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Guide to growing Rosemary herbs indoors and in your home

Growing Rosemary indoors is very handy for those who do not have any outdoor space and those who get good light in their kitchens – ease of access to grab a handful of Rosemary when it’s right next to you!

Table of Contents

It smells incredible, tastes fantastic, and it’s also an excellent looking herb if we do say so ourselves. Although keeping this herb inside your home isn’t plain sailing, it’s more challenging inside the home; nonetheless doable! They require more tending to and attention. 

Growing Rosemary – Location & Light

This Mediatarran herb is drought tolerant and will thrive best inside your home in a south or west-facing window; a windowsill would be a great option.

Morning sun is preferable, and the best motto is ‘the more. Light is always right; you will notice leaves dropping if your Rosemary is not getting enough light, so keep an eye on this telltale sign. Try to avoid having it overcrowded by other plants.

Growing Rosemary – Watering

People tend to make a prevalent mistake with Rosemary of underwatering; although they derive from the Mediterranean, they do not like to be left to dry out completely. 

It is best to keep the soil evenly moist by checking on it every couple of days – the best way to do this is by touching the top of the soil. If the top of the soil is dry, it’s best to water. 

In between watering, we would recommend misting – they are commonly known as the “upside-down” plant, meaning that they prefer to absolve water through the air! We would suggest every ten days giving your Rosemary a mist between watering. 

Growing Rosemary – Food / Feeding

If your Rosemary is in a pot, it will typically not need fertilising, much like watering too much overfeeding will cause death. We suggested only really using when growth has become stunted or if the plant looks pale green; this should be a slow-releasing pellet-type product. 

Too little amount of fertiliser is better than too much! Ensure to apply the fertiliser to the soil and not onto the leaves, and also water after.   

Growing Rosemary – Temperature

Now Rosemary’s aren’t too hard when it comes to temperature; try to ensure it is away from cold drafts. For best growth, soil temperature should be around 21 degrees. 

Growing Rosemary – Soil

A loamy soil that, like most other herbs, has good drainage. Your Rosemary will appreciate a soil pH of neutral to acidic. This is typically the best soil preferences that Rosemary will grow best in. 

Growing Rosemary – Harvesting

As Rosemary grows most actively during the spring and summer months, this is an excellent month to harvest, but cutting these will also help with encouraging growth.

You will want to look for leaves longer than 8 inches long and ensure only to cut off the top 2 inches. 

Rosemary is excellent for freezing, always wash the leaves and either let them dry out on a clean paper towel or air dry. Strip the leaves off and place them into an airtight bag. 

If you keep your Rosemary in the fridge for best results, ensure you use it within 1-2 days. 

Freezing in an ice cube tray is also a great option, especially as these can easily be added into soups or sauces where the rosemary flavour will taste fresher. To complete this method, add either water or oil to an ice cube tray, and again you will need to wash and strip the Rosemary. We would suggest a couple of leaves cut up per cube, but this is dependent on how strong you like this flavour in the recipes. 

Storing in a bottle of white/balsamic vinegar or olive oil, wash and dry the rosemary sprigs and place them in a bottle with your choice of liquid. You can also add other infusions such as fresh garlic or peppercorn. As long as the rosemary oil/vinegar stays covered, it will last and not be exposed to air; otherwise, it can develop mould. 

Growing Rosemary – Bringing Indoors

When it comes to moving your potted Rosemary that has been outside all Summer into your home for the colder, frosty months – fall and winter, you will want first to put your Rosemary on a sunlight diet. 

Simply moving it into the shade for a few hours a day will gradually accustom it to the reduced light inside. Once brought indoors, keep on a windowsill that has full sun!

Top tip if you notice that your Rosemary is in bloom, this is a great time to harvest, and the leaves will have the most oil and flavour. The purple and white flowers you see on Rosemary are also edible.

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