Herbs are often the first plants new gardeners start with because they are easy to grow. In addition to being easy to take care of, herbs add beauty to your space, deter unwanted garden pests, and spice up your food and drinks. Now that you have a few established plants, perhaps you are thinking of expanding your herb garden. It’s easier (and less expensive) than you might think!
No need to head to the garden center and drop a bunch of money on new herb plants; herbs are easy to propagate.
What is Propagation?
Propagation is creating new plants from a variety of sources: seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and other plant parts. There are three main methods of herb propagation: seeds, cuttings, and division. Most plants can be started by all three methods. For herbs, the quickest way to get more plants is from stem cuttings.
When to Propagate
The best time to take a cutting from your plant is during its active growth season; typically between spring and fall. Take cuttings of herbs that are not actively flowering.
If there are a few flowers on the stem, you’ll need to remove them.
Where and How to Cut
On any given stem, there will be a “softwood” section and a “hardwood” section. The softwood will be lighter in color and have a flexible stem. This is the new growth. New growth will root out more easily than old growth.
Try to take your cuttings in the morning; this will put less stress on the herbs. Disinfect your cutting tools with rubbing alcohol before and after…
