Bay Tree Seeds

[shaun_04]

when do they seed?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi shaun,
The bay tree has male and female flowers on seperate trees, so if you have a female tree which would produce seeds, you will need a tree with male flowers close by before pollination can take place and for seed to set.
ripe seed, I think would be around september time but this may well vary by 2 or 3 weeks, according to location.
If however you wish to propergate and raise your own plants, a far simpler way is by taking cuttings.
If you are lucky enough to find sucker growth around the base of the trunks, then these can be detatched and will root very easily in a 2" pot of compost, at this time of year.
Other wise you can take 4" (10cm) stem cuttings ( just below the buds) in late summer but they will need a heated propergator for best results. Good Luck Tbird+

[shaun_04]

thanks for that, I have tried cuttings in the past but they never grew, so decided seeds must be the easier option but after reading that, maybe not. Also I read that little gravel stuff such as perlite is better than compost, is this true?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi shaun,
Well, I think perlite added to the compost will improve your chances of success, as will dipping the cuttings in hormone rooting powder or gel, which also contains a fugicide.
I find the easiest cuttings to get rooted are 'heel cuttings' - gently pull down a suitable looking shoot near the base, these are usually full of vigour to start with and you should end up with an up -side- down tear-drop shaped end on it, trimoff any exsess bark and pot up your cuttings. Good Luck Tbird+