HOW TO GET A NEW BAY LEAF PLANT FROM A CUTTING
Bay leave is an aromatic leaf that has a distinctive flavor and fragrance used in cooking as a spice. It is used in soups, stews, meats, baking dishes, seafoods, and many other foods. It has essential oils like eucalyptol, and terpenes. Bay leaf can reduce inflammation and better digestion.
HOW TO PROPAGATE A BAY LEAF PLANT
Take a soft wood cutting piece of a Bay leaf plant by twisting it or cutting it with a scissors. You will have a 6 inches cutting piece. Remove the leaves. Leave two top leaves in the cutting. Soak the cutting in a rooting hormone and place it in a container full of soil. keep it moist all the time. Cover it with a clear top to maintain it warm. Do the same with several cuttings to assure you will get a new bay leaf plant, not all the cuttings will grow roots. It will take a few weeks to root it. Once it is firm it means it has roots. It is time to move to a larger container. It will take a couple of years for the plant to be stablished.
The best time to propagate the bay leaf plant is in the spring or early fall before the summer, or the winter. The soil must have good drainage, lot of room, and plenty of sun. It likes morning sun and afternoon shade. Bay leaf grows large and tall.
GROWING BAY LEAF IN CONTAINERS
Choose a small container and place the cutting in it. After a couple of months when it is firmed it means it has roots. It can be moved to a larger container. Chose a 2 to 3 gallon container and add regular soil add a layer of compost. Place the plant in the middle of the container. Place it in a very sunny place. It can grow to be around up to 6 feet tall and very bushy. It doesn’t need that much water. It lives for a long time. It likes lots of sun.
HARVESTING BAY LEAF PLANT
Harvest the large leaves. They are the most tasty after they are 2 year old. Pull them gently out of the plant or use shears to snip the leaves from the stem. Take a few leaves at a time. Dry them before using them. They last for a long time. They add flavor to the food.
