We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree which
has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for our
redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_bay_laurel.htm makes it sound quite
difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust them).

Of the three options, I don't see any seeds and layering may take too long
(although air layering is not mentioned, which might be an option) so
cuttings seems to be the best bet.

Has anyone had success taking cuttings from bay?

How do I tell which type of bay it is?
The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big and
the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.
My other bays have grown from seedlings lifted from a friend's garden and
his bay tree is huge.

Cheers

Dave R

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...
We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree
which has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for our
redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_bay_laurel.htm makes it sound quite
difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust
them).
snip
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_...ber_3_bay2.asp

also talks of seed germination at 65F/21C

Now
65F = 18.34C
21C = 68.8F

Strange how two sites have the same mistake,

In article ,
David WE Roberts wrote:
We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree which
has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

How do I tell which type of bay it is?
The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big and
the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.
My other bays have grown from seedlings lifted from a friend's garden and
his bay tree is huge.

Where? Bay is like hazel - it's a natural shrub (i.e. multi-stemmed)
but will grow into a fair-sized tree if conditions are right. 9" in
diameter and 20+' high is likely. The simplest diagnostic is the
scent - Laurus nobilis is the true bay you use for cooking, and all
others smell different. It has small yellow flowers in spring.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...
We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree
which has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for our
redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_bay_laurel.htm makes it sound quite
difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust
them).

Of the three options, I don't see any seeds and layering may take too long
(although air layering is not mentioned, which might be an option) so
cuttings seems to be the best bet.

Has anyone had success taking cuttings from bay?

How do I tell which type of bay it is?
The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big and
the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.
My other bays have grown from seedlings lifted from a friend's garden and
his bay tree is huge.


I have propagated a bay from cuttings. Initially, the potted cuttings seemed
to take quite easily, but most died off in the first year. The sole survivor
stayed stunted for the next five or so years, but then took off like a
rocket, for some unknown reason.

'True' bay trees can grow very big - there's one in the gardens at
Portmeirion that must be over sixty feet tall.

"BAC" wrote in message
...

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...
We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree
which has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for our
redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_bay_laurel.htm makes it sound quite
difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust
them).

Of the three options, I don't see any seeds and layering may take too
long (although air layering is not mentioned, which might be an option)
so cuttings seems to be the best bet.

Has anyone had success taking cuttings from bay?

How do I tell which type of bay it is?
The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big
and the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.
My other bays have grown from seedlings lifted from a friend's garden and
his bay tree is huge.


I have propagated a bay from cuttings. Initially, the potted cuttings
seemed to take quite easily, but most died off in the first year. The sole
survivor stayed stunted for the next five or so years, but then took off
like a rocket, for some unknown reason.

'True' bay trees can grow very big - there's one in the gardens at
Portmeirion that must be over sixty feet tall.

I've never had success with bay cuttings, mine all died. I was given a
self-sown seedling about 3" high a couple of years ago, in quite a big pot.
It did not do anything the first year, just sat and sulked but it shot away
this year to about 2 ft tall.

Tina

David WE Roberts writes
We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree
which has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for
our redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_bay_laurel.htm makes it sound
quite difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust
them).

Of the three options, I don't see any seeds and layering may take too
long (although air layering is not mentioned, which might be an option)
so cuttings seems to be the best bet.

Has anyone had success taking cuttings from bay?

Yes, and I'm fairly slapdash with cuttings. Just take a lot. Some will
grow.

How do I tell which type of bay it is?

If it's an edible bay tree, it will smell like bay, and have leaves that
are about 8cm long and 3-4cm wide.

If it's a cherry laurel, it'll have leaves that are nearer 15 cm long,
7cm wide, thicker and glossier.

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big
and the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.

Yes, they grow to trees, and grow quite rapidly - ours is giving the
leylandii a good run for their money.

--
Kay

On 27 Dec, 17:49, K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes





We have a laurel/bay bush in our back garden (which is actually a tree
which has been cut down to a stump and then regrown as a bush).

I have some other bushes in tubs but they have a different scent and I
particularly like the one in our back garden.

However it may have to go because it is really in the wrong place for
our redesigned rear area.
Obviously being a truncated tree it cannot be lifted and moved.

http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs...aurel.htmmakes it sound
quite difficult to propagate (however as they can't even get their
Farenheit/Centigrade conversions right I don't know how much to trust
them).

Of the three options, I don't see any seeds and layering may take too
long (although air layering is not mentioned, which might be an option)
so cuttings seems to be the best bet.

Has anyone had success taking cuttings from bay?

Yes, and I'm fairly slapdash with cuttings. Just take a lot. Some will
grow.



How do I tell which type of bay it is?

If it's an edible bay tree, it will smell like bay, and have leaves that
are about 8cm long and 3-4cm wide.

If it's a cherry laurel, it'll have leaves that are nearer 15 cm long,
7cm wide, thicker and glossier.

