There is nothing quite like the scent of fresh rosemary – many in our neighborhood grow it in their yards and I love getting big wiffs of the crisp, pleasant aroma on my nightly walks.

In this post in my summer garden series, I’ll share with you how easy it is to grow this plentiful herb so you can enjoy its aromatic benefits as well as its uses in the kitchen any time you want!

Growing Rosemary:

• I grow rosemary in containers – rosemary can be large or small depending on the size of the container
• My bf has a rosemary bush in his landscaping and it’s huge – so the herb can get quite large if left to its own devices 😉
• I started from seedling because I wanted to start using it right away – and it can take time to fill in if you grow it from seeds
• Rosemary can be propagated from cuttings (no need to buy more once you have some!) and you can try to grow roots with just water, but for guaranteed success follow these steps
• Rosemary needs sun, air circulation, and good drainage to grow. Also, adding a fertilizer early on will help the plant get started on the right track
• Rosemary is drought-tolerant, so don’t over-water! In the summer, I water my rosemary about 2-3 times per week (less in the winter) and with less water than other herbs, like basil. 
• Rosemary will over-winter in climates that don’t frost. Yes, we have rosemary all year long in Atlanta! If you want the same, grow your rosemary in a pot and bring it inside in the winter. 

Harvesting Rosemary:

• See that big, beautiful rosemary bush in the pic below? I just use scissors and cut what I need!
• The tops are the newest part and therefore have the most flavor. I try to cut stems from the bottom, so I can promote new growth and use up the older leaves with the newer ones.

 Uses for Rosemary:

• As a seasoning for roasted potatoes
• An ingredient and garnish in asparagus risotto (pictured below)
• In homemade soaps (rosemary and mint, yum!)
• Bring some inside and put in a vase with flowers or by itself to add beauty and fragrance to a room (pictured below)
• In a marinade for meats – I use rosemary, soy sauce and red wine to marinate pork and beef – so delicious!
• Infuse oil with rosemary to rub on skin to soothe eczema and arthritis, and to treat itchy scalp and dandruff
• Rosemary can help ward off mosquitos and pests – in the garden it can keep critters away from fruit-bearing plants and some use it in their cabinets and closets to deter pests in those places
• As a natural air freshener – put in water with slices of orange or lemon and a bit of vanilla extract and heat on the stove

What are some of your favorite ways to use rosemary?