One of the things I’ve found most frustrating during lockdown is not being able to pop out to pick up a forgotten ingredient. I never fail to get the main staples like milk, wine, (of course), and eggs; but I don’t always remember to get fresh herbs for example. In the current situation, I obviously wouldn’t make a special trip to the supermarket for basil or coriander, but they make such a difference when cooking things from scratch which is what Ian, Poppy or I do.
Anyway, on Gardeners’ World last week, Monty Don demonstrated how to propagate mint. (I’ve fallen in love with gardening during lockdown). It looked straightforward enough, so I’ve given it a try.
1. Cut two or three long, strong stems from the plant.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Cut the stem just below the leaf nodes, (where the leaves emerged from).
4. Stand in water and leave in a light airy place.
5. The cuttings should develop a root system within a few weeks. once they have, plant them in peat-free compost.
Apparently the same method to propagate mint can be used to propagate basil and other herbs too, so I took two cuttings from my basil plant. I’m really excited and will report back whatever the outcome.
Stay safe and please share any tips with me about growing or propagating herbs and other plants x
2 comments
Great tips. I’ll try to propogate some mint as it seems fairly easy.
It does seem easy doesn’t it. I really hope it works! Thank you for stopping by, I hope you’re safe and well x