Mother's Herb Garden

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Propagation is by seed, cuttings, or layering. Seeds, though, are available only for the ofcinalis species, take about three weeks to germinate, and sometimes won't sprout at all ...so cuttings or layering are the preferred plant-starting methods.

To take a cutting, snip a six-inch tip of new growth from a side stem of a well -established plant in June or July (after flowering time) ...making certain the removed section contains a "heel" of old wood. Bury the lower four inches of the cutting in sand or vermiculite ...keep its environment humid (some people invert a water glass over the little twig) ...and don't be impatient: The tiny plants won't be ready for transplanting until autumn.

If you'd prefer to try layering, simply put one or two of an established plant's mature lower branches under the soil (leave the tips of these fronds poking up through the earth) and weight the buried sections to keep them there until they form roots. Then cut off the newly grounded portions and set your baby plants out on their own.

Here are some good sources of plants: [1] Sandy Mush Herb Nursery, Dept. TMEN, Route 2, Surrett Cove Road, Leicester, North Carolina 28748 (catalog $1.00, refundable), [2] WellSweep Herb Farm, Dept. TMEN, 317 Mt. Bethel Road, Port Murray, New Jersey 07865 (catalog $1.00, refundable), [3] Sunnybrook Farms Nursery, Dept. TMEN, 9448 Mayfield Road, Chesterland, Ohio 44026 (catalog 50¢), and [4] Nichols Garden Nursery, Dept. TMEN, 1190 North Pacific Highway, Albany, Oregon 97321 (free catalog).

Most nurseries prefer to ship rosemary plants in the spring ...but even if you have to wait a few months to give "dew of the sea" a place in your home or garden, you'll find that the versatile herb will well reward your patience.

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