How to Harvest Rosemary

Co-authored by Steve Masley

Last Updated: May 13, 2021 References Approved

Rosemary is a very robust herb that is easy to grow and care for at home. The fragrant leaves of the rosemary bush smell and taste wonderful in all kinds of recipes. Rosemary is even used to create hair treatments with lots of beneficial properties for your hair and scalp. It’s very simple to harvest rosemary and use it fresh, or store it for later use in things like cooking!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Cutting Rosemary

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Wait until spring or summer to harvest rosemary. Rosemary grows most actively during the spring and summer, so this is the best time to harvest, as the sprigs you cut off will grow back more rapidly. Trim some of the plant off daily or weekly to encourage its growth.^{[1]
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- If you are planning on drying the rosemary, wait until the bush begins to bloom to harvest. This is when the leaves contain the most oil and flavor.
2
Select which branches of the rosemary to harvest. Look for branches that are at least 8 inches (20 cm) long. Don’t harvest from newly growing branches.^{[2]
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- Keep several plants at once to ensure you always have some mature branches from which to harvest. The number of plants you’ll need varies on their size, but 2-3 should be fine for most people.
- Remove any dead and dried up parts of the plant as you harvest the healthy parts.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Steve Masley
  Home & Garden Specialist
  Expert Interview. 20 March 2019.}
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3
Cut off the top 2 inches (5 cm) of each sprig with shears or scissors. Don’t cut the plant too close and be sure to leave some green leaves on each branch. Put the clipped rosemary sprigs in a basket or bowl.
- If you just want to use a small amount of fresh rosemary at a time, you can pick off a few of the leaves whenever you need it from the top parts of the sprigs.^{[4]
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- Don’t cut more rosemary than you need at once.
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Don’t harvest more than 1/4 of a rosemary bush at one time. Leave at least 3/4 of the plant to ensure that it will continue to thrive and produce new sprigs. Let the rosemary plant grow back before you harvest more of it.^{[5]
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- Even if you are not harvesting it to use, you should prune rosemary several times a year to encourage healthy growth.^{[6]
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- Remember not to harvest rosemary too close to winter because it will not grow back very fast. Perform your last harvest at least 2 weeks before the first frost so it has time to grow back before winter sets in. Bigger, fuller rosemary bushes are able to survive winter better.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Storing Rosemary

1
Hang bundles of fresh rosemary to dry for 10 days. Tie together evenly sized sprigs of rosemary and hang them to dry in a dark, well-ventilated, and dry area. Take down the rosemary when it is completely dry, after about 10 days, and strip off the leaves to store them.
- Store the dried rosemary leaves in airtight containers or jars in your cupboards or pantry.
- Use twine or rubber bands to hold the bundles of rosemary together.
- Dried rosemary will last forever, but it has the best flavor within a year.
2
Store fresh rosemary in airtight containers or bags in the fridge or freezer. Wash the rosemary sprigs, then let them air dry on a clean towel or paper towel. Strip off the leaves, place them into a Ziploc bag or Tupperware, and put them in the fridge or freezer.^{[7]
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- Storing rosemary in the fridge or freezer will retain more of the flavor than dried rosemary, but less than fresh rosemary.
- Rosemary stored in the freezer will last longer than in the fridge, but the rosemary in the fridge will have a stronger flavor. Use rosemary that you keep in the fridge within 1-2 weeks for best results.
3
Freeze rosemary in an ice cube tray. Strip off the leaves of your harvested rosemary sprigs and freeze them in water or olive oil in an ice cube tray. Use these cubes in sauces or soups to easily get a fresh rosemary taste in your recipes.^{[8]
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- The amount of leaves you freeze per cube is up to you. Check how much rosemary a common recipe you might make requires, and freeze that amount in one cube.
- Once the rosemary is frozen, you can empty the ice cube tray and store the cubes in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the freezer.
- Choose water or olive oil depending on what types of recipes you plan to use the ice cubes in. If you don’t know, then you can do some of each.
- Rosemary stored in the freezer will last indefinitely. If it starts to noticeably lose its flavor, then make a new batch.
4
Put fresh rosemary in a bottle of vinegar or olive oil. Wash and air dry freshly harvested rosemary sprigs and place them directly into a bottle of vinegar, like white or balsamic, or olive oil to create a flavorful infusion. Use rosemary oil or vinegar in recipes, or combine them in a dish to create a dipping sauce for bread.
- Add other ingredients to the oil or vinegar infusions such as fresh garlic, peppercorns, or chili peppers for more flavor!
- Rosemary oil or vinegar will last as long as the rosemary stays covered by the oil or vinegar. If it becomes exposed to the air it can develop mold.

Community Q&A

Question

If a plant is growing in your garden why bother drying it?

Community Answer

You don't need to dry it, but you can if you'd like to preserve it for later use.
Question

How tall can rosemary grow?

Community Answer

Rosemary is basically a bush, so it won't grow very tall. Depending on the climate and the soil, rosemary can grow to about four-feet in height if it isn't trimmed.
Question

Are the purple/white flowers on rosemary edible?

Gavin Donnelly

Community Answer

Hello, yes the flowers of the rosemary plant are edible! They are best eaten fresh, and have a mild flavor, you could use them in a salad or as garnishes.

Warnings

Be careful to follow safety guidelines if you're making an oil infusion. If you don't properly refrigerate a homemade oil with garlic in it, there may be a risk of botulism.^{[9]
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