[Help] Bay tree (Laurus nobilis)

[AmexRuislip]

Got given a nice wee (1ft tall in a small pot) Bay Tree for Christmas and will plant outside in the Spring.
However a bit of horticultural advise wanted please.

i)Where best to keep indoors in the interim
ii)Do they need/like acid soil?

any advise graciously received

TNBA

TTF

This. Bay trees will grow anywhere outside, and are virtually unkillable.

A few years ago we had one - about eight feet tall - where the leaves basically appeared to die and turn to gunk (technical term). I chopped all the branches back and cut the trunk down to the stem. A year later it was back flourishing and producing healthy leaves.

This

We have one on our allotment plot, it's been there for ten years.
Give it the old Chelsea chop, wont do it any harm.

 

[knocky1]

I am the least green fingered chap you’ll ever meet.....never repotted but I water them and did give them some plant food during the summer....but just about given up on them now !
Having said that we’ve moved to a new house with a much bigger garden, do you think it’s worth planting them in the ground now ?

Not unless you have a tortoise. I wouldn’t put one in the ground personally. They take over...

Ours is the most labour intensive bit of our garden. The ****er grows like I can't tell you. I hate it but we have to keep it because it offers summer shelter for the tortoise

Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[LamieRobertson]

Put it out doors. It won't like it in doors. They are as tough as old boots.
Soil can be any type. Why wait to plant it in the spring unless it's really wet and cold where you are?
Water once a week from April to September, then forget about it.
Once it gets going, it will grow like wild-fire.
When you plant it, allow it enough room to breath when matured.

You need look no further than this post....oh and mine

Be prepared for lots of children later on in its life

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I used to have three bay trees/bushes in large pots outside. They were virtually indestructible except when the temperature dropped to minus 20c for a week a few years ago and the roots froze, which ultimately killed them. Until then they had withstood everything.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

My mrs confirms this is correct. She knows

Mine can not say, she doesn't know. In fact she kills every plant she's been given.

 

[Albion Prem]

Not unless you have a tortoise. I wouldn’t put one in the ground personally. They take over...

We have had two during the past ten years,started in large pots then after 4/5 years transferred to the garden in the spring they are now about 8/9 feet tall ,need prunning twice a year to
stop them getting too high.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

I used to have three bay trees/bushes in large pots outside. They were virtually indestructible except when the temperature dropped to minus 20c for a week a few years ago and the roots froze, which ultimately killed them. Until then they had withstood everything.

We had the Beast from the East last March and I dutifully protected the base of my potted large fig tree. My olive tree was 5 ft tall and left , due to my ignorance, to it's own fate.
Cue , full recovery from the fig and a complete leaf shed from the olive. The olive looked absolutely knackered in April and I was about to throw it away when my youngest lad spotted a wee shoot. It has now formed a superb bush form and is four foot tall and looking in very rude health.
Shows that you should never throw living things away.

TNBA

TTF

 

[GT49er]

1). Stick it in the garden.
2). Make sure you've got a good hedge trimmer, in good working order - you'll need it.
3). Try and find a local greengrocer who will take bulk supplies of fresh bay leaves, because you'll have more than you'll ever need ......................

 

[Jack Straw]

Deleted.

 

[Jack Straw]

We had the Beast from the East last March and I dutifully protected the base of my potted large fig tree. My olive tree was 5 ft tall and left , due to my ignorance, to it's own fate.
Cue , full recovery from the fig and a complete leaf shed from the olive. The olive looked absolutely knackered in April and I was about to throw it away when my youngest lad spotted a wee shoot. It has now formed a superb bush form and is four foot tall and looking in very rude health.
Shows that you should never throw living things away.

TNBA

TTF

Fig trees are an enigma. Although associated with Arabian countries, they do very well in inhospitable places here, especially in that difficult-to-grow-anything situation, right on the seafront. There's a huge one opposite the Banjo Groyne by Concorde 2 that gets blown to death by salt winds constantly, but it grows and grows.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

Fig trees are an enigma. Although associated with Arabian countries, they do very well in inhospitable places here, especially in that difficult-to-grow-anything situation, right on the seafront. There's a huge one opposite the Banjo Groyne by Concorde 2 that gets blown to death by salt winds constantly, but it grows and grows.

Well Jack, although I live on the West Coast of Scotland it is surprising , even not in direct contact with the Gulf Stream, how we can grow sub-tropical and some tropical vegetation. The fig tree started life on my South facing conservatory and has thrived since being outside. With severe pruning comes good growth and some figs, although I seem to always get to them after the birdies.
I have an orange and a lemon bush in the conservatory and have tried to grow three avocados over the last 12 months, all top no avail.

Any suggestions for a challenge for 2019?

cheers

TNBA

TTF

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Well Jack, although I live on the West Coast of Scotland it is surprising , even not in direct contact with the Gulf Stream, how we can grow sub-tropical and some tropical vegetation. The fig tree started life on my South facing conservatory and has thrived since being outside. With severe pruning comes good growth and some figs, although I seem to always get to them after the birdies.
I have an orange and a lemon bush in the conservatory and have tried to grow three avocados over the last 12 months, all top no avail.

Any suggestions for a challenge for 2019?

cheers

TNBA

TTF

Listen to Jack on this one he knows what he is doing and by the way he has a very impressive beanstalk.

 

[osgood]

one can also make bay leaf tea ,
add dozen or so leaves to pan of cold water , and bring to boil ,
very refreshing !
im sure its not everybodys cup of tea ,

 

[ferring seagull]

Got one outdoors planted in chalk soil. Needs pruning twice a year, they can grown really big. Next door has one that’s totally out of control, ours is pegged to about eight foot tall. If anyone needs bay leaves they are very welcome!

Do you, or does anyone else know if all varieties of Bay are suitable for culinary use ?

 

[The Large One]

Do you, or does anyone else know if all varieties of Bay are suitable for culinary use ?

Seemingly not.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=251

 

[ferring seagull]

Seemingly not.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=251

Thanks for that TLO

Happy New Year to you and indeed all NSCrs !

 

[Jack Straw]

Listen to Jack on this one he knows what he is doing and by the way he has a very impressive beanstalk.

Have we showered together?

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Have we showered together?

Not sure, but I think I have seen you prick out before.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Not sure, but I think I have seen you prick out before.

He certainly gives the impression that he knows what to do with a Dibber

 

[Deleted member 2719]

He certainly gives the impression that he knows what to do with a Dibber

Oh yes, he has drilled many a filthy hole with it and always forces it to full depth.