When to plant Rosemary
An aromatic evergreen shrub, hardy only in mild zones (roughly 8 and warmer). It's slow and unreliable from seed, so most gardeners buy a plant or root a cutting. In cold regions, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors for winter.
Companions: Beans, cabbage, carrot, sage — repels carrot fly and cabbage moth
How to grow Rosemary
Rosemary is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this tender crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 24 inches apart. It takes roughly 90 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include beans, cabbage, carrot, sage — repels carrot fly and cabbage moth.
Grower's tip: Slow from seed and frost-tender in cold zones — most gardeners start from a plant and overwinter indoors.
When to plant Rosemary by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same rosemary goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 6–Apr 20 Transplant outdoors Jun 29–Jul 13 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Transplant outdoors Jun 24–Jul 8 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors Jun 19–Jul 3 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Mar 21–Apr 4 Transplant outdoors Jun 13–Jun 27 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Mar 16–Mar 30 Transplant outdoors Jun 8–Jun 22 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Mar 11–Mar 25 Transplant outdoors Jun 3–Jun 17 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 6–Mar 20 Transplant outdoors May 29–Jun 12 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Transplant outdoors May 24–Jun 7 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors May 19–Jun 2 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Feb 19–Mar 5 Transplant outdoors May 14–May 28 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 29–May 13 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Jan 11–Jan 25 Transplant outdoors Apr 5–Apr 19 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 12 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 28 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 29–Feb 12 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |