• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

Garden Making

Inspiring ideas and information for great home gardens

  • Design
  • Containers
  • Food
  • Gardens to visit
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
    • Manitoba
    • Ontario
    • Quebec
    • New Brunswick
    • Nova Scotia
    • Newfoundland
    • England
    • U.S.
  • Events Calendar
    • By organizing group
    • By location of events
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
    • Saskatchewan
    • Manitoba
    • Ontario
    • Quebec
    • New Brunswick
    • Nova Scotia
    • Prince Edward Island
    • Newfoundland & Labrador
    • Form to list your event
  • Reader photos
    • Reader images of gardens
    • Container gardening images
    • Reader images of plants in 2019
    • Reader images of plants in 2018
    • Reader images of plants in 2017
    • Reader images of plants in 2016
    • Submit photo to Garden Making
  • Shop
You are here: Home / How to / Overwintering rosemary

Overwintering rosemary

By Laura Langston Filed Under: How to

Container-grown rosemary can be overwintered indoors when given the right conditions. (Photo by Pixabay)
Container-grown rosemary can be overwintered indoors when given the right conditions. (Photo by Pixabay)

Overwintering rosemary indoors can be a challenge, but there are ways to turn the challenge into an opportunity so you can enjoy this Mediterranean herb year-round.

Start with a potted rosemary; uprooting and moving an in-ground plant is difficult. If you don’t have any container-grown rosemary, buy one near the end of summer to overwinter indoors.

Rosemary resents being potbound, so if roots are escaping through the pot’s drainage holes by late summer, transplant it into a slightly larger container, using a lightweight potting mix. A few weeks before bringing the plant indoors, move it from full sun to part shade to allow it to adjust to lower light levels.

Make the final move indoors before the first frost. Situate your rosemary in a cool, well-lit room or enclosed porch; ideally, the temperature should stay between 10° and 15°C. A spot that’s too warm can stress the plant and attract whiteflies or spider mites. If that happens, apply insecticidal soap.

Rosemary appreciates lots of light and may get leggy without it. A southern or southwestern exposure is best, or set the plant under a fluorescent light on a timer.

Good air circulation helps prevent powdery mildew. Don’t crowd the plant and keep it away from humid locations. A small fan blowing on the herb for a few hours a day increases air circulation. Treat powdery mildew by removing infected leaves and spraying the plant with a mixture of baking soda and water.

Rosemary is classed as drought tolerant and thrives in lean, well-drained soil. However, this is one herb that doesn’t like completely dry conditions. In winter, water when the top of the soil is dry. In spring, as growth begins, keep the top of the soil slightly moist, but not drenched or waterlogged.

There’s no need to fertilize through the dark winter months, but begin feeding every other week in early spring with a balanced formula, such as 20-20-20.

Once outdoor temperatures rise to about 12°C, acclimatize the potted rosemary by setting it outside in part shade for the day and bringing it indoors at night.  As soon as all danger of frost has passed, the plant can stay outdoors for the summer, ideally in your hottest, sunniest garden spot.

More about rosemary on Garden Making 

  • How to treat powdery mildew on rosemary?

Published: November 12, 2016 | Updated: February 5, 2019


Sponsor links

Sign up for Garden Making updates

We do not share emails. Your information will be used as outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Please look for our email. You must click on the link in the email to confirm. Check your inbox or spam folder.

About Laura Langston

Laura Langston in Victoria, B.C., is the author of 14 books, including Your Guide To Herb Gardening and former journalist with the CBC.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura Langston says

    November 23, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Hi Mary,
    You can certainly try it. I’ve had very little luck moving lavender indoors; I find it even trickier than rosemary. But you might have better luck!

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    November 17, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Would that work for lavender??

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Laura Langston Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Search

Reader submissions

  • Enter draw to win a prize
  • Form to list your event
  • Submit photo to Garden Making

When you’re looking for

  • Books for gardeners
  • Containers in your garden
  • Design
  • Food to grow
  • Gardens to visit
  • Growing from seed
  • How to
  • Plant ideas
  • Tips for gardeners

Garden Making magazine

  • Buy magazine issues
  • Garden Making list of magazine issues
  • Garden Making index of magazine articles

Copyright © 2021 Inspiring Media Inc. | GARDEN MAKING is a registered trademark | About | Service | Terms of use | Privacy policy | Account