Propagating herbs: cuttings, sowing & Co.

It can be cooked much more aromatic with home-grown herbs. We show you how you can easily propagate herbs yourself so that you have something of them all year round.

Herbs that you have grown yourself are among the most popular plants in the vegetable bed or on the windowsill. No wonder, after all, they often not only taste much more intense than bought-in herbs - growing your own herbs is also child's play, so that their cultivation is also suitable for beginners. Since many herbs can only be cultivated as an annual here, many gardeners find themselves after A few years ago, the question was whether you really have to buy seeds or whether you don't propagate herbs yourself can. In fact, propagating herbs isn't that difficult if you know how it works. You can find out which different methods there are for growing and propagating herbs in our article.

Propagate herbs yourself

Regardless of whether it is medicinal or aromatic herbs: in most cases, propagating herbs yourself is quick and easy. You are spoiled for choice as to which method the plants should be used to propagate. The best known method is probably the sowing of herbs, but you can also propagate herbs by cuttings or divide the herbs. Which method is preferred for growing herbs often also depends on the plant itself. We will take a closer look at the three methods below and show which conditions must be met so that the herbs can be successfully propagated.

Sowing herbs: timing and conditions

A simple and convenient way to propagate herbs is with seeds. In this way, any herbs can be grown at home. Another advantage: seeds of every herb, often even different varieties, are available in well-stocked specialist shops. Still, some conditions must be known for herb planting to be successful.

• Time:
  It is important to know when to sow the herbs. If the seeds are to be sown directly in the field, this should not be done before the beginning of May. Otherwise, the threat of late frosts at the time of the ice saints could endanger the tender seedlings and destroy them. In the sheltered house on the warm windowsill, however, herbs can be sown from the end of February. From mid-May, the starched young plants can then be planted outdoors with a clear growth advantage or placed in pots in the garden. Herbal seed packs usually contain very clear recommendations as to when the seeds should be sown.

• Warmth:
  In order to induce the germination process of the seeds, heat is usually required. For most herbs, the optimal temperature during germination is around 20 ° C. Lower temperatures do not in themselves cause any damage. However, the following applies: the further the temperature is below the optimal germination temperature, the longer the germination process takes. Sowing the herbs in a raised bed or cold frame is a good way of providing the seeds of herbs with the required germination temperatures in the open air. The conditions here are warmer than in the open bed, so that the herbs germinate faster. You can find out what temperature the seeds of the respective herb prefer in the instructions on the back of the seed sachets.

• Light:
  Light is also a decisive factor that can make or break the success or failure of growing herbs from seeds. So it is with some herbs like basil (Ocimum basilicum) or oregano (Origanum vulgare) to so-called Light germs. This means that the seeds of these representatives need light to germinate, which is why they should not be covered with a substrate layer. Other herb seeds, on the other hand, absolutely need darkness so that the stimulus to germinate is triggered. Still other species do not care and so their seeds germinate both in the dark and in the light.

• Humidity:
  It is extremely problematic for seedlings if they experience a lack of water during the germination process. It is therefore important to ensure that they are always kept evenly moist when growing the herbs. Therefore, after sowing the herbs, a fine shower head is generally poured on. Both Dark germs In addition, a substrate layer can protect the germinating seeds from drying out. This is not possible with light germs, which is why it has to be watered particularly regularly. It is important that a fine shower head is always used so that the seeds are not washed away.

Tip: Our Plantura herb growing kit includes everything you need to successfully sow your own herbs: seeds for five various aromatic herbs, growing pots, substrate, plant labels, as well as a reusable one Mini greenhouse.

Propagate herbs using cuttings

A popular and quick way to propagate plants is to root cuttings. Of course, this is also possible with herbs - however, the herbs must develop herbaceous parts of the plant so that cuttings can work with herbs. This is the case with the majority of herbs, so that the herbs can easily be propagated by cuttings.

Herbal propagation with cuttings: The right conditions

When it comes to cuttings, too, there are a few things to consider so that you can crown your horticultural efforts with the successful cultivation of herbs:

• Time:
  Spring or early summer is best for herb propagation by cuttings. Then the mother plants from which the cuttings are taken have already developed new young shoots. You have found the optimal time when the shoots are green and soft and have not yet formed any flowers.

