Rosemary, with its fragrant aroma and versatile uses, is a delightful herb to grow, and you don’t need a vast garden to enjoy its benefits.
Growing rosemary in pots is a convenient and space-saving way to have this aromatic herb at your fingertips.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to successfully cultivate rosemary in pots, allowing you to add a touch of elegance and flavor to your culinary endeavors.
Choosing the Right Pot
Size Matters: Opt for a pot that is at least 12 to 16 inches in diameter and has sufficient depth. Rosemary develops an extensive root system, and a larger pot allows for healthier growth.
Drainage is Key: Ensure that the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil, which can be detrimental to rosemary. Good drainage is crucial for preventing root rot.
Material: Choose a pot made of a porous material like terracotta or a high-quality plastic blend. These materials allow for better airflow to the roots and help regulate moisture levels.
Selecting the Right Soil
Well-Draining Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix designed for herbs or succulents. You can also create a mix by combining regular potting soil with perlite or coarse sand to enhance drainage.
pH Level: Rosemary prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil. You can check the pH level using a soil test kit and adjust it if necessary.
Planting Rosemary
Positioning: Place your potted rosemary in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. Rosemary thrives in full sunlight, so choose a sunny spot, preferably near a south-facing window.
Planting Depth: Plant your rosemary in the center of the pot, ensuring that the top of the root ball sits just below the soil surface. This helps prevent water from pooling around the plant’s base.
Spacing: If planting more than one rosemary plant in the same pot, ensure they are spaced at least 12 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation.
Watering and Care
Watering Frequency: Rosemary is drought-tolerant and prefers slightly dry conditions. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Mulching also inhibits weed growth around the plant.
Fertilizing: Rosemary is not a heavy feeder. During the growing season (spring and summer), you can apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month.
Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain the shape of your potted rosemary and encourages bushier growth. Prune the tips of the branches, and remove any dead or woody growth.
Overwintering: If you live in a cold climate, consider bringing your potted rosemary indoors during the winter months. Place it in a sunny location, and reduce watering to accommodate its dormant phase.
Harvesting Rosemary
Wait for Establishment: Allow your rosemary plant to establish itself for a few months before harvesting. This ensures the plant has the energy to support continuous growth.
Prune with Care: When harvesting, snip the tips of the branches with sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears. Avoid cutting into the woody stems excessively to encourage lateral branching.
Harvesting Frequency: Harvest rosemary leaves as needed. Regular pruning promotes fresh growth and maintains the plant’s vitality.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Yellowing Leaves: Yellowing leaves may indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Adjust your watering frequency and ensure the pot has proper drainage.
Root Rot: Root rot is often caused by overly wet conditions. Ensure the potting mix is well-draining and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Pests: Keep an eye out for common pests like spider mites or aphids. Regularly inspect the leaves and treat any infestations promptly with insecticidal soap.
Growing rosemary in pots is a rewarding and accessible way to bring the aromatic charm of this herb into your home.
15 Unusual Ways To Use Rosemary
In cooking
- In general cooking
You can use rosemary in anything you like because it will give a special kick to your food. Add it to quiches, stews, roast.
Add it to your juices, salads or drinks and enrich the taste of your every plain dish.
- Infused olive oil
Cut 4 or 5 stems of Rosemary and add them in a cup of olive oil. Put this mixture on a stove and simmer over medium heat for five to seven minutes.
Then let the infused olive oil to cool. Pour this mixture into a bottle. Seal the bottle and season every salad or food whenever you like.
This can also be a great idea for a gift to someone who just loves rosemary taste.
- Rosemary salt
Add a cup of rosemary leaves to three cups of salt. Stir this mixture well, cover it and let it sit for approximately two weeks.
You can use this infused salt on any dish that you like. Grilled fish, roast vegetables, chicken will be enriched with a new flavor by adding this salt to them.
- Rosemary honey
Put a cup of honey in a small pot. Then add five rosemary springs to it. Put the pot on a stove and simmer for about five minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for about 45 minutes. Remove the rosemary springs and pour the honey in a container.
You can use the infused honey on your toast, drizzle it over goat cheese or brie or to sweeten your tea or juice.
