Propagating Plants under Cloches

Cloches are ideal for propagating plants vegetatively.

Most plants can be raised from seed, but this in many cases is too slow for the gardener. Also, in order to obtain plants which resemble their parents in every characteristic, it is necessary to use a portion of that plant and induce it to form roots. Hormone preparations are a tremendous aid to immediate and excellent root formation.

Cuttings may be made in the summer or autumn. The chosen cutting or shoot should be one which is not flowering, and should be sturdy and short-jointed.

It is possible to use cloches to accelerate the rooting of hard wood cuttings. These may be gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, rambler roses or a number of deciduous shrubs.

The great advantage of using cloches in this way is that early rooting is encouraged and better bushes are produced in shorter time.