Rosemary is an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean that can be grown both in pots and in the ground, as a shrub. In this article, we will explain how to harvest rosemary without killing the plant so that you can have rosemary all year round.
Propagating rosemary is very easy, and that is why you should never be without a rosemary plant in your home to add flavor to your meals.
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When to Harvest Rosemary
When to Harvest Rosemary? Rosemary is a perennial herb, like many other aromatic herbs, so rosemary can be harvested all year round if the weather is not freezing in winter. It is advisable not to harvest rosemary stems that are less than 8″ (20 cm) long.
During spring and summer, rosemary is more active and in full growth, that is why rosemary will recover faster during this season. Of course, you should also be able to harvest rosemary in winter, but you will have to give the rosemary plant more time to recover.
The best time to harvest rosemary is during the morning when the dew on the plant is drying. Harvesting rosemary will encourage the plant to continue to grow and develop properly. Avoid harvesting rosemary during hot weather to avoid stressing the plant. By following these tips, you will be able to harvest rosemary without killing the plant.
When to Harvest Rosemary for Drying
When to Harvest Rosemary for Drying? If you want to harvest rosemary for drying, it is best to wait until the rosemary plant begins to bloom. When rosemary is flowering, the leaves and flowers will be full of aromatic oils, which will flavor your food. Normally, rosemary will begin to bloom during the summer, which is the ideal time to harvest rosemary for drying.
How to Harvest Rosemary Without Killing the Plant
How to Harvest Rosemary Without Killing the Plant? Harvesting rosemary without killing the plant is very easy, you just have to keep in mind a few things. First, avoid harvesting rosemary during the winter, as this is the time when rosemary has the least strength to recover.
Do not harvest rosemary stems shorter than 8″ (20 cm) so that the rosemary plant has the strength and energy to recover. To harvest rosemary without killing the plant, always use sharp, disinfected scissors or pruning shears. These tools will give you a clean cut on the rosemary plant, and that is what the rosemary needs to regrow after cutting.
It is advisable to cut only the tips of the rosemary branches, this will be the green part, and it is recommended to leave the woody part on the plant so that it can grow again. Cut up to 3″ (8 cm) from the tips of the rosemary.
In the first harvest of rosemary, do not harvest more than 1/3 of the plant so that it grows back easily. Then you should be able to harvest up to 2/3 of the rosemary plant, but avoid harvesting too much rosemary in the winter because the plant is weaker.
After harvesting rosemary, you should water the rosemary plant a little and add fertilizer to give it enough energy and strength to grow again quickly.
It is very important never to pull the rosemary branches to harvest rosemary because you could damage the plant. Therefore, always harvest rosemary with sharp and disinfected tools. With these tips, you will be able to harvest rosemary without killing the plant.
How To Harvest Rosemary Before Winter
How To Harvest Rosemary Before Winter? Rosemary survives the cold, but does not tolerate freezing with hard frosts or heavy snowfall. If you have your rosemary in a pot, only place it under shelter during the winter.
But if you have rosemary planted in your garden outdoors, you can protect it from frost or harvest it completely. There are different ways to protect plants from the frost, I usually use a tarp on plants that need protection during the winter.
How Often Can You Harvest Rosemary
How Often Can You Harvest Rosemary? It all depends on how much rosemary you are harvesting from your plant and the size of your rosemary plant. If you are only picking a few rosemary leaves or branches, you should be able to harvest more often, say every 10 to 15 days.
If you harvest a lot of leaves and branches from your rosemary plant, you should give the rosemary plant enough time to recover. Never harvest more than 2/3 of the rosemary plant. Water and fertilize the rosemary plant after each harvest.
How to Preserve and Store Rosemary
How to Preserve and Store Rosemary? Fresh rosemary leaves can be used in cooking instantly, but if you want to dry rosemary to have them for weeks and months to come, there are many methods to choose from. In any case, remember to wash the rosemary sprigs thoroughly before drying them.
Select some rosemary branches and tie them with thread. Then hang the rosemary branches in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. In about 2 to 3 weeks, the rosemary will be dry. Store the rosemary in a hermetic jar, you can keep the rosemary in this way for about a year.
You should also dry the rosemary with a dehydrator. Place the branches and leaves of the rosemary to be dehydrated on the dehydrator tray. Then set the dehydrator on the lowest temperature setting and check every 30 minutes to see how the process is going. In approximately 2 to 4 hours, you will have dried rosemary. I recommend you check the manual of your dehydrator to know the correct time.
We hope that this article on how to harvest rosemary without killing the plant will be of great use and that you will have an excellent and abundant rosemary harvest.
