Are you growing rosemary in North Carolina, but don’t know when the best time to harvest them is?
Harvesting rosemary is not as easy as it seems.
Here’s why:
- Rosemary have a very short window when they can be harvested and still taste great.
So if you harvest them too early they may not be ready and taste bad. And if you harvest them too late they may become infected with mold, fungus, insects, etc., and become inedible.
Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to harvest rosemary in North Carolina:
- To Learn More About HOW to Grow Rosemary, Check Out This GUIDE!
When Do I Harvest Rosemary in North Carolina?
As you may have already guessed, there are two main factors that determine when you should harvest your rosemary: the physical features of the rosemary & weather (time).
Harvest Rosemary if They Look Like This!!!
The physical features of rosemary are what most gardeners commonly rely on to determine if they are ready to be picked off the plant or not.
In general, you should harvest rosemary if they have the following physical features:
- The entire rosemary is a solid red color. If the rosemary is a lighter shade of red, it is not ready to be harvested
- The rosemary is slightly soft. Too hard means it is not ready. Too soft means it is overripe (but still edible)
- Easily able to be deattached from the the plant. This means it has absorbed all the nutrients it needs and is ready.
Harvest Your Rosemary During THIS Time of Year!!!
In general, you should harvest rosemary:
- 65 to 85 days after starting rosemary from seed
- 40 to 50 days after planting rosemary in your garden
- 20 to 30 days after rosemary first appear
And no matter what, you should ALWAYS harvest your rosemary before the first frost of the year. Frost will immediately kill your rosemary plant and make your rosemary inedible.
For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in North Carolina. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.
North Carolina Last & First Frost Dates
It should be noted that you should not overly rely on the first frost of the year. The average first frost of the year is only correct 30% of the time.
Instead, pay close attention to your local weather.
When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.
- If rosemary are in pots, bring them inside
- If rosemary are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
- Pick all rosemary. If they are not ready, place them in a brown paper bag and store them for approximately 1 to 2 weeks to see if they become edible.
If you want to learn WHEN to harvest ANY Vegetable in North Carolina, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.
