bay or laurel

[lindiloo60]

Hello
Is there any difference between bay and laurel and if so what and which is best

thanks

[bluemoon]

Bay is for cooking, laurel is for killing people.

To be safe only buy a bay that states on the label that it's a culinary herb.

[Snadger]

Yep..laurel gives off cyanide gas methinks when the leaves are crushed. Smells of marzipan also!
Haven't crushed any of my bay leaves so not sure what they smell of? (Note to myself.....must crush a bay leaf at lottie today!)

[Snadger]

Crushed bay leaf smelled sort of lemony to me?

[Mustard]

Sorry to hijack thread but I've just got a bay tree and it says to repot it in no3 compost. Will mp compost do or will I kill it?

[seasprout]

Sorry to hijack thread but I've just got a bay tree and it says to repot it in no3 compost. Will mp compost do or will I kill it?

No.3 Compost is loam based, it's been manufactured for re-potting shrubs in containers, and has the correct balance of fertilizer and grit, it will be heavy and will not dry out very quickly. It will not need re-potting any time soon.

MP, Multi purpose will be peat based, will dry out more quickly, thus nutrients will wash out more quickly, and your plant will be in danger of being top heavy and it will need re-potting sooner rather than later.


If you already have some MP, then I would do 20% MP 80% No.3.

The choice is yours really.

[Snadger]

The advantage is mainly in the weight (stops the pot blowing over) and of course you don't need to water as often! Don't loose any sleep over it though, multipurpose will be fine if you already have it............just stick a brick in the bottom of the pot!

[bluemoon]

Crushed bay leaf smelled sort of lemony to me?

Like a cross between lemons and one of the resiny herbs like thyme perhaps?