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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: antipodes on October 22, 2007, 11:16:39

Title: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: antipodes on October 22, 2007, 11:16:39
I would like to have some rosemary on my plot, but didn't get around to it this year.
I seem to think you can get it going from a cutting, but is this the right time of year to do it? There are a few rosemary bushes around our site and I think I could beg a few cuttings no problem.
thanks
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: calendula on October 22, 2007, 11:57:22
very easy from seed, tricky from cuttings, you need a 'heel' cutting and possibly some rooting powder but you can but try  :)
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: Palustris on October 22, 2007, 12:07:40
I find them dead easy from cuttings. Even bits with flowers on root. I do mine in a cuttings frame with pure sand rather than the peat/sand mix recommended. Do them now and they should be rooted by spring.
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: OllieC on October 22, 2007, 12:15:32
Quote from: Palustris on October 22, 2007, 12:07:40
I find them dead easy from cuttings.

Me too! I took a few bits, stuck them in a pot of compost, tied it up in a black bag & a month or so later, potted up the ones with roots.
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: antipodes on October 22, 2007, 12:43:51
oh well, maybe I should try it then!!  I will try and beg a few cuttings from one of my neighbours  ;)
I don't think I have noticed seeds in the shops? maybe I didn't look hard enough...
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: Mave on October 22, 2007, 13:01:22
I found ten pence reduced price packs of rosemary from Asda.  Dipped into rooting powder into pots of compost then just left in the greenhouse for a month or so.  Almost 100% sucess fifteen plants for ten pence.
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: Eristic on October 22, 2007, 13:29:52
I did a batch only last week and planted them 2" apart in a row on the lottie. Pull off the heel cuttings from the bush, snip off the end, pull off the bottom half of the leaves with your fingers then poke them into a hole in the ground. Be patient!

If you only want one or two plants take several cuttings and plant them in a circle where you want the bush to grow but if you want more plant in a nursury row.
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: star on October 22, 2007, 16:21:24
Thanks for posting this antipodes, I might try again.....seeing as i did them COMPLETELY wrong a couple of weeks ago, and lost the lot!
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: antipodes on October 23, 2007, 09:00:20
well, when I am trying something that I got for free, i don't usually complain!!!
I have a friend who is very good with plants (he is a florist and a keen gardener, from a farm originally), last winter we were at my lottie, he just found plants in every corner of the place, some on the paths, a couple from a neighbouring lot, broke a little bit off (not enough so you would notice) and stuck them all on my plot!!! luckily no one else was there!! and to my amazement, everything grew!! and I now have a lovely little patch of thyme and lots of flowers growing thanks to his thieving!!! well, i guess snapping off a twig is not really stealing but I wouldn't do it without asking, ha ha he didn't really follow the allotmenteer's code of honour
but the rosemary I will try and get in a legit way  ;D
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: Clayhithe on October 23, 2007, 14:19:14
I keep a sprig of Rosemary in a jar of water on the kitchen windowsill
(for Mrs C to use whenever)
and it always roots.

The original sprig (years ago)
came from Sainsburys.

The bushes outdoors don't always survive the East Anglia winter.
Title: Re: can i take rosemary cuttings now?
Post by: antipodes on October 23, 2007, 14:44:46
i think I might try some in compost and some in water and see what happens. I just accidentally snapped off some lavender outside my office, ha ha, iwas trying to see what the root system looked like!! so I have put it in a glass of water and see what happens. i might bring in a little pot of potting mix tomorrow and try a couple more on my desk (gives my workmates a laugh anyway)