Growing Tarragon & Thyme from cuttings

[veggiechicken]

I bought yellow-stickered bunches of French Tarragon & Thyme for 9p each in the supermarket today.
Next step is to turn these cuttings into plants
I'm going to put some in a tray of compost and leave some in water - just to see which is the best way.

Anyone have any other ideas? I have plenty to experiment with

[Kirk]

Would have thought the tarragon would be better in water, not sure about the thyme they are basically an alpine if I recall.

I have 2 types of mint that came from cuttings, I rooted them in water then into 10" pots.

[Markyw]

Tarragon is one of my favourite herbs,I have 4 bushes. taking cuttings can be a bit tricky, the best method I have found is in warm moist compost and keep in a propagator you need to keep the cutting misted and not let it become dry. otherwise the best way is by root cuttings in the spring,

It might be worth a try in water with some rooting hormone powder added.

[vixylix]

do we have an update VC? I missed this thread originally and Im now intrigued!

[Markyw]

VC if you wan't to experiment try to get them to root between two magnets, I have done it with seed germination and young seedlings. please take your time to read this interesting link, who knows it might work I have never tried it on cuttings .

http://www.butrousfoundation.com/ysj...and-health.pdf

[veggiechicken]

Thanks all and an Update!
The thyme seems to be too old and dried out to have any hope. Its been in water but doesn't look very alive. Probably a no-go.
The tarragon is also in water and has picked up from its droopy state when bought. The cuttings are quite soft - about 4-5". No sign of roots yet. Don't think they're sturdy enough to root in compost.

Mark, the magnets idea is intriguing but I don't think a couple of fridge magnets would be strong enough

[Markyw]

VC just done some calculations and two fridge magnets attracting each other with the cutting in between the two magnets should be fine, he only uses one magnet. if you put the cutting in a test-tube or an old glass spice jar that would be fine, you need to magnetic field to travel through the bottom of the cutting. I might even get my magnets out and have a go myself.

[mothhawk]

I've found that woody plants (thyme, lavender, rosemary, sage etc) root better in compost, and the softer herbs (basil, mint and suchlike) can be rooted in water. I tend to root everything in compost though as I find I am too heavy handed and damage the roots on transplanting from water to compost.

[Noosner]

I haven't propagated tarragon before but I've propagated thyme in water quite a few thymes. Thyme after thyme in fact. Ouch sorry! But it does sound as if yours might have dried out a bit too much.

[Ryez]

I thought,for a successful rooting rate, cuttings need to be freshly cut so that they can retain as much moisture possible. Is that not true for Thyme?

[veggiechicken]

I've thrown the bunch of thyme away as it went mouldy in the middle. The tarragon is in water and looking perky with the first little roots on two stems.