Use rooting gel to propogate from cuttings.
           (Posted: October 2011; archived: December 2011)

Rooting gel promotes vigorous root development on cuttings. It is a great tool for those who propagate by cutting. This formulation of rooting hormone is far superior to traditional rooting powders because the gel helps hold the active ingredient IBA against the stem tissue allowing for greater absorption.

The rooting gel seals the cutting and functions as an artificial root system during root development.

To propagate a cutting with rooting gel:

• Select healthy cuttings 3-6” long from the growing tip. Avoid soft spindly stems from rapid growth.
• Sever the cutting at a 45 degree angle with a sterile sharp knife or razor blade. Do not use pruners.
• Dip the cutting in rooting gel and then place it in a roomy hole that you have previously poked into your potting medium. Do not use the gel-coated cutting to poke this hole; doing this could rub much of the gel off the cutting.
• Never place cuttings in direct sunlight.
• Maintain root zone temperature at 70-75 degrees.
• Trim excessive leaf surface to reduce transpiration of water loss while roots are forming. Mist regularly with a light fertilizer for optimum results. If your water is of poor quality, use distilled water.

Fertilizing the mother plant before taking the cutting should provide a higher success rate and better growth of the cutting.

Applying this technique to rosemary:

• Select healthy plants with lots of new growth on them. Use a sharp knife to take a 2–3 inch cutting from young shoots just below a leaf joint. Use your fingers to strip off the leaves from lower 1 1/2 inch.
• Fill a 2–3 inch pot with damp potting mix and make a hole in the middle of the mix.
• Dip the stem into the root-gel (or rooting powder) and then tap it gently to remove any excess.
• Place the cutting in the hole and then pull soil around the cutting.
• Some say to water the cutting from below, while others say to have the soil dampened before planting the cutting. (I have successfully rooted rosemary both ways.) I have also watered it from above, gently putting a tiny amount of water just around the edges of the pot at the time I potted the cutting. Almost everyone then recommends placing a plastic bag over the pot.
• Set cuttings in a warm windowsill, but not in direct sunlight. A constant temperature of 60 to 70 degrees is needed for the cuttings to root.
• Be sure to mist the cutting daily with plain water or use a light fertilizer in your water. If your water has a strong chlorine smell, use distilled water.
• In about three weeks, tug on the cutting to see if it has started to root. It usually takes about 8 weeks to firmly root.
• Plant your new rosemary plant in its permanent location when it is fully rooted and then trim its top to develop branches.

New in this year's seed catalogs ...
           (Posted: January 2011; archived: March 2011)

 
Don't stop planting your favorite herbs just because it's fall.
           (Posted: September 2010; archived: November 2010)

Fall is upon us and I’m still in the planting mood or mode. I’m now planting a second crop of some of my favorite herbs. Old Man Winter may catch up with me, but I’ll enjoy fresh basil, cilantro, dill and parsley just a little longer.

Basil is a wonderful herb for a second planting. It loves cool weather and will love the days and cool nights of fall. Basil is fast growing so you will have plenty of time to enjoy it. If it looks like frost is coming, just cover the plants to protect them.

Cilantro enjoys the cooler weather of spring, but we forget about the cool fall weather that cilantro will enjoy. Cilantro will self-seed, so let those new plants grow and extend your cilantro season. Cilantro can tolerate a light frost, so don’t be surprised if you find the herb still growing after a frost.

Dill is another cool weather herb, but a second planting may not have time to flower and make those beautiful seed heads. Fern Leaf Dill is great for a fall planting. It has more foliage and is slower to flower than the giant Dukat variety. Place some dill foliage in a baggie and place in the freezer for a delicious winter treat. Dill is great on salmon and chicken and in dipping sauces.

Parsley grows as well in the fall and in the summer. It can be found in the garden stores, and greenhouses much longer than other herbs. We think of parsley as just a garnish, but it is delicious in soups, and marinades. Parsley is also a great breath freshener. Eat that garnish on your plate!

Don’t forget to plant these herbs in a window sill planter to enjoy all winter. I have some growing now.

 
Can't wait to get outside to plant? - Try a window garden.
           (Posted: February 2010; archived: March 2010)

When I'm suffering from the "winter blahs," what I really want to do is get outside and plant to my heart's content! But, that's just not possible when the snow is on the ground, the soil is frozen, and the winter winds are blowing.

What I can do, however, is start planting indoors, using a windowsill as a home for a kitchen-friendly, herb snipping garden. Here's how you can do the same.

Start by picking about three of your favorite herbs that will grow indoors. I like to use thyme, basil, and oregano.

Although some stores sell them, you don't have to use a special container. Recycle something you already have for your window garden. And, don't feel limited by your windowsill. Think outside the windowsill. If you don't have a lot of windowsill space, make a dish garden. Just be sure that your container has good drainage.

You can make your own soil-less potting mix using one of the recipes below or use a soil-less mix from the garden store. Plant multiple herb seeds in one container and be sure to water thoroughly. Then place them in a sunny window and watch them grow.

Once your herbs have sprouted you'll need to feed them. -- I prefer to use Miracle-Gro as a nutrient. -- And, be sure to snip these herbs frequently to keep them small.

When the soil outside is warm enough, you can transplant these herbs into your garden. Or, keep them where they are. I usually try to keep my small indoor windowsill garden going all winter. I also keep getting the urge to plant more!

 
Make your own soil-less potting mix.
           (Posted: February 2010; archived: March 2010)

Either of these two soil-less potting mixes can be used in making a windowsill herb garden or for other indoor planting.

Basic soil-less potting mix

• 4-6 parts Sphagnum Moss
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part vermiculite

Soil-less potting mix with compost

• 2-4 parts Sphagnum Moss
• 2 parts compost
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part vermiculite

 
A tip for inexpensive seed-starting containers.
           (Posted: February 2010; archived: March 2010)

If you bring left-overs home from the restaurant in a plastic container with a clear lid, use this to start your seeds. Plant the seeds and moisten the soil, then place the clear lid on the container and set it in a sunny window.

Remember to check and perform needed watering frequently. Seeds that normally take 10-14 days to sprout will sprout about three days earlier.

These plants can be moved to the garden as soon as the outside soil is warm enough. Or, they can be replanted in an indoor herb garden container for snipping all year long.

Seed-starting kits in garden stores and catalogs are costly, but the above is an inexpensive way to start seedlings. Recycling is good!