How to grow rosemary

Frost-tender · Mint family

When to sow and plant

Start indoors 11–25 February
Plant out 6–20 May

Frost-tender: everything 17 days later, so it only goes outside once there is no frost in 9 out of 10 years.

Based on: average for Germany, last frost 19 April, safe from 6 May

Where the dates come from

The weeks come from our sources; the dates use the average frost in Germany. Enter a German postcode to get dates for your area.

Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost (Johnny's Selected Seeds: Rosemary from Seed – Key Growing Information)
Plant out: 0–2 weeks after the last frost (Johnny's Selected Seeds: Rosemary from Seed – Key Growing Information)

Good and bad neighbours

We don’t know any sourced neighbours for this plant yet.

Crop rotation

Perennial: it stays in the same spot for several years and is not part of the yearly rotation.

At a glance

Family: Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Nutrient needs: Light feeder
Frost: Tender to frost
Spacing (row × plant): – × 45 cm (– × 18 in)
Life cycle: Perennial
Harvest: After 80–100 days from planting

Spacing according to RHS Grow your own: Rosemary. Other sources: 46 × 61 cm (18 × 24 in) (Johnny's Selected Seeds: Rosemary from Seed – Key Growing Information).

Questions and answers

When can I plant out rosemary?

Plant out, average for Germany: 6–20 May. That is the date after which there is no frost in 9 out of 10 years. Enter a German postcode above for your area, or your own frost date in the planting calendar.

How far apart should I plant rosemary?

– × 45 cm (– × 18 in) (row × plant), according to RHS Grow your own: Rosemary.

Sources

Show 6 sources

Retrieved on 23 October 2026. Facts in our own words, one source per value.