Propagating herbs
Is it better to propagate herbs (majoram, rosemary, oregano,sage, basil) by rooting in water or seedling type mix? How long until viable to plant outside?
Thanks - trying to give a hand up to our adult kids who are starting their first herb garden...
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(post #12800, reply #1 of 6)
Marjoram, rosemary and sage are on the "woody" side of herbs and also perennials, plants that come back again the next year, with marjoram needing a warmer climate to survive outdoors through the winter.
Oregano and basils are annuals, and you can plant the seeds now and use the growing plants for cooking later in the summer. Be sure to keep the soil moist and water when the top inch is dry. These plants will die back completely when cold temperatures arrive. Make your own pizza sauce and all that! Follow the directions on the back of the seed packets for how to plant.
Some nurseries carry small pots of the hardier herbs which aren't awfully expensive. Check out any local nurseries for all of them, annual and perennial, or maybe just start some annual seeds at first, which would be the least expensive track to take.
New Mexico home organic gardener
Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience. Emerson
Edited 5/15/2007 7:32 pm by Astrid
(post #12800, reply #4 of 6)
Thanks very much for the replies - I live in Atlanta (in the city) and while most of this urban area is 7B, in the heart of the city we are almost an 8. Oregano does overwinter quite well and is growing like a weed. The only thing that acts like a typical annual is the basil.
I have now put the basil and rosemary in water with root stimulator and the rest of the cuttings in "starting mix" - we'll see what happens.
(post #12800, reply #2 of 6)
Though I've never grown herbs from seeds, always buying plants at the nursery, I have been able to propagate rosemary successfully from cuttings, and basil as well, rooting in water. I can keep the basil in the house through the winter, and transplant it when it warms up. I've not been able to root lavender, though, and haven't tried anything else. I suspect the rosemary might root faster if the cut stems were treated with rooting hormone and placed into vermiculite. It does take a long time to form roots in water.
(post #12800, reply #5 of 6)
I have rooted lavender and it is a pain in the neck. (I rooted it in a damp sand/potting soil mix). I found in my climate that the babies need to be babied for several years. Many didn't make it through the first winter. I can buy lavender starts for $1.50 at the grocery store this time of year -- much larger, healthier plants that do grow and survive. So, not to be a kill joy, but in my experience it is only worth trying to root if you really enjoy the process or are flat broke. :)
zone 6 gardening in the woods with 30,000 deer
zone 6 gardening in the woods with 30,000 deer
(post #12800, reply #3 of 6)
Welcome to the Forum!
I agree with Astrid on just about everything. Oregano, however, is also perennial in Zone 8. You haven't said where you live, so you might be able to keep it going or you might not.
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
Marty
"The plants have been good to us." Lester Hawkins
(post #12800, reply #6 of 6)
This response is very late (not had time to look in for months!) However, just have to let you know that I'm in zone 7 - and I do not have a mild microclimate or whatever. I have oregano growing outside year round. I have to stop cutting it well before early frost so it won't be putting out new growth when it freezes. We rarely get a slow introduction to Winter here, last year it was 78F one day, and we had an ice storm the next. I let the top of the plant die off and leave it there for protection. In the Spring, I'll see lots of green coming up through the dead stuff and trim all the litter away. Last year's storm killed my 4 year old rosemary plants and some of my Tarragon - I plan on giving them some protection this Winter. I tried to propagate my sage, but it grows so fast, and I can get new plants for a couple of bucks, I plan on just buying new every 3 years.