Nobuls Laurus at Aldi (Bay)

[Jimmy]

Was in Adli today and they had one pot left for 4.99
There must be 20 cuttings in the pot.
They seemed to be rooted and healthy.
But there were no growing tips on top.
Looked like a number had been cut from one stem.
Do you think they will come good without a top gowing tip?
Jimmy

[mothhawk]

I expect so, if they have roots. They'll eventually shoot from where the leaf joins the stem. You could probably encourage it by putting it on a heated mat if you have one.

[SarrissUK]

Hrm... I might have to go to Aldi. I have a bay taken as a cutting last year - the only one that survived out of a whole load taken from the same branch. It was also the smallest out of the lot. I do love using bay in cooking, so might need to get another

[Jimmy]

Visited again and they had loads.
So I need pots for 20 or more bay trees.
6 inch should be ok.
I will probably give many away.
So I don't want to use proper pots.
The wife seems to like ordering stuff off the internet. Consequetly we seems to amase many cardboard boxes which go in the recycle bin.
I was wondering if you could make pots out of them.

Anyone seen any useful templates.
Thanks
Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

I've tried planting in cardboard boxes. Works well.......................until you water them.

[Jimmy]

I guess the bottom half of a 2 litre milk carton would make a reasonable sized pot to pot on to.
Then it wouldn't matter if I give them away.

[greenishfing]

I bought a Bay at Aldi a few years ago, about 15 cm tall. It is now taller than me and lives happily in the middle of the herb bed. It easily gives enough leaves for the extended family. I dry them and pack in jam jars. I took cuttings 2 years ago and a few took and I gave them away.

[SarrissUK]

That reminds me - a friend gave me huge cuttings of her bay last year, and only a tiny one survived. I could fill that huge tub with something else in the meantime. I'm sure the littl'un won't mind sharing

[Jimmy]

I bought a Bay at Aldi a few years ago, about 15 cm tall. It is now taller than me and lives happily in the middle of the herb bed. It easily gives enough leaves for the extended family. I dry them and pack in jam jars. I took cuttings 2 years ago and a few took and I gave them away.

Does yours survive outside without winter protection.
We had a lollipop trimmed bay tree in a large pot. The cold winter about 5 years ago finished it off.
Jimmy

[SarrissUK]

The roots need protecting from cold. I lost a bay that way too, and this one I have now will definitely go in the ground, that had been discussed on these forums before, as a way of protecting them more from frost. I have aquired bubblewrap too, to protect the growth in the cold.

[Mark_Riga]

I've got a bay from either Aldi or Woolies, probably Aldi but a good while ago. When we had temps down to -17C a few years back, the top died off but the roots were sheltered by weeds and it sprouted again in the spring from the roots. It now grows in with a few shrubs and a spreading conifer giving it some shelter. It is now growing through the top of the conifer and probbaly 10 to 12' in height.

[Jimmy]

Just potted on the pot I got at Aldi.
28 in all of varying sizes, all with healthy root systems.
Might start a market stall!
Jimmy

[Teds Mum]

We have two bay trees in our garden, both started as small rooted cuttings gifted to us by a family member about 10 years ago.
They are now huge trees over 2m tall, the cold does not seem to bother them at all.