Understanding about Bay Leaf

Bay leaf is an exceptional herb that is used by people in different parts of the world. The herb is native to the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea and is a popular spice that is used in marinating and pickling. Bay leaves have been cultivated by humans since ancient times and are quite sought after by gardeners in different parts of the world. 

If you are also interested in growing your own Bay leaf tree, then you have nothing to worry about, as this guide will provide you with all the basic instructions required to cultivate a wonderful tree. 

Planting  

Generally speaking, there are two ways to plant bay laurel: either from a cutting or by purchasing a young potted tree. Either way, the process is pretty straightforward, yet if you want to taste those fresh bay leaves sooner, you might lean toward the potted route to give growth a little head start, as you do not need to worry about the plant germinating from scratch. 

When to Plant  

You should plant a Bay Laurel in early spring, just as the growing season is gearing up, and while your young tree is still dormant. If you’re planting cuttings in a container indoors, any time of the year works, though you may get the best results in the summer when the new shoots are actively doing their thing.  

How to Plant   

If you’re planting a young bay laurel potted tree that you bought from a retailer, the steps are basically the same as most trees.  

• Dig a hole about twice the size of the young tree’s pot, so the soil stays loose enough for the roots to spread out naturally.  

• Plant outdoors in full sun, unless you’re in a very warm spot where a bit of afternoon shade is helpful, and honestly kinda necessary.  

  
  

Growing  

Along with planting a bay leaf tree, you should also need to focus on the care instructions that will result in successful growth. 

Bay laurel isn’t hard to grow, but it does move slowly. If you picture mint and chives as the sprinters of the herb world, then think of your bay leaves as the marathon person.  

Since bay laurel comes from a temperate Mediterranean setting, it’s not very cold hardy, and it needs the kind of climate you find in Zones 8 and up to survive when it’s planted in the ground.  

Good news though, bay laurel does well in containers, so in cooler areas you can grow it there, as long as you bring it inside when cold weather shows up. You can keep it indoors all year, or you can train it for outdoors during the warmer summer months, then relocate it indoors again for winter.  

If it’s grown indoors, aim for a full sun spot (or make sure it gets plenty, like 12+ hours of artificial light each day).  

Outdoors, bay trees can reach around 40 feet tall, but in a container, these trees do not grow a lot, which means you will only find a small shrub in a container. This is the main reason why it is recommended to plant the tree in the ground.