Most perennial herbs are easy to propagate as Ben Vanheems explains

Ben Vanheems

Herbs are the aristocrats of the garden.They’re good-looking, great for beneficial insects and carry an irresistible aroma – and that’s before you’ve even considered their outstanding contribution in the kitchen.They’re also very easy to propagate, so there’s no excuse to run short.

As a gardener it’s frustrating to pay out for a mean packet of supermarket herbs.They aren’t great value let’s face it, especially when you know how easy it is to grow them. Many herbs, such as basil or coriander, are easy enough to sow once or twice a month for a steady supply of leaves. Easier still are the perennials like rosemary nd thyme – the hardy heroes giving their all from year to year. But sometimes even perennial herbs need a refresher. Or perhaps you just want more of them for your garden or to share as thoughtful gifts among gardening riends?This is when cuttings come good and taking them couldn’t be more straightforward

GET CUTTING

You can strike (herb cuttings at time during the growing season Whether you choose to take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings depends on how far the growing season has progressed and howmature this year’s growth is. As a general rule, softwood cuttings are taken from spring to midsummer, using young and – you guessed it – soft growth taken from this year’s side-shoots. Semi-ripe cuttings are taken a little later in the season, from midsummer onwards using shoots that are starting to, in time for nths ahead.types of are taken is milar.