growing a bay (standard)

[hollychap]

last year at the veggie show i bought a pot of small bay trees for £3.99 i seperated them and repotted which gave me 17 seperate bay trees which were rather small , these have spent the last year in the greenhouse at the lottie . i brought the two tallest home yesterday to repot and grow on as standards they have reached a height of 28" and 20" in there first year anyone else growing or grown bay standards any tips advice welcome

[Two_Sheds]

I have a 6ft standard (lollipop ish) bay in the back garden. Easy to grow on a west facing wall (maximum warm sun, sheltered from winds)

[LillyRoseGarden]

I would prune them to encourage side shoots and start forming a shape, unless you want to end up with tall trees. After 2 years my tree is only about 60cm tall and more bonsai like.

[rustylady]

Let the main stem grow to the height you want the trunk to be, then cut the top leading shoot off and let the side shoots below this grow.

In the meantime nip out any sideshoots that develop low down the main stem.

[hollychap]

hoping to grow to between 4 /5 ft lollipop style tall trunk with a round bush top ,my plan was grow to the required height then prune the top off to encourage side shoots removing the lower three quarter side shoots and leaves

[hollychap]

Let the main stem grow to the height you want the trunk to be, then cut the top leading shoot off and let the side shoots below this grow.

In the meantime nip out any sideshoots that develop low down the main stem.

was typing my reply while you were posting , thats the way i was going to attempt to grow them just wanted a second opinion as they are quite slow growing

[hollychap]

should i remove some of the lower leaves now or leave them to grow some more ? i repotted them this afternoon into morrisons flower buckets

[KittyColdNose]

My bay died out in the cold this winter, even though it was under cover.

[rustylady]

should i remove some of the lower leaves now or leave them to grow some more ? i repotted them this afternoon into morrisons flower buckets

Leave the leaves on, but pinch out any sideshoots that form on the main stem.

[bramble]

Hollychap, I did exactly what you are doing. I bought a pot of plants and planted them on seperately. 12 years on I have 2 lovely standard trees. They live outdoors all year round and have never had any problems with cold weather. However one of them was infected by something and it is now smaller than the other one. As they were growing I continuously took off any side shoots and let the stem grow until I was satisfied with the height. I pinched out the top and prune them every spring to shape them. Its a long slow process but if you persevere it will be worth it.
Last year my grand-daughter made her first holy communion and we decorated the two bay trees with white and pink satin ribbon. They looked amazing and I was really proud of them.

[Two_Sheds]

they are quite slow growing

Are they?

Mine's gone from 3" seedling to 6ft tree in less than 4 years

[hollychap]

Are they?

Mine's gone from 3" seedling to 6ft tree in less than 4 years

.
thats what i call slow i am more used to growing french breakfast

[sammy_roser]

Mine grew 3 leaves last year and about an inch in height. Will never get my bay lollypop.

[Two_Sheds]

Where is it, Sammy?

Mine was planted in the garden, not in a pot