- Soups and sauces
When it comes to sauces rosemary is certainly the right choice. When you are making marinades you can’t make a mistake combining rosemary with garlic, citrus, butter, peppercorn, olive oil, balsamic vinegar or even port.
While in soups the herb pairs well with roast mixed vegetables, sweet potato, potato, chicken, chickpea, zucchini and the list goes on.
- Rosemary lemonade
Put a cup of water into a pot and add 2 ½ cups of sugar. Put it on the stove and heat it until it boils. Remove it from the heat.
Add 9 springs of rosemary into the pot and let it steep for 30 minutes. Then strain the mixture and add it to ½ cup of lemon juice and 4 cups of cold water.
Let it cool for some time. Taste it and add some sugar or water according to your preference.
- Drinks
Detox your body by adding a few springs of rosemary in a bottle of water or give your cocktails a kick by adding rosemary.
Stay hydrated during the summer with rosemary and grapefruit infused water or sparkling rosemary limeade. Add some lemon and rosemary into your iced tea.
You can also try a blend from apple, pear and rosemary to stay hydrated all summer long.
Relax at the evening after a hard day at work with a rosemary gimlet gin or a lemon and rosemary bourbon sour.
As a medicine
- Rosemary essential oil
Use rosemary essential oil to relieve yourself from anxiety, indigestion, joint pains, cold, flu, headache, bad circulation and much more.
You can easily make your own rosemary essential oil. All you need to do is infuse your rosemary leaves in carrier oil like jojoba or olive oil.
Put the oil in a jar and leave it in a sunny position for three to six weeks. You can use this oil for mental clarity, aching muscles and relaxing massages.
- Relieves congestion
If you are suffering from a stuffed up nose or chest congestion rosemary is the right remedy for you. On the one hand is guaranteed to bring you relief and on the other it’s completely safe.
Boil some water in a pot or kettle and transfer it immediately into a large heat proof bowl. Add two spoons of fresh or dried rosemary and stir well.
Cover your head with a towel and lean over the bowl. Breathe in the vapor for up to ten minutes. Rosemary is natural antiseptic that helps open nasal passages.
- Relieves the pain
Prepare yourself a rosemary tea to relieve the pain of heartburn and intestinal gas. Apply some rosemary oil topically to help lessen the severity of toothaches, eczema, headache, joint or muscle pain or gout.
These analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the rosemary were recognized by the German Commission E (the scientific advisory board of the German version of the FDA) and they approved rosemary essential oil as good treatment of muscle pain and arthritis.
- Improves cognitive performance
Boost mental clarity and enhance cognitive performance by sipping on a cup of tea or by diffusing essential rosemary oil around your home.
This amazing herb will also prevent the aging of your brain, and will help you keep sharp even in your old age. This is due to its carnosic acid content which fights off free radical damage.
As beauty product
- Healthy scalp and skin
Sooth skin irritations like acne or eczema by adding some rosemary essential oil topically. You can also use rosemary essential oil to speed up healing of wounds and bruises.
Mix ½ cup olive oil with ½ cup of dried rosemary and put them in a saucepan. Put the mixture on a stove and warm it up.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it steep for 20 minutes. Then strain the mixture and pour it in a bottle.
Use this mixture as a hair mask. Soak your scalp with it and cover it with a towel or a shower cap for 20 minutes. Then rinse with cool water and shampoo your hair as you normally would.
- Natural deodorant
Include more herbs like rosemary, basil, parsley, mint and sage to your meals and stop using your chemical laden deodorants which are harmful to your health.
- Strong and shiny hair
Improve the health of your hair with rosemary and nettle combination. This great shampoo will help you get rid of dandruff and will also stimulate blood flow which will speed hair growth with regular use.
Moreover, a research has shown that certain essential oils including rosemary improve hair growth and hair quality by removing impurities, unblocking hair follicles and stimulating the scalp.
Add some rosemary, lavender, thyme, cedar wood, and peppermint into your shampoo and massage it weekly into your scalp.
- Fresh breath and healthy teeth
Fight off bad bacteria which are responsible for tooth decay and gum disease and even get rid of the bad breath by using rosemary’s antimicrobial properties.
Add a few drops of rosemary oil to your regular toothpaste or make a potent mouthwash by boiling four rosemary springs into two cups of water.