Grow Rosemary Plant in Your Garden

Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Real Men Sow

With hindsight, maybe I should have then planted the cuttings into a bigger pot so that I could move the rosemary inside when the weather is very cold, but instead, I put them in a newly prepared herb garden (once I’d cleared the cat’s turd – what is it with cats and freshly dug soil??).

Since then, I’m delighted to report that the plant has taken, and I’ve made a few harvests of this pungent, tasty herb. It’s funny; sometimes the smallest of successes are the most gratifying.

Maintaining Rosemary Plant Cuttings

I had a thriving rosemary plant that took exception to last winter’s snow, so during spring I made some impromptu cuttings from long-standing rosemary at the father-in-laws, and set about winging a freebie replacement.

How Short Should You Cut Your Rosemary Plants?

I’d never taken a cutting before, so I didn’t really know what I was doing. I cut half a dozen stems, about 10cm long, and poked them into a 6-inch pot of multi-purpose and homemade compost mix.

For the first few weeks, the cuttings cozy home was my cold frame, and this period was notable by virtue of nothing actually happening. They didn’t grow, just stayed upright and green. Refreshingly, I guessed this meant they weren’t dying.

Having kept them watered and crossed my fingers, the little cuttings gradually began to grow. In August, I plucked up the courage to empty out the pot, and to unashamed fist-clenching, I was greeted with a decent pattern of root establishment.

Future Rosemary Plants

Another thing that brings a smile to my face is that both these plants were off the cuff sowings, as a result of an afternoon’s springtime pottering. I hadn’t planned to grow these, and they were borne out of a lovely sunny afternoon messing about in the garden.

Protecting Rosemary Cuttings

What the future holds for my little plants I don’t know. I’m contemplating making a couple of cloches out of big plastic bottles to offer up some winter protection. Whether they’re big and ugly enough to survive the cold remains to be seen, but on this dull September day, they make me a very happy gardener.

I’ve not had much luck with herbs in the past. Everything I’ve tried has always died, leaving me to pick up plants from the local farmers market and nursery. However, this summer has seen a partial success.

Real Men Sow
Real Men Sow

Hello, I’m Pete and I’m currently based in the west of Scotland, in a small place called Rosneath, where I’m exploring my garden adventures. I personally started gardening around 6 years ago and initially, I started out by growing my favorite fruits and berries, such as strawberries, Raspberries & Gooseberries. Since then I’ve added a lot of vegetables and working closely with my neighbor, it’s been a lot of fun.

3 thoughts on “Grow Rosemary Plant in Your Garden”

  1. Go RMS. Love your spirit of adventure and experimentation. This seems to be my year of killing thyme everywhere (sunbaked in pots on the back porch, strangled by mint in the front planter). Wish me luck overwintering a rosemary inside this year!

  2. Thanks Susan.

    Its odd, over here we’re told that herbs are easy, they’re indestructable. They might be, if I could get the things to grow in the first place!

    Have also made the mistake of not potting mint. It is now everywhere in my garden.

    Good luck with the rosemary.

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