bay leaf tree

[debster]

I would seriously love a bay leaf tree in a tub in my garden however they are hugely expensive far beyond what i would be willing to pay. hubby has a big one at work, could we take a cutting, would it grow and what would i need to do to it. has anyone been successful with this. think my garden would be ideal conditions for it as my avocado thrives
any ideas/experience
:D debs

[debster]

[Hyacinth]

I found it really easy. Took off new growth with a heel, dusting of rooting powder, into pot sharp sand + compost....and left them. By the end of the summer they were well rooted.

Lishka

[debster]

excellent sorry but can you explain what you mean by a heel please  :) thanks

[Suzanne]

I haven't taken cuttings but have bought small bay trees for around £2-3 from garden centres which are the next step up from rooted cutings. My latest one (£1.95) is now about 18" high with about 6 branches. I use them for the kitchen so don't ever think they will get to tree size, but they do form decent bushes - probably because I pick them quite often. The reason they are quite expensive as mature trees is because they are slow growers.

[debster]

i have never seen one for less then about £40 or more mind you they are very established bushes i would like a little one to be able to grow must look for smaller ones when i next visit a nursery

[Hyacinth]

Sorry...a heel...if you take new growth, you leave a portion of the older wood at its base as well.

It's true, tho, that small plants are really quite cheap, as Suzanne has said, so well worth looking round. Good luck.

[Suzanne]

They are usually with the small pots of herbs. Or sometimes with the small rooted heel cuttings of box which i find sell for about £1 a piece - again a bargain if you want to grow ornamental topiary box.

[debster]

thanks
will look  ;D

[Lauren S]

Debs I have a small version, well it's over ten years old and as you can see not the giant variety. You are welcome to a cutting or two  ;D

[caseylee]

I bought my little one from a garden shop last year for 1.99, but I am still not convinced that it is a bayleaf tree as its does not smell like the ones I used to have when I was smaller.  Does nayone know if they are know by a different name at all

[springbok]

Found this on the net, might be helpful :)


Bay leaf (plural bay leaves), Greek Daphni, Romanian Foi de Dafin; is the aromatic leaf of several species of the Laurel family (Lauraceae). Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinctive flavor and fragrance.

    * Laurus nobilis, is a culinary herb often used to flavor soups, stews, and braises and pâtés in Mediterranean Cuisine. The fresh leaves are very mild and do not develop their full flavor until several weeks after picking and drying.

    * California bay leaf

    The leaf of the California bay tree (Umbellularia californica), also known as 'California laurel', 'Oregon myrtle', and 'pepperwood', is similar to the Mediterranean bay but has a stronger flavor.

    * "Indian bay leaf" (also tej pat, tejpat, or tejpata)

    The leaf of the Cinnamomum tejpata (malabathrum) tree is similar in fragrance and taste to cinnamon bark, but milder. In appearance, it is similar to the other bay leaves but is culinarily quite different, having an aroma and flavor more similar to that of Cassia. It is inaccurately called a bay leaf as it is of a different genus (though the same family) as the bay laurel.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

very difficult to take cuttings from bay. You probably need a mist propagator + heat. This must work well commercially cus the small bay plants are so cheap in garden centres

[Kea]

You can usually get a pot of small plants amongst the other herbs at the garden centre. they grow surprisingly quickly but the size of the pot will restict the size. I bought a pot of them about 6 years ago they were about 4 inches tall and I have 3 standards 4 ft tall which I have restrcited to that size, some smaller....I had about 12 of them. One I gave to a friend who planted it in the ground, it's trunk is now as thick as my wrist and she has it trimmed into a large ball shape it's about 5 ft tall. I gave away another recently that i kept in a smaller pot and it was about 2 ft tall. They were all the same age i just had them in different pots.

[debster]

thanks Lauren thats very kind i will hunt the nurserys (its partly an excuse lol) and if im unsuccessful i will take you up on your offer
thanks

[caseylee]

Thank you for the info on them, mine is stil in a small pot, but I am going to re-plant it tomorrow into a bigger tub, would it be alright to leave it outside over winter cause its been in my greenhouse this year

[debster]

well got my wish hubby bought me one from work for £2 i often foget that he works at bicton college of agriculture (how thick am i) well it is about 8inches tall and i know now why the big ones are so dear this one is 3 years old lol. i have also ordered some seeds from ebay (done before hubbys gift) so will give them a go too always up for a challenge lol

[Vortex]

The bay is a very slow growing tree, even if not restricted by pot size. I have over a dozen taken as root cuttings. Most are nearly 3 years old now and are about 8" tall. The parent tree is about 15 years old now, and as a pot grown specimen is only about 4' tall.
On the other hand my mother-in-laws, which is on her allotment is nearly 40 years old, about 25' high and about 8' in diameter (spread not trunk girth).
She's been asked to substantially reduce its height and spread by the council, which is probably going to kill it. Unless anything changes it my job for the weekend, assuming the weather holds.

[debster]

what a shame but be sure not to waste any of the leaves that come off it dry them for culinary purposes, would love to see a photo of the tree if possible thanks  ;D