Bay Leaves

dumpy

I've a bay tree in a pot that was frozen in a frost and it survived. In fact it spent all last winter (and the winter before) out in the garden in it's pot with no protection and it's still with us.

I keep forgetting to water it as well (I'm not good with plants though I have a biology degree LOL) and it puts up with that as well. So I'd put them down as quite difficult to kill.

whistler-alison

thanks for the encouragemnet, dumpy. is it a very big pot? It's the fact that it is a small one that worries me - the smaller the pot, the more chance of it freezing solid. Though I dare say it would take one huge freeze for this to happen rather than just a frost. I haven't been too good with watering it either so they must be able to stand a lot of abuse!

organic_wanabe

I have a potted bay tree which I bring into the house over the Winter. I put some lights on it at Christmas and use it as one of our Christmas trees. When DS was younger, and he noticed me picking some leaves to put into a stew, he asked if everyone ate their Christmas tree!

dumpy

Ummm, well the teracota pot that it was in either disintegrated from frost or old age was about 20cm across. I treated it to a repot this year into a new pot about 30 cm across, I must say it's grown much better this year! You will get a better plant with some TLC but the can survive in the face of my neglect!

Having it in a pot means I can put it near the kitchen door so it's easier for me to plucjk it's leaves off when I need them ( I don't dry them just throw them in fresh off the plant)

Do I have to hand in my RHS certificate of horticulture now?

sparklygirl1

Just bumping this thread. I have only just noticed we have one. Been in hoouse nearly four years now. It looks a bit ill. Brown ish leaves in spotty patter and some have white on underside of leaves. Any ideas?

sillyvixen

i have a bay tree in my garden but did not know if i could use it in cooking. when i last cut it down a lady from down the road was walking her dog and asked if she could come back and have some branches - i said yes as i was only going to take it with other garden waste to compost at the tip. she returned shortly after without the dog to select the branches. i asked her what she wanted them for (having thought since - prehaps to use in cooking) she said for foliege in flower arranging. i have yet to use them and will now try a leaf in the next lot of cooking i do!

Pitlanepiglet

My Dad has a huuuuge bay tree, it's fab, we pick the leaves and dry them in his airing cupboard whenever we are there!

DawnW

If you don't have one and would like one, you can get little ones in pots for the kitchen windowsill at garden centres. Being small, they are not terribly expensive. They make nice presents, too. They grow quite slowly so don't need repotting too often - though eventually they will want a big tub, or to be planted outside.

Skint_Catt

When we're at OH's dads OH always sends me down the drive for some bay leaves off the bush - then straight in the pan they go. I keep forgetting to bring some home! Doh!

Pip-squeak_3

I read somewhere that bay was the one herb that was better dried than fresh. Not sure if it is true but I pick them and put them in the airing cupboard.