Guide to Propagation

When it comes to propagation, herbs are no different from other members of the plant kingdom in that they can be raised from seed or produced vegetatively by means of cuttings, layering or root division.

Whatever one’s age, the thrill of growing plants from seed never diminishes. All of the annual herbs such as basil and rocket, and some of the biennial herbs such as angelica and smallage are best raised from seed in the spring.

Sow seed thinly by shaking it from a folded paper cone. In the case of very small seed, mix in a little fine sand. Sprinkle the seed on top of a pot or pan of slightly damp sowing compost. Sprinkle a thin layer of sifted compost over the seed and very gently tamp down with a piece of wood. Either place the pot in a propagating case or cover it with a layer of newspaper and a sheet of glass. Move the pot to a warm windowsill or to a staged plant stand in a greenhouse - a minimum night temperature of 18°C (65°F) is required - until germination takes place. At that point remove the covering and, if necessary, water sparingly.