Growing and Cooking Rosemary

Rosemary comes fresh or dried in the supermarket, but it's quite easy to grow. An aromatic herb with flat needle-like leaves and a pine-like flavor, rosemary can be purchased from a local nursery as a transplant, or it can be started from cuttings. Seeds, however, are more difficult to grow. This Mediterranean culinary herb is a staple in many kitchens. Learn how to grow rosemary at home and how to use rosemary in your cooking.

Where to Grow Your Rosemary Plant

Rosemary plants are perennial and prefer well-drained, sandy, slightly moist--but never wet soil. They can also tolerate a somewhat dry soil, making raised beds a great option for growing this herb. Rosemary plants love a sunny location and prefer to be out of the wind. But they like good air circulation--which means they shouldn't be nestled too close to other plants. A nice southern or western exposure is also optimum, and if you leave your rosemary plant potted, the plant does better when turned routinely to face the sun.

How to Plant Your Rosemary Plant

Plant your rosemary plant about 6 inches deep in a hole lined with sand. If planting more than one plant, space plants about 3 feet apart. Indoor plants may be prone to white powdery mildew, but outdoor plants--ones that get enough air circulation--are not usually prone to infections and are usually avoided by insects.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Rosemary

Rosemary is fairly hardy and can tolerate a little frost, but in extremely cold climates, it may be better to take the plant indoors or surround it with straw. And although rosemary is hardy enough to leave alone, it really does enjoy spring fertilizer and a little quick-drying mulch on top of the soil to keep the weeds out. What it can't tolerate is too much water. Too much water can cause the roots to rot.

When to Harvest Rosemary

To encourage branch development, you can pinch off the top, and you can also shape the plant or form several plants into a hedge. Since a rosemary plant can grow for decades, you'll want to plant it where it can stay and has room to spread out--but be aware that certain varieties of rosemary can reach 5-6 feet tall.

A low wall or fence for protection is also advisable. Since rosemary is an evergreen, you can harvest rosemary year-round--even when it's blooming. The best time of the day for picking is early morning when the oils are strongest.

How to Store Rosemary

Fresh rosemary is stored in the refrigerator in the original package or in damp toweling when you bring sprigs in from the garden. Rosemary sprigs keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. To extend the life of fresh-cut rosemary, some cooks place sprigs in ice cube trays to freeze for soups. Then when they need the herb, they just drop a rosemary ice cube into the pot. Dried rosemary lasts for up to 6 months in a tightly-sealed container in a cool, dark place.

How to Cook with Rosemary

For use as a culinary herb, a sprig is usually rinsed, patted dry, and then stripped of its leaves. The leaves are often crushed in the palm of the hand to release the oils. Sprigs are generally discarded but may be left on for cooking and discarded before serving. Fresh rosemary has a weaker flavor than the dried herb. It actually becomes stronger with drying. Rosemary is quite potent and a little goes a long way--especially since it doesn't lose its potency with extended cooking.

Typical Foods Flavored with Rosemary

Rosemary has many culinary uses. You can add rosemary to any of these foods: stuffing, eggs, onions, chicken, lamb, pork, soup, tomato sauces, fish, rice, potatoes, pasta, and breads. On the barbecue grill, the grilled taste of rosemary is mustard-like and flavorful when it burns.

Since rosemary is easy to grow and is useful in so many foods, why not consider giving it room in your home garden? You can harvest rosemary all year long, and if you grow your own plant, you'll have access to the fresh herb whenever you want it.