propagations

Aside from offering deliverance from the constant stream of traffic and take-off/landing noise permeating my home town, the surrounding greenbelts bestow treasures beyond the visceral. An opportunity to propagate native plants for their eventual inclusion in an edible landscape presents itself. With a simple pair of pruning shears and a pocketful of patience the urban gardener conjures new life.

Cuttings from native edibles (gooseberry, blackcap raspberry, Indian plum, elderberry, salmonberry) are easily made. A section of last season's (new) growth is snipped just above a node (where the new leaves will emerge) and just below a node, leaving on average 3 or 4 nodes on the entire cutting. Most range from 4-6" in length. The cuttings are expediently readied to promote successful rooting: first they are dipped in a powdered rooting hormone, then buried approximately 2/3 of the way in a moist mixture of 1 part peat moss to 1 part perlite. The cuttings are placed in the greenhouse in dappled light (in this case under the planting bench) and moisture is maintained to facilitate rooting. Hopefully within 2 weeks most of the cuttings will show signs of new life in the form of emerging leaves and new roots. These gooseberry cuttings seem pleased with their new situation so far. The cuttings that survive will eventually be potted individually and more than likely will be ready to plant in the ground by next spring.