishes, as well as in soups and stews, vegetables, and sauces. Rosemary provides a wonderful flavour in breads and makes a good marinade with olive oil, wine, and garlic. Rosemary’s aromatic qualities also enhance a bath, bouquet, wreath, or sachet.