Propagating Herbs and Other Plants

Rooting Cuttings (and other Joys of Spring)

April 19, 2016 // 2 Comments

How to Root Cuttings It’s easy to root cuttings of azaleas, rhododendrons, crape myrtle and other woody plants! Take cuttings that are about six inches long — this month is a good time. Strip the leaves off the bottom two inches of the stems and dip them in a rooting hormone. Plant the base of each cutting in [ ...click to read more ]

September in the Herb Garden

September 1, 2013 // 0 Comments

Softwood cuttings can be started this month. Before you take the cuttings, closely examine the plants. Some may be too woody or brittle. Take cuttings only from stems that are slightly flexible. Make sure the shoots are firm and green at the base, but soft and pliable at the top. Remove the cuttings with a sharp knife [ ...click to read more ]

Ampalaya or Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) a savory vegetable used to treat diabetes and other ailments

July 13, 2013 // 0 Comments

Used extensively in traditional herbal medicine in the Philippines, ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is also a flavorful vegetable. The rind of the fruit is used while still green and has a bitter taste. (As the fruit ripens, the rind turns yellowish and loses its bitter taste while the seeds inside become [ ...click to read more ]