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The web site above describes it as a bush but the trunk was pretty big
and the bay trees around this area seem to be just that - trees.

Yes, they grow to trees, and grow quite rapidly - ours is giving the
leylandii a good run for their money.

--
Kay- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I wouldn't wory about propagating it, you now quite often see pots of
Bay with several plants to a pot in the "Sheds" as well as stores like
Lidl and Aldi, they are cheap much easier than trying to propagate..
David Hill

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
On 27 Dec, 17:49, K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes
snip

I wouldn't wory about propagating it, you now quite often see pots of
Bay with several plants to a pot in the "Sheds" as well as stores like
Lidl and Aldi, they are cheap much easier than trying to propagate..
David Hill

Problem is they may not be the same variety as the one in my back garden.

I already have other bay shrubs (as stated earlier) but they are not the
same.

It is this specific variety that I want to preserve.

On 27 Dec, 18:50, "David WE Roberts" wrote:
"Dave Hill" wrote in message

...

On 27 Dec, 17:49, K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes
snip

I wouldn't wory about propagating it, you now quite often see pots of
Bay with several plants to a pot in the "Sheds" as well as stores like
Lidl and Aldi, they are cheap much easier than trying to propagate..
David Hill

Problem is they may not be the same variety as the one in my back garden.

I already have other bay shrubs (as stated earlier) but they are not the
same.

It is this specific variety that I want to preserve.

Well that's put me in my place.
David Hill

"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
On 27 Dec, 18:50, "David WE Roberts" wrote:
"Dave Hill" wrote in message

...

On 27 Dec, 17:49, K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes
snip

I wouldn't wory about propagating it, you now quite often see pots of
Bay with several plants to a pot in the "Sheds" as well as stores like
Lidl and Aldi, they are cheap much easier than trying to propagate..
David Hill

Problem is they may not be the same variety as the one in my back garden.

I already have other bay shrubs (as stated earlier) but they are not the
same.

It is this specific variety that I want to preserve.

Well that's put me in my place.
David Hill


LOL, sorry, David! Maybe David R could lead us to an online photo so we
know what sort of bay he's after keeping.

Tina

In article ,
K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes

How do I tell which type of bay it is?

If it's an edible bay tree, it will smell like bay, and have leaves that
are about 8cm long and 3-4cm wide.

If it's a cherry laurel, it'll have leaves that are nearer 15 cm long,
7cm wide, thicker and glossier.

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The leaves are very hard to tell from true bay, unless you have both
together or can remember which has which subtle feature. Most people
can tell the difference only by scent, or when the plant has flowers
or fruit.

There are also many others plants commonly called bay in some parts
of the world.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

wrote in message
...
In article ,
K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes

How do I tell which type of bay it is?

If it's an edible bay tree, it will smell like bay, and have leaves that
are about 8cm long and 3-4cm wide.

If it's a cherry laurel, it'll have leaves that are nearer 15 cm long,
7cm wide, thicker and glossier.

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The leaves are very hard to tell from true bay, unless you have both
together or can remember which has which subtle feature. Most people
can tell the difference only by scent, or when the plant has flowers
or fruit.


Isn't it characteristic that the edges of edible bay leaves are corrugated
or wrinkled?

Graham



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In article , graham wrote:

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The leaves are very hard to tell from true bay, unless you have both
together or can remember which has which subtle feature. Most people
can tell the difference only by scent, or when the plant has flowers
or fruit.

Isn't it characteristic that the edges of edible bay leaves are corrugated
or wrinkled?

No :-( They often are, slightly, but often aren't.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

wrote in message
...
In article , graham
wrote:

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The leaves are very hard to tell from true bay, unless you have both
together or can remember which has which subtle feature. Most people
can tell the difference only by scent, or when the plant has flowers
or fruit.

Isn't it characteristic that the edges of edible bay leaves are corrugated
or wrinkled?

No :-( They often are, slightly, but often aren't.

Pity! As it happens mine are. But then it is a small, pot-bound shrub in
my kitchen.
Graham



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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

graham writes

wrote in message
...
In article ,
K wrote:
David WE Roberts writes

How do I tell which type of bay it is?

If it's an edible bay tree, it will smell like bay, and have leaves that
are about 8cm long and 3-4cm wide.

If it's a cherry laurel, it'll have leaves that are nearer 15 cm long,
7cm wide, thicker and glossier.

Portuguese laurel I have no experience with.

The leaves are very hard to tell from true bay, unless you have both
together or can remember which has which subtle feature. Most people
can tell the difference only by scent, or when the plant has flowers
or fruit.


Isn't it characteristic that the edges of edible bay leaves are corrugated
or wrinkled?

They are, but only very gently so. For example, the 18cm length of the
leaf I'm looking at has only 8 undulations, with an amplitude of 2-3mm -
not what I'd immediately pick up as 'corrugations' or 'wrinkles'. It's
another of those characteristics that helps only if you're already
familiar with the plant.
--
Kay