My neighbour has a well established Rosemary bush.(U.K.) When should I take some for cooking purposes?

Should I wait until it has flowered,or can I take it anytime.It smells wonderful

My neighbour has a well established Rosemary bush.(U.K.) When should I take some for cooking purposes?
I'm assuming you've asked your neighbour and aren't just planning to help yourself! But of course a nice person like you will be on good terms with your neighbours... :D





Once rosemary is well established it is fast-growing, so your neighbour will probably be only too glad to give you free reign with the pruning secateurs.


You don't have to wait till it's finished flowering -- the herbs that you should prevent from going to flower are annuals and biennials such as basil, parsley and coriander. Rosemary, being a perennial, just flowers and gets on with life!





You could try taking a cutting from one of the prunings -- then you'd have your own source of rosemary sprigs.
Reply:Anytime at all. I have a mature tree [bush] I just take what I need, and it prunes the tree [bush] as well
Reply:when ever you like it comes back quite fast unless you are cooking for hundreds of people !!!!!!!
Reply:I use mine all the time for porkchops or chicken dish. It always smells so nice to me, no matter when.
Reply:If your neighbour gives you permission about 5 minutes before you need it. it always tastes better if it is fresh. Take the top 2 inches of young growth from each stem. Try chopping it very fine with garlic and olive oil on fresh boiled new potatoes.
Reply:You should only take after you ask your neighbor for permission
Reply:i would suggest you take before the flower since many loose their flavor after they flower such as basil, thyme etc. But as for other purposes i would suggest anytome. The plant is at its peak before blooms since all the energy is into leaves than flower production. See, when a plant flowers, it puts a lot of energy into flowering, which reduces the quality of the leaves. hope this helps..