How to Germinate Rosemary

Though rosemary is most commonly planted using seedling or mature plants, like other herbs, it can easily be propagated by seed. Though it grows vigorously once established, the seeds are somewhat slower and more difficult to germinate requiring more early care than you might imagine for such a famously robust woody herb. Planting the seeds three months ahead of the last anticipated frost and cosseting them indoors can ensure that you have a healthy, ingredient-ready plant come summer. In warmer and mild temperate climates the seeds can be germinated earlier in the year as they can be planted out in the garden earlier without threat of cold damage.

Sterile, lightweight seed-starting medium
Seed tray or small plastic nursery pots
Drainage tray or saucers
Clear plastic film or glass sheeting
Rosemary cultivar seeds of choice
Spray mist bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a seed tray or multiple small plastic nursery pots, that are new or recently cleaned, with a fresh, sterile seed-starting medium that is lightweight, such as those that include perlite or vermiculite. Fill the pots to 3/4 inches below the rim. Wet the medium thoroughly until excess water flows out the drainage holes.
- 2
  Place two to seven seeds on the soil surface of each pot, to compensate for the low germination rate common for rosemary seeds.
- 3
  Cover seeds with a thin 1/4-inch layer of the potting medium. Pat the medium lightly with your finger tips to settle it gently over the seeds.
- 4
  Water the seeds in gently with a spray mist bottle filled with water or by dripping water off of your fingertips. Wet the top layer of planting medium thoroughly without disturbing the seed placement.
- 5
  Locate the pots or tray in a warm location or place onto a seed starting heating mat.
- 6
  Cover the tray or pots with a single layer of clear cling film, plastic sheeting or a piece of clear glass to create greenhouse conditions. Remove the covering once small shoots become visible.
- 7
  Place the uncovered seedlings in a warm location with very bright light, keeping the medium just evenly moist at all times, but not sopping wet, until the plants are established.
- 8
  Move the rosemary plants outside to the ground soil or into larger pots after they are at least 3-inches tall and the weather outside is warm with no further threat of frost.

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