Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

countrynaturals 8/18/2019, 11:22 am

I have tons of the stuff! I love it, but I don't know what to do with it. Right now it's just ornamental, but I have one plant that has taken over one of my Salad Bar beds. I need that space and I don't need that plant, but I can't just kill it. If I could harvest the whole thing for a greater purpose, it would justify it for me. Rolling Eyes

(Before you ask, it's way too big to transplant.)

Edit: Here's one I just found -- can't wait to try it.

Use Dried Rosemary for Dryer Sheets. Take a small drawstring bag and fill with dried rosemary sprigs. Throw this in the dryer with freshly washed clothes for a great way to naturally scent your laundry. You could even add dried lavender to this sachet.

OhioGardener 8/18/2019, 11:59 am

Rosemary plants do get huge, don't they CN? It is grown as an annual here is Ohio, but it still gets very big and it is impossible to use all of it. We use a lot of it in cooking, but the only other use we have for it is as a mosquito repellent.

Check out the Molly Green article, Twenty Ways to Use Rosemary, her opening paragraph is:

"Our rosemary has bushed out into a wild, gargantuan organism growing in our yard. I think it’s approximately 3 feet high and 4 feet in diameter. It. Is. Huge. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with this beautiful rosemary bush and I’m planning on using every single bit of it. I can only dry so much rosemary, so I’ve been hunting for ways to utilize it."

countrynaturals 8/18/2019, 1:09 pm

countrynaturals wrote:I have tons of the stuff! I love it, but I don't know what to do with it. Right now it's just ornamental, but I have one plant that has taken over one of my Salad Bar beds. I need that space and I don't need that plant, but I can't just kill it. If I could harvest the whole thing for a greater purpose, it would justify it for me. (Before you ask, it's way too big to transplant.)

Edit: Here's one I just found -- can't wait to try it.

Use Dried Rosemary for Dryer Sheets. Take a small drawstring bag and fill with dried rosemary sprigs. Throw this in the dryer with freshly washed clothes for a great way to naturally scent your laundry. You could even add dried lavender to this sachet.

Here is the plant in 2016:

Rosemary -- What do you do with it? Herbs10

The 2 little bay plants died last year when we were evacuated for the Carr Fire. Here's what the rosemary looked like this morning:

Rosemary -- What do you do with it? Rosema12

This property had no rosemary, so I planted this one. The new place has at least 30' of it, so this one is no longer needed. I can't kill it, but I can harvest it to death. Rolling Eyes

Here's the first harvest, drying on top of a display case in my she-shed. This is only a smidgen of what I'll get, but that plant is in the direct sun, so the rest will have to be gathered in the evening. I predict that everyone on my Christmas list will get something crafty from rosemary this year. Razz

Rosemary -- What do you do with it? Rosema13

**Scorpio Rising** 8/18/2019, 11:39 pm

I have only used it for culinary purposes...love it with lamb and pork. Make a rub with crushed garlic, rosemary, mustard and salt and pepper.

Roseinarosecity 8/19/2019, 9:13 pm

How about an infusion of rosemary in olive oil. You'll be able to use it in your salad dressings and for body care use.

I did it last year in my crock pot and my kitchen smelled delicious.

R

countrynaturals 8/19/2019, 11:30 pm

Roseinarosecity wrote:How about an infusion of rosemary in olive oil. You'll be able to use it in your salad dressings and for body care use.

I did it last year in my crock pot and my kitchen smelled delicious.

R

Thanks, Rose. I'll put Katie on that project. Right now it's my she-shed that smells delicious as the harvest is heaping. Very Happy

**AtlantaMarie** 8/20/2019, 9:51 am

Oh, I LIKE that idea, Rose! And heaven knows I have plenty, lol Do you use dried or fresh?

One of our local fast food joints has a BIG bush right by the drive-thru window. The staff had no idea what it was till I told them.....

LilBittyBean 8/20/2019, 10:22 am

I sometimes make shrubs (drinking vinegar) with my rosemary and whatever fruit is in season.

In the past, I've also made a rosemary-apple cider vinegar hair rinse. Can't find my recipe, but this looks the same: https://botaneri.com/rosemary-apple-cider-hair-rinse/

countrynaturals 8/20/2019, 12:05 pm

LilBittyBean wrote:I sometimes make shrubs (drinking vinegar) with my rosemary and whatever fruit is in season.

That sounds interesting. geek

LilBittyBean 8/20/2019, 4:22 pm

This article is a great jumping-off point for making your own shrubs. My favorite combo is blackberry-thyme served up with some bourbon. Rosemary and grapefruit make a nice combination, too.

How to Make a Shrub Drink Food52

**AtlantaMarie** 8/21/2019, 8:03 am

Hmmm.... (insert scratching head emoticon here.) Interesting... And I like to add acv to smoothies anyway.....

Thanks, LBB!

LilBittyBean 8/21/2019, 11:49 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Hmmm.... (insert scratching head emoticon here.) Interesting... And I like to add acv to smoothies anyway.....

Thanks, LBB!

You're welcome! I would never have thought of adding shrub vinegar to a smoothie. Sounds brilliant!

I'm pretty sure I'll make a batch of shrub vinegar this weekend. It's been way too long since I've done it.

Yardslave 8/26/2019, 6:41 pm

I like to use a wad of rosemary branches add to my Webber BBQ coals when I roast/smoke a leg of lamb or a whole chicken.

countrynaturals 8/26/2019, 7:07 pm

Yardslave wrote:I like to use a wad of rosemary branches add to my Webber BBQ coals when I roast/smoke a leg of lamb or a whole chicken.

Ooo, sounds interesting. hungry

No_Such_Reality 8/26/2019, 11:26 pm

Typically I forget I have it growing for months and then rudely surprise myself with how potent fresh clipped rosemary is in dishes.

countrynaturals 9/1/2019, 7:06 pm

The dryer bag idea was a total waste of time and resources. There was no fragrance whatsoever. I wish people would test their ideas before they post them. Mad

**Scorpio Rising** 9/1/2019, 9:21 pm

chew it up using a food processor, then freeze in cubes, then dump all the cubes in a freezer bag!

markqz 9/8/2019, 4:36 pm

That's a lot of rosemary.

I'm thinking early holiday wreaths for friends, neighbors, and random individuals. santa

**sanderson** 9/8/2019, 4:56 pm

Mark, Love your avatar.

Rosemary dries out so quick. Maybe it will last long enough to make it through the Christmas season. ??

markqz 9/8/2019, 5:58 pm

sanderson wrote:Rosemary dries out so quick. Maybe it will last long enough to make it through the Christmas season. ??

Wait! One word --

*** Halloween ***

Sponsored content

Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?

Re: Rosemary -- What do you do with it?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.