🌿 When to Plant Rosemary

When should I plant rosemary?

Plant rosemary outdoors at last frost date. For a head start, start seeds indoors 12 weeks before your area's last frost date.

Is rosemary frost sensitive?

Rosemary can tolerate light frost, surviving temperatures as low as 28°F. This makes it a great candidate for early spring or fall planting when other crops can't go out yet.

What temperature does rosemary need?

Rosemary grows best between 50°F and 85°F. It can survive down to 28°F, but growth slows significantly below 50°F. It prefers cool weather and may bolt or stop producing if summer heat arrives early.

How long does rosemary take to grow?

Rosemary typically takes 80–90 days from transplant (or direct sow) to first harvest.

Should I start rosemary seeds indoors?

Yes — start rosemary seeds indoors 12 weeks before your area's last expected frost date. This gives seedlings time to develop strong roots before outdoor conditions are ready.

Is it too cold to plant rosemary?

It is too cold to plant Rosemary outdoors when nighttime temperatures are falling below 28°F. While Rosemary can tolerate temperatures as low as 28°F, growth will be slow until nights consistently exceed 50°F. Use CanIPlant to check your local 7-day forecast and get a real-time answer for your ZIP code.

Is it too hot to plant rosemary?

Rosemary starts to struggle when temperatures climb above 85°F. As a warm-season crop, Rosemary enjoys heat but can experience blossom drop and reduced fruiting above 90°F. Consistent highs above that level may delay planting until temperatures moderate. CanIPlant checks your local forecast highs to flag this automatically.

Any tips for growing rosemary?

Slow from seed. Best transplanted. Drought-tolerant once established.