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Step 1
Purchase a small bay laurel tree. Growing bay leaf from a seed is difficult; it can take up to six months and often doesn't root at all. Growing from a cutting is also very challenging, so save that energy for all the cooking you'll be doing with your herbal harvest.
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Step 2
Plant your bay leaf tree outside if you live in zones 8 to 11 and the weather is mostly mild. Keep your tree protected from strong winds and, if you live in a very hot climate, offer it partial shade. Otherwise, bay leaf loves full sunlight. If you live in a northern area, you can keep your bay leaf outside in a pot in the warmer months and move it indoors in the winter.
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Step 3
Offer outdoor plants extra protection from frost in the winter by wrapping the plant to protect it and putting hay on the ground by the roots. If your bay leaf is exposed to frost, chances are the leaves will turn brown. Trim the plant to six inches above the soil, and it will sprout come spring.
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Step 4
Keep the soil well drained. Fertilize your bay leaf about twice a year and give it lots of good composted soil.
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Step 5
Let the tree dry out between waterings. Over watering will damage the plant. However, if it's very hot out, water your tree.
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Step 6
Prune your tree in spring to keep it under control, unless you need 60 feet worth of bay leaf. Some people shape their trees into pyramids.
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Step 7
Remember when you use bay leaf that fresh bay leaf is much stronger than what you get in those tiny plastic herb containers at the grocery store. Always remove the bay leaf from food before serving it as the leaves can be too difficult to chew.
