Bay laurel is one of the more popular herb gardens in herb gardening. There are many ways to grow it successfully. Here are some tips and tricks on how to plant it. You can also use it as an ornamental plant in your yard. If you are having trouble growing bay laurel, you may find this article useful.
Prepare a Seed Tray When preparing bay leaf seeds for planting, you need to ensure that they get the right temperature. Spread the seed out evenly on the dry ground, pressing them slightly into the damp soil. Place the seed tray under a cover of mulch, compost or horticulture sand. This will help keep the water from evaporating out of the soil and keep the soil in between the trays full.
Begin Germination Once you have placed the seed trays in a warm location, you can begin germination. This can take several weeks. When the first shoots appear, begin pulling the seeds from the center of the plant towards the outside of the trays. You will want to do this approximately every week during the growing season. It may take longer if you have a large seed bed.
Water When the bay laurel seeds germinate, you will want to place them in a large shallow pan filled halfway with warm water. Once the roots are established, you can now cover the area with a layer of clear, cool, soil. This is usually called a starter pot. You can then place the seed tray in the starter pot, but you can also begin to grow right in the soil itself, in a small pot that has been divided into eight equal parts by using sponges.
The Growing Period Once the bay laurel seeds germinate, you will begin to notice that they are now tender and ready to be harvested. It can take up to two weeks to get them ready to harvest. Make sure that you place the seed trays in warm water prior to placing the plants directly onto the starting soil. This will help keep the roots from soaking up all of the water inside the seed trays.
Harvesting After the first two weeks, you can begin to germinate your bay laurel seeds weekly. Place the prepared location outdoors when growing. Set the seeds in approximately ten inch increments. Within twenty-four hours, you should be able to see tiny little black or purple specks beginning to sprout. Over the next few weeks, you should be able to harvest the plants.
Planting When the seed tray begins to germinate, you should lightly cover the entire seed tray with soil and place it in an area where it is not exposed to wind or any other type of elements. You should also ensure that no weeds are growing in the prepared location outdoors. As the bay laurel seeds continue to germinate, you should water the roots on a regular basis. If you have trouble getting the plant to produce, you may need to water the roots more often. However, you should begin to see some growth shortly after they begin to sprout.
Once the seeds are sprouting, you should begin developing roots. To do this, place the seedlings in a shallow dish filled with moistened soil, making sure that the roots are well-covered. Over the following few weeks, you should begin seeing root structures forming. This can occur as early as two months after planting, or it can take several years.
Transferring The Bay Larch Seedlings After the roots begin to develop, you should transfer the germinating bay leaf seeds into a large plastic container. Place the container in an area where they can receive adequate light and warmth. The container should also be kept relatively warm but not entirely submerged. The seeds should also be stored in a dry location away from moisture. Over the next few weeks, the seeds should begin to germinate and develop roots.
Harvesting When the seeds bay laurel appear on the surface of the soil, you should remove them. The true laurel leaves are the larger, rounder green leaves that appear on the undersides of the petals. Harvesting the true leaves requires a spoon. Once the majority of the seeds have been harvested, you should place the remaining pellet on a spinner to make sure it falls through the air and away into the environment.
Planting After the germination has occurred, you should plant the small pellet as soon as possible. Before planting, you should dig a hole that is as wide as the distance between each pair of leaves. In order to avoid confusion, it is recommended that you name the plants after the types of habitats they grow best in, such as hardwood hammock grasses or wetland grasses. If you are growing them in a meadow, choose a location that allows for cross drainage. When planting, select a spot that receives the full sun it enjoys, as this will ensure your plants will thrive. One caution, you should dig holes a minimum of one inch deeper than the size of the seed packets.