How to take rosemary cuttings

1Snip off shoots of new growth 10cm - 15cm long. To reduce moisture loss, remove most of the lower leaves so you have a clean length of stem.

2Use a sharp knife to cut off the base of the stem just below a leaf node - the point from which the leaves grow.

3Dip the stem ends in hormone rooting powder to speed up the rooting process.

4Fill pots with a gritty compost mix. Insert several rosemary cuttings around the edge, or plant individually in seed tray modules.

5Water in cuttings from above to settle compost around their stems. Place pots in a cold frame in a sheltered, shaded area, indoors in a propagator or simply cover with a plastic bag to retain the moisure.

6After a few weeks, gently invert pots and check for signs of root development. Mist over foliage and ensure the compost stays moist.

7Once they have a good root system, tease cuttings apart and pot up individually into a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 2.

8Keep plants watered and pot them on again as they get larger and the roots fill their container. They should be big enough to plant out in the following spring.