Picking the best soil for rosemary is essential to a long, healthy plant life. Most rosemary plants prefer well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It’s even better if it’s a bit sandy and has some small amounts of silt. Bonus points if your soil or yard also drains well. Avoid soaked or waterlogged soil, which will stunt rosemary’s growth. I love this potting soil for my rosemary.
The good news is that most soils available at Home Depot or your local nursery will be suitable for rosemary. This herb is forgiving and easy to pot, making it a great choice for home gardening. With a bit of care, you can easily grow a variety of rosemary types in your yard, just like I do in San Francisco.
The thing is houseplants are great to have around your home, but what’s even better than a house plant? A house herb, of course. Having potted rosemary is the best of both worlds. You can have a beautiful plant that looks great and smells divine and can be used in all sorts of recipes for a delicious meal.
Honestly herbs are just great to have around – they feel sort of magical in my opinion. Not only do they offer medical benefits, but like I said many kitchen herbs that can be grow in pots taste great in dishes as well. Rosemary checks off both of these boxes, adding extra flavor to your favorite dishes while also offering muscle pain relief.
Of course, if you want your rosemary to grow to its maximum potential then you’ll want to provide your plants the ideal growing conditions, and getting the right soil is key. But first things first.
What is Rosemary?
Well, Rosemary—also known as Salvia Rosmarinus—is a perennial herb from the mint family. Naturally found in the Mediterranean region, this plant can be identified by its clusters of light blue or white flowers, which are accompanied by grayish-green needle-like leaves. Literally rosemary has to be the pretties herb there is. It’s just gorgeous and it looks great dry or fresh. Even better?
It’s fairly tolerant to drought and offers a pleasant fragrance, paired with a peppery, citrus taste that works great for your culinary pursuits.
Rosemary can work as the perfect centerpiece for your coffee table or dried in clusters hung from ceilings. The plant itself can grow quite big, up to six feet tall and four feet wide. However, you can control and limit this size with clipping, leaving you with an amazing coffee table centerpiece.
The Different Types of Rosemary
Like all plants, rosemary naturally occurs outdoors. Being drought-resistant, it can be a great way to add some backyard magic to your property, depending on where you live. Part of pulling that off successfully is making sure to use the best soil for rosemary. However, before you go shopping for new plants, it’s best to review the various rosemary varieties first.
Not only will your selection affect the visual effect these plants have at your home, but it can also affect your success rates. Different plants have different requirements and tolerances, making it worth getting informed of the differences ahead of time.
Hill Hardy Rosemary
Also known as Madalene Hill Rosemary, this variety is resistant to temperatures all the way down to 0˚F. It grows up to five feet tall and has bright green leaves.
Salem Rosemary
Also known as “Bushy Blue” Rosemary, Salem Rosemary is most notable for its resistance to wet soil. It can tolerate temperatures down to 5˚F and grows around 3 feet tall
Tuscan Blue Rosemary
Fast-growing with a maximum height of six feet tall, the Tuscan Blue Rosemary offers a unique look compared to other types of Rosemary. It features blue flowers, a reddish tinge on the stems, and wider leaves than its counterparts.
However, it’s not as hardy as the others, with a low-temperature tolerance of only 15˚F.
Prostratus Rosemary
The last Rosemary plant is a bit different, growing about two feet wide and two feet tall. This small size makes it great for smaller areas like rock gardens, as the branches will spread for more ground coverage.
Rosemary’s Requirements
Like all plants, rosemary has a few basic requirements that you’ll need to ensure are met if you want your young plants to grow to full size. For rosemary, you’ll want the following:
- Full sun, with six hours of sunlight as a minimum for sun exposure.
- Sandy soil offers adequate drainage for your plants. Loamy soil will work as well.
- A pH level of 6.0 to 7.0 in your soil.
- Access to infrequent waterings. Rosemary doesn’t require an entire watering system for new growth to appear. Simply water your plants as the top dries out. If the top few inches are dry soil, it’s time to water!
Soil Specifics and The Best Soil for Rosemary
So, you want the best soil for rosemary plants? Well, sandy or loamy garden soil is best. The ideal balance is 40% silt, 40% sand, and 20% clay. When planting for the first time, mix some compost into the soil as well.
Moving forward, you can treat the soil with liquid fertilizer. Just follow the instructions on the label.
How to Grow Rosemary Using the Best Soil for Rosemary Plants
Now that you know a bit more about Rosemary, you might be wondering how you actually start growing this herb. Well, you have three options to choose from, as shown below.
From the Seeds and the Best Soil for Rosemary
If you think growing Rosemary from seeds is a good idea, here’s what you need to do. First, get the seeds and prep the pots/garden where you’ll be planting the seeds. Place the seeds into the soil, then cover them with a tiny amount. Rosemary seeds do not need to be planted deep.
Purchase Seedlings
Easily the easiest approach to growing Rosemary plants is to purchase seedlings. Like before, make sure to prep the soil before transplanting. When you actually plant the seedlings, just make sure to plant them at the same depth that they were at in their original container. Do this, and you’re all set.
