Rosemary

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Permalink Reply by Mary Avlos-Dailey on July 8, 2009 at 7:18am

Linda, I don't have a clue what is wrong with your rosemary plants. I'm in Arkansas and the two I have in the ground are huge. I got mine from a Thai lady who just grows herbs and have had no problem. I did nothing special to grow them.

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Cline zone 6 & 7 VA on July 8, 2009 at 8:06am

Linda, Living in MO you may be on the very edge of Rosemary's growing limits. I would suggest that you buy ARP plants. It is a Rosemary that will do better at withstanding your winter weather. I have grown in here in VA with good luck. Also, choose a location where it will get some protection from the wind and weather, such as near the house or wall. The summer should not be causing the plant any trouble. Rosemary does not need heavy fertilized soil. It actually does better in lighter soils. Also, be careful not to water too much or too little. Rosemary does not like its feet saturated as it will rot the roots, but neither can it stand to be completely dried out as it will not recover. Maybe you are killing it with kindness. Try some tough love and good luck!.

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Permalink Reply by Cynthia Ann Alt on July 8, 2009 at 9:17am

I have the same problem in Michigan. And I LOVE Rosemary!!!

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Permalink Reply by Luci-Ann Landreth on July 8, 2009 at 9:53am

I know mine doesn't seem to be growing either and i'm in Ohio.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Sant on July 8, 2009 at 9:57am

I should say that I have not taken any of the plants out of their original pots. They all started out about 18 inches high in pots and I kept them in the pots. Placed a couple outside on the front porch in sun/shade after any danger of frost. The inside ones had plenty of light, water etc. They ALL shrivled up and died! I never had any trouble in California inside or outside with these same type of plants :(

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Permalink Reply by Lanier Hollingsworth Z8 TX on July 8, 2009 at 6:51pm

I agree with what Carolyn said but had some other thoughts. Could they be rootbound? Does it have good drainage? I read that it likes to be watered lightly but often.They are pretty slow growing then they are small and they may have been in those pots for a while. Also, you said your had the upright rosemary which is good because it is more cold hardy than the prostrate rosemary. It said it will tolerate shade but will grow more with sun. I also read that Arp (found in the town of Arp in North Texas) has been said to be winter hardy as far north as Washington, D.C.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannette Waltz on July 14, 2009 at 9:56am

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.

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Permalink Reply by Sue Anderson on August 30, 2009 at 4:44pm

I live in southwest Iowa (zone 5/subzone 4A) and can't overwinter rosemary outside as it is a perennial plant in zones 8 & up. I treat it as an annual and replant every spring. I've had good luck ordering herb plants online from a Canadian nursery, Richters Seeds. They sell both plants & seeds; I get the plants shipped to me. The plants are your standard rosemary and not the pretty cone-shaped landscaping type.

I am a California native who had serious gardening culture shock when I moved to the Midwest myself. I still lament not being able to have the lush rose gardens I am used to! You learn to work with the seasons and find plant varieties that do well in your micro-climate.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly White, Lombard, IL,Zn 5 on October 3, 2009 at 11:47am

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.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Carnes on October 5, 2009 at 8:28am

Kimberly,
I live in zone 5 also. There really is no way to protect rosemary in this zone although I did have a friend that planted one under the drier vent outside her house. That may work in a mild winter but last year we had 2 nights in a row with -17 and not even the drier vent heat would protect that. I also have not had much luck digging and potting plants and bring them in. What I have done sucessfully is plant a couple in the garden for harvesting and keep one in a pot to bring in. Once in the house, keep them in a cool sunny place and be sure not to over-water but mist the leaves.


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.

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Permalink Reply by ElaineT on October 5, 2009 at 9:25am

Sue, I can understand the cultural shock as I was born and raised in N. California and am now in the NE corner of Indiana. What I have done though to keep Rosemary surviving all winter long here is to plant it in a cold frame along with other herbs. The cold frame has a southern exposure and is butted up against the house and well protected from the cold bitter winds that we get. The cold frame is close enough that I can walk out and harvest during the winter months when I need to without freezing my tail feathers off.

Sue Anderson said:

I live in southwest Iowa (zone 5/subzone 4A) and can't overwinter rosemary outside as it is a perennial plant in zones 8 & up. I treat it as an annual and replant every spring. I've had good luck ordering herb plants online from a Canadian nursery, Richters Seeds. They sell both plants & seeds; I get the plants shipped to me. The plants are your standard rosemary and not the pretty cone-shaped landscaping type.

I am a California native who had serious gardening culture shock when I moved to the Midwest myself. I still lament not being able to have the lush rose gardens I am used to! You learn to work with the seasons and find plant varieties that do well in your micro-climate.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Carnes on October 7, 2009 at 7:31am

Kay Carnes said:

Kimberly,
I live in zone 5 also. There really is no way to protect rosemary in this zone although I did have a friend that planted one under the drier vent outside her house. That may work in a mild winter but last year we had 2 nights in a row with -17 and not even the drier vent heat would protect that. I also have not had much luck digging and potting plants and bring them in. What I have done sucessfully is plant a couple in the garden for harvesting and keep one in a pot to bring in. Once in the house, keep them in a cool sunny place and be sure not to over-water but mist the leaves.


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.

You could try digging and potting it, you have nothing to lose!! When you dig it, make sure you get as large a root-ball as you can. It may slow the growth down and the plant may look terrible but if you can keep it alive throughout the winter, you can plant it again in the spring. I set mine outside on sunny days during the winter as long as it is above 32. Try not to over-water it but don't let it get too dry either.

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