Ancient Greeks and Romans utilized rosemary for the herb’s medicinal and culinary properties. This Mediterranean herb is a perfect addition to roasts, marinades and to dishes with root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes.
Rosemary is part of the Lamiaceae plant family. Rosemary’s Latin name is Salvia rosmarinus. You can choose from an upright rosemary shrub or trailing rosemary.
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Gardening Steps: Grow Rosemary in Phoenix
- When and How to Plant Rosemary
- What grows well near rosemary and what doesn’t?
- How to care for rosemary
- Harvesting rosemary- When is the ideal time to pick rosemary?
When to Plant and How to Grow Rosemary
The best way to grow rosemary in Phoenix or gardening zone 9b is from a cutting or a transplant from your local nursery. Transplant rosemary to your Phoenix garden in the months of October through January.
Allow space for this herb as it is a shrub that can grow two to three feet in height and width. Personally I love the trailing variety of Rosemary. It stays low to the ground only reaching a height of a foot or less and spreads up to five feet.
The herb’s pretty blue flowers attract bees and hummingbirds.
Companion Plants for Rosemary
Rosemary is beneficial for sage, radishes, beans, carrots, broccoli, and cabbage.
How to Care for Rosemary
Light Requirements: Rosemary prefers full sun or 6-8 hours of sun per day.
Soil Requirements: Rosemary requires well-drained soil. Rosemary likes slightly acidic pH. The soil pH range of 6-7 is ideal.
Water Requirements: Rosemary is drought tolerant. Allow soil to dry out before watering again. Usually once a week is sufficient. In the summer you may want to water twice a week or as needed.
Pruning should cease around six weeks before a frost. In Phoenix, first frost is usually in mid December.
When to Harvest Rosemary
Rosemary takes 85-90 days from seed to plant maturity. The herb will reach full maturity in May if seeds were planted in mid February. The plant does not need to reach full maturity before it can be harvested.