Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme...or Just the Rosemary

The aromatic scent of rosemary inspired a song and caused Shakespeare's Ophelia to go into melancholy. But you just love it for cooking--and a few sprigs of it in the cupboard or crisper keeps food fresh.

The question is, can you include rosemary in your vegetable garden design? Is it good for a raised vegetable garden? Rosemary is perfect for a raised herb garden, since the herb requires lots of drainage.

Too much water will cause your rosemary to turn yellow (also too much sun). If you want a rosemary bush, you may want to let it stand on its own since they spread out wildly--you can even give it its own container. You also may want to shape it around a trellis if you're planning to plant it alongside other herbs.

On the other hand, if you buy a smaller rosemary plant, you can vary your herb garden design--rosemary can even take root next to the beans in your vegetable garden. Rosemary benefits just about anything, especially cabbages. Just watch out for any would-be folksingers and maidens with a tendency to moon over Hamlet.