Skip to main content

How to grow rosemary indoors from seed to spice up your dishes

Many herbs can grow indoors under the right conditions. Rosemary belongs to this lot. The easiest way to do it is to purchase existing seedlings and repot them at home, leaving them with room to grow. Because of that, many people don’t readily know how to grow rosemary from seed — at least indoors and in a way that will help the plant thrive. Some of the most important questions to keep in mind when growing rosemary from seed are: What kind of soil does rosemary like? How do I care for my indoor rosemary? By answering those, we’ll help you grow successful rosemary plants.

Growing rosemary
congerdesign/Pixabay

How to grow rosemary from seed

When growing rosemary from seed, it’s important to remember that the seeds can take awhile to germinate. So, don’t be too disappointed if they don’t grow big and strong within a week. Growing any herb from seed is a slower process than starting with one that’s already existing, but it will prove to feel very rewarding in the end.

To start your seeds, plant them in a well-draining soil (like a light potting mix) and then cover them with a little bit extra so that there’s a good layer for them to keep warm under and root in. You’ll want to water them lightly, paying close attention to any water draining out the bottom to avoid making the dirt too soggy. Once you’ve prepared the seeds, cover them loosely with plastic wrap (or if you have a seed-starter kit, you may have plastic coverings for the seeds) until you see rosemary plants start to sprout.

When they sprout, you’ll want to move them to an area that’s warm and has good lighting. Keep the seedlings away from any drafty areas, and if starting in the winter, you may want to utilize grow lights to help ensure proper growth. Allow the rosemary seedlings to grow 3 inches high, then pot them in a larger container. Be sure the container leaves them a lot of room to grow to avoid any unnecessary repotting in the future.

How often should I water my rosemary?

Be careful that you’re not watering your rosemary too much! You should only be watering it every couple of weeks. Make sure that the pot it’s planted in has proper drainage and only water when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch.

Should I be using fertilizer to help the rosemary grow indoors?

Using too much fertilizer can damage the plant, so be careful adding it to your care routine. Generally speaking, rosemary doesn’t need it, but if its leaves are turning yellow, that might mean there’s a nutrient missing in the soil. If you’re adding fertilizer, be sure that it’s a non-acidic, balanced liquid fertilizer.

What’s the best soil to use for planting?

Rosemary requires a well-draining, loamy soil for planting and growing. A well-draining soil will help ward off any potential overwatering, though you should still be wary of watering too much and making the soil soggy. Your herb won’t like sitting in water, as it can cause damage to the roots and potentially kill the plant.

What is loamy soil?

The different types of soil are made of three components: Clay, sand, and silt. The type is based off the amount of each component the soil has, and the mixture affects how well the soil absorbs and retains water, and allows drainage. Loamy soils have a roughly even mixture of clay, sand, and silt, giving it the capability to retain the moisture required to keep plants alive while allowing any excess liquid to drain. That’s why it’s so important that your rosemary plant is either in a pot with good drainage or (once the seedling is established) in a pot/container that has a layer of stones at the bottom.

Rosemary growing in a kitchen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to care for your growing rosemary

Rosemary does the best when the soil isn’t too wet. Pots with good drainage can help aid that need, and you’ll want to allow the soil to dry out between watering. Rosemary is a relatively drought-tolerant herb, and it doesn’t like sitting in moist soil. It also requires a lot of sunlight to fully thrive. You’ll want to place your indoor rosemary plants in a bright space where it can get between six and eight hours of light a day. If you’re growing rosemary in the winter (or in a dimmer setting), you may want to purchase the appropriate grow lights to help aid in the plant’s requirements.

What to do when it’s time to harvest

Once the plant is mature, you can start harvesting your rosemary whenever you need it. Because the leaves grow entirely along the stem, you won’t necessarily find the “perfect” spot to cut it. Luckily, rosemary will begin to branch off from wherever it’s cut, so just make sure to avoid clipping the whole stem off. By leaving at least an inch or two of the existing stem, you’ll help encourage future growth and harvest.

If you’re drying the rosemary instead of using it fresh, make sure to wash off the stems before you begin. From there, you can simply leave the stem on the counter and let it dry out; however, if you want to help your dried rosemary have good quality, a food dehydrator is useful if you have one. If you don’t and you intend to continue growing and drying rosemary (and other herbs) for an extended period of time, it may be worth the investment.

Elderly woman touches and harvest the rosemary
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once you’ve harvested the rosemary, you can use it in so many different ways! It’s great as seasoning in a variety of dishes, including soups, on chicken, and in sauces. It also goes well with grains and a variety of starches. If you want a delicious, savory spread, mash rosemary and garlic into slightly melted butter; the spread is great on steak or on a freshly toasted slice of bread. Rosemary is also a great candidate for propagation, if you want to share your bounty with friends and family.

With all the right care, you’ll not only be able to successfully grow rosemary from seeds, but grow it indoors year-round — and potentially be on the way to creating your own indoor herb garden!

Editors' Recommendations

Kiera Baron
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kiera Baron is a freelance writer and editor, as well as a budding digital artist, based in Upstate NY. She is currently one…
The best Christmas herbs to grow to infuse the Yuletide spirit into your home
Your guide to choosing and growing delicious and fragrant holiday herbs
Sprigs of Christmas herbs next to holly and twine

Towering trees and bold poinsettias aren’t the only foliage plants that tell you it's time for the holidays. When it comes to channeling the Yuletide spirit, festive Christmas herbs and spices are great for brewing teas, garnishing dishes, and infusing the home with aromatherapy to counter holiday stress. If you’re wondering what kinds of herbs are hardy enough for the holiday season and how you can grow and use them, we’ve got you covered. 

Peppermint
Perhaps the most famous holiday herb of them all is peppermint, which is beloved for its fresh and cooling taste. We love a striped candy cane as much as the next person, but you can definitely go straight to the source if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth.

Read more
Here’s how often you should be fertilizing your indoor plants
Here's what to know about fertilizing indoor plants
A person laying out all the materials to fertilize a houseplant

Many people use fertilizers to make up for poor soil or to give plants a boost right before blooming or fruiting. Using fertilizers in outdoor gardens can be fairly simple, but what about indoor plants? You can usually use the same fertilizers for both indoor and outdoor gardens, but that doesn't mean using them in the same way.

Indoor plants have less soil, so you might wonder if they need a different amount of fertilizer or a different fertilizer schedule. If you're asking, "How often should you fertilize indoor plants?" -- we have answers.

Read more
Use these tips to start a successful indoor vegetable garden this winter
Want to grow veggies indoors? Here's how to do it in winter
A container gardening display

Come fall when the growing season ends, a lot of gardeners will spend the winter prepping and thinking about what they want to grow next spring — all the while lamenting how they miss having fresh veggies and herbs around during the colder months. That doesn't have to be the case, though. You can easily grow some of your favorite veggies indoors, even without a greenhouse.

Although you can't grow everything, and the indoor harvests are often smaller, you’ll be able to have enough that you can still enjoy the feeling of preparing and eating something you grew. What's more, you can even use these tips and tricks to grow fresh veggies year-round if you don't have the outdoor space for a traditional garden!

Read more