• Humidity:
  The alpha and omega of propagation by cuttings is to generate a high level of humidity. Cuttings do not have roots with which to compensate for the water loss that occurs through the leaves. If there is a high level of humidity in the area, water evaporation from the leaves is reduced and there is less need for a replenishment of water. Small ones are best for pulling herbs at home Mini greenhouses for the windowsill. Make sure, however, that you ventilate the covered cuttings regularly, otherwise mold can develop.
  The soil should also be really wet during the rooting phase. When the first new leaves form, it is very likely that roots have already formed at the lower end. From this point on, the earth is only kept moist.

• Warmth and light:
  In order for the cuttings to develop new roots quickly, they need light and warmth. A bright place without direct sunlight is ideal for growing cuttings. Temperatures around 20 ° C have a positive effect, especially in the root area. Specialist shops have special heating mats on which you can place your mini greenhouses for growing the cuttings.

• Loose growing soil:
  It is not for nothing that professional gardeners as well as experienced hobby gardeners use a special soil for the rooting of cuttings. This can be mixed yourself from nutrient-poor, fine potting soil and a third of sand or perlite. In addition to the lack of nutrients, it is crucial that the growing medium is loose and that there is enough air contains, as the cuttings are otherwise easily attacked by putrefactive germs given the abundant water supply could.
  Cultivation with special mixtures for this purpose is child's play. It is crucial that this soil is only minimally fertilized, which stimulates the cuttings to form strong roots.

• Plant hormones:
  Some herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, have a hard time forming roots on cuttings. Whether roots are formed at the interface depends on the release of two plant hormones - auxin and cytokinin - in the correct ratio. In difficult cases, powdered plant hormones can help. The preparation is simply brushed onto the cutting edge of the cutting. Wurzelfix is ​​one such preparation that is known to many gardeners.

Properties of optimal herb cuttings

Herbal propagation via cuttings is not very promising if the cuttings are cut incorrectly. That is why you have to know exactly how to proceed and what criteria are used to select the material for the propagation of herbs from cuttings:

• Only cut young shoots that are as little lignified as possible.
• Use only cuttings without flowers or flower buds.
• Herbs can be propagated particularly well with head cuttings, but sections without a tip can also form roots.
• If possible, do not store cuttings, but insert them directly.
• The size of cuttings should be two to three pairs of leaves or a maximum of 5 to 10 cm.
• Cut the cuttings long and diagonally with a sharp knife.
• Remove all leaves except for the top pair of leaves; for plants with large leaves, cut the leaves in half.
• Insert the cuttings as deeply as possible and press firmly.

Propagate herbs by dividing them

If you already have a plant that you would like to propagate in your own garden, in some cases this can be done by dividing it. The following herbs can be propagated by division, because they are self-consistent through the rooting of Spread cuttings so that separately viable clones of the mother plant can be obtained simply by separating these shoots can.

Examples of herbs that are easy to divide:

• chives (Alliumschoenoprasum)
• mint (Mentha)
• sage (Salvia officinalis)
• oregano and marjoram (Origanum vulgare/Origanum majorana)
• Creeping cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)
• mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
• ... and all other herbs that naturally form roots on side shoots

To divide a flat growing plant like marjoram it is simply pricked with a sharp spade and the part to be separated is removed from the mother plant. In the case of bushy herbs such as sage, individual rooted shoots are separated from the rest of the mother plant with rose scissors. After dividing, the natural offshoots of the mother plant can be planted in the bed. Alternatively, you can plant the herbs in a pot with fresh substrate. In any case, it must be poured well afterwards so that the substrate or the Put loosened soil well in the bed and the water will be absorbed by the roots of the divided plant can.

tip: Some herbs like peppermint and chives have a higher nutritional requirement and should be fertilized as well. A sustainable and effective choice is ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer with long-term effect.

By the way: Planting the freshly propagated herbs in a herb spiral has many advantages, because here the various location preferences of the aromatic plants can be satisfied. How do you Plant the herb spiral correctly, you can find out in our article.