Best Soil for Rosemary and Propagation
Lastly, propagation is also an option if you already have mature plants and want more (but don’t want to buy them). Cut a couple of inches from the mature plant’s new softwood growth. Dip the end of this in a container of water, or use something like this propagation station. Once roots begin to form, you can transplant your Rosemary.
As an alternative, switching out the water for potting mix may yield better results. Treat the end of your trimming with rooting hormone, then place it in a moist sandy potting mix. As before, transplant once roots have formed.
Want to grow something bigger? If so, check out this post on growing apple trees!
Where to Put Your Best Soil for Rosemary
Still wondering about the perfect placement for your plants? No worries – I’ve got you covered. Once you’ve picked out the best soil for rosemary, you’ll need to find a spot for your plants to prosper. Fortunately, both the great outdoors and inside of your home offer suitable options.
Pot Placement A Key Consideration Other Than the Best Soil for Rosemary
Rosemary does best in warm climates with temperatures running between 68-86°F. If outdoor temperatures fall outside this range then your best bet might be indoor growth. Rosemary is a tough plant, but too much exposure to cold winters and sub-freezing temperatures will surely kill it.
If the first frost is approaching then I would definitely recommend an indoor growing operation. You might be able to find the perfect greenhouse for your plants, assuming maintaining ideal temperatures is achievable. On the other hand, your property might not have enough space for even a small greenhouse. In that case, inside your home might be the only viable option.
One major benefit of indoor growing is that you’re not limited by the growing season. As long as the temperature requirements are met and your plant can receive at least six hours of sun exposure per day, it will be fine. Sunny windows are great for this.
Garden Growing
Things get a little more complicated if you’re growing your plants outdoors. Placing them in an area with full sun is a must, paired with the proper soil. However, timing is also something you’ll need to take into consideration.
If you live in an area with mild winters then early spring will be the best time to plant your Rosemary. For colder winters, I’d recommend planting in the late spring or the early summer. You can plant in the fall, but this is only good for areas with warm winters.
Remember, Rosemary is unlikely to survive outdoor temperatures below 20°F. If your winter temperatures dip below this limit—but you still want to keep them outside—then I’d recommend planting them in pots. This will allow you to move your plants from your herb garden to inside come wintertime to protect them from the cold.
Pruning Practices
Rosemary tends to grow quickly, making establishing proper pruning practices an essential part of Rosemary ownership. Prune between the spring to the end of summer. So long as you avoid removing more than a third of the plant at once, you can even shape the plant to your liking.
This is one of the reasons I recommend using Rosemary to decorate your dining table: it can be trained into shapes!
It’s Time to Harvest
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The best time to harvest rosemary is generally the same as pruning, meaning spring and summer months are ideal. Technically, though, you can harvest your Rosemary anytime. Cut 4-6 tips off of the plant using pruners, then dry them out in a dry, cool room with lots of ventilation. Left hanging upside-down, this should only take a couple of weeks.
After those weeks have passed, you can remove the leaves for later use.
Potential Problems
Last but not least, let’s quickly go over a few potential problems you might run into. After all, having the best soil for rosemary is great, but the road doesn’t end there. Here’s what you’ll want to watch out for.
Fungal Disease & Pests
Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew or root rot can pose major issues for your plants. You can generally solve these issues by simply reducing how much water you’re giving the plants, as soggy soil tends to lead to issues.
If that doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, ensure your plants are getting lots of good air circulation as well.
You may also encounter issues with invasive pests, such as spider mites. Try applying insecticidal soap first. As a last resort, trimming off the affected branches can also solve the issue.
Now You Know How to Pick the Best Soil for Rosemary Plants
Congratulations, you made it to the end! Not only do you know how to pick the best soil for rosemary, but hopefully, you’ve also learned quite a bit more about these amazing herbs along the way. With a little bit of love, your tiny plant will turn into a beautiful, harvestable mature plant in no time.
So, are any of you growing your own rosemary plants? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to share your stories about precious plants in the comments below. I can’t wait to read them.
As always, thanks for reading. Until next time!
FAQs About the Best Soil for Rosemary
What type of soil is best for rosemary?
A loamy soil with a pH level between 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal for rosemary.
Can you plant rosemary in potting soil?
Yes, so long as it’s a sandy or loamy mix! Not using well-drained soil will lead to wet soil. In turn, this results in pests, disease, and other issues for your plants.
What is the best planting medium for rosemary?
Any area or pot that can provide the proper pH levels and good drainage will work for rosemary. That said, I would recommend going with a larger pot if possible.
Is Miracle-Gro potting soil good for rosemary?
Single Miracle-Gro sells many different types of potting soil, there isn’t a universal answer here. However, whether you’re growing in pots or in garden beds, Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix will work just fine for your rosemary plants.
Are coffee grounds good for rosemary plants?
No, rosemary plants prefer a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. Adding coffee grounds to your potting mix will make the mix too acidic.
Does rosemary need full sun?
Yes, rosemary needs to be placed in a sunny spot for at least six hours per day. If you don’t have this much sun exposure then supplemental grow lights can be used to compensate.
