Winter is here! When it is really cold even when the sun shines, it is winter. In the greenhouse we follow the same old seasonal path year after year. One thing we have learned is that our propagating table is not warm enough in winter to root cuttings.
Usually we delay cuttings until after winter equinox, we are pretty busy sowing seeds this time of year.
We have an urgent call for cut mints from one of our culinary customers: give me cut mint ASAP! Unfortunately we will have to start by rooting some mint stems, and this may be tricky in December. I always say where there is a will; there is a way! Working with our seedlings, we noticed the germination chamber satisfies all the requirements for rooting: warm and humid with indirect light. We took some stem cuttings from Peppermint, Mojito mint, and Spearmint ‘Kentucky Colonel’.
In two weeks we have roots! They are not quite ready for life outside the chamber, but soon they will move to the greenhouse and finish filling their little cells. As soon as weather permits these little plants will be growing in the field; providing pounds of cut mint for tables in NYC.
