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Rosemary

I moved to central Missouri (from California) last year....and have managed to kill at lest ten rosemary plants, both inside the house and outside. Could it be the heat/air conditioning in the house? or the heat/sun outside the house? I had no problem growing beautiful lush fragrant rosemary in Southern California, but the rosemary in Missouri hates me! I always have tried several types of the smal cone-shaped trees in pots to no avail. Within 2 weeks of bringing the plants home, they start drying up and turning brown....dead within a month. What gives? Thanks

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rex Gerhardt on October 31, 2009 at 3:31pm

I have had several Rosemary plants for several years in zone 5. I got the original plants from Shady Acres Herb Farm in Minnesota. http://www.shadyacres.com/ Part of my success has been getting more hardy varieties, then potting them up regularly. I leave them in pots so they can be brought in before temperatures drop too low. (This varies by plant) Allowing them to reach their lower limit as far as temperature is concerned is important. It causes them to go into dormancy at which point they don't need any watering. Over watering is probably the biggest problem. As an evergreen, rosemary can withstand drought much better than persistent over watering. I leave them in the garage for the rest of the winter. When they begin blooming they go back outside for the rest of the year. My oldest plant is about 12 years old and has done well with this treatment.

Permalink Reply by Tammy Liepe on November 9, 2009 at 11:17am

Kimberly, I live in zone 6, and I have successfully wintered over my rosemary 3 years in a row. We have not had a lot of snow cover, but was freezing quite often. This year might be different with the expected snowfall. In the fall I post stakes around the plant and use chicken wire to form a barrier around the plant. Much like a rose bush. I then take mulched leaves and fill in between the plant and the chicken wire. I gradually add more mulch as the weather freezes. Right now I have about 8-10 inches of settled mulch. My plant is currently 4 feet high. Don't know if this will work further north, but it might be worth a try.

Kimberly White said:

So, there is no way to protect the rosemary plant in Zone 5? I was hoping I could put a rose cone over it or something...no? Since I planted it in the ground, can I replant it in a pot and bring it inside? or should I just resolve myself to planting a new one every year? Thanks for sharing your expertise!

Jeannette Waltz said:
As someone who is a former Herb Farm owner, I recommend that you do not buy the beautiful cone shaped rosemary in pots. They are grown for a gift plant and will - in most cases- not survive. Instead buy rosemary plants in 4" pots grown by a reputable grower. They like their feet dry and full sun except in an area like I now live Florida, where they like afternoon shade.
If you use an automatice sprinkler make sure the leaves dry out soon after watering. Uprights are best in moist areas because they can dry out their leaves.

Permalink Reply by Jennece Eaglehouse on November 11, 2009 at 11:52am

Rosemary is a warmer climate plant. Here in Pennsylvania, it is more an annual than an herb. I plant it outside for the summer and now that it is mid November I will put it in a pot and bring it in. Right now we are having Indian Summer

Permalink Reply by Ohioan on January 5, 2010 at 10:16am

I live in Ohio and have to move many of my herbs inside for the winter. I dug up my rosemary plant this year and placed it in a 6 inch plastic pot. I water it every two weeks and keep sphagnum moss around the plant. It looks great, smells wonderful in the midst of winter and I am so glad I will be able to replant it in spring. This is the first year I've had luck saving it inside and I think it is the sphagnum moss that keeps it "humid" yet not too moist.

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Permalink Reply by Ohioan on January 5, 2010 at 10:48am

Ohioan said:

I live in Ohio and have to move many of my herbs inside for the winter. I dug up my rosemary plant this year and placed it in a 6 inch plastic pot. I water it every two weeks and keep sphagnum moss around the plant. It looks great, smells wonderful in the midst of winter and I am so glad I will be able to replant it in spring. This is the first year I've had luck saving it inside and I think it is the sphagnum moss that keeps it "humid" yet not too moist.

Permalink Reply by Suzanne Chilton on January 24, 2010 at 4:42pm

Indoors, simulate the "California winter": very cool nights, cool sunny days, evenly moist soil. Dry roots=dead rosemary. I keep upright rosemary in huge fiberglass planters in commercial potting soil. In winter it is moved to a basement room with a sunny window, about 65 degrees. Try Saint James, Missouri nursery's common upright rosemary start, and repot right into the huge planter(on wheels). The huge planter gives a more forgiving soil temperature and moisture control.I don't try rosemary in the outdoor herb garden, although my sister's often make it thru South Missouri winters, mulched and near the kitchen door.

Permalink Reply by Lynn DeVoll on April 24, 2010 at 11:43am

I live in Michigan (Zone 5) I plant my rosemary as an annual. I usually by plants from a local store and plant in large pots than can be placed in my herb garden and moved as necessary. Last year I brought my rosemary pots into the garage and they lasted for a few more months. I also cut stems and place them in a rooter (or you could use a jar of water). These will grow roots and you can plant and place in a sunny window as a starter for next year or just use in cooking until they are gone.