As your herbs begin to age and become woody and lose their capacity for producing the essential oils that you must have for culinary and medicinal use, you have to replace them with new plants.
Certainly not the easiest of ways, but with a little knowledge and plenty of care, growing garden herbs from cuttings can be done even by a novice gardener.
Good preparation is the key to growing garden herbs from cuttings – never skimp on the basics of good husbandry. (Strange how that word is used in this context of nurturing: would it be sexist to suggest “wifedry” would be more appropriate? – Perhaps we had better not go there!) Cleanness is the most important factor.
Propagation trays from garden supply stores can be used again and again so are quite economical, but must be sterilised before every use. Always use a well sterilized container that is about three inches deep. Any type of tray that is the right depth, sterilizable and has drainage can be used for the purpose.
Cuttings like a light soil so a normal seed growing compost from your garden store would be too heavy. So make up your own mixture using the lightest compost you can find and add fine grit. Addition of vermiculite is beneficial too. Whatever you use, the mixture needs to be sterile and must drain easily. Root rot is the last thing you need. One thing to avoid at all cost is using soil from your yard. This could contain all sorts of diseases and insects that would multiply in the warm growing conditions that your cuttings require.
Here are step by step instructions on growing garden herbs from cuttings:
1.) Only taking cuttings from a healthy plant.
2.) Cut from a stem that is coming from the side, not middle of the plant.
3.) Select as a cutting a stem that has at least 2 or 3 sets of leaves on it where you can remove the lowest ones to give a clear two inches.
4.) Make a clean 45 degree slice with a sterile razor blade or very sharp knife at a node.
5.) Dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting powder or gel settle it into the growing medium making sure to keep the leaves above the medium.
6.) Cover with a transparent dome and provide warmth at all times.
7.) A florescent light or grow light shining over them for 10 to12 hours a day will help
8.) Keep them just moist -not wet- and wait until roots appear.
Taking, and growing on from, cuttings is such a very satisfying and pleasurable way to increase your stock of herb plants. You could even pass the surplus new plants on to friends, or if you have been really productive have a yard gate sale with all the surplus.
Tags: garden herbs, garden herbs from cuttings, growing garden herbs, growing garden herbs from cuttings, herb