Layering ...

... is easy. Why don’t more people practice it?

You train a branch into a flat U-shape, bruise the underside at the lowest part of the “U”, dig a hole, and pin or weight the branch so that the U-shape remains covered with a layer (get it?) of soil. Then wait, Read a book, write an opera, ...

Come spring when the layered branches start leafing furiously, cut them off, pull them out, and plant them.

You will notice that I still have not bought a pair of secateurs, but I did find my trowel – sitting in the tower vermicomposter tray in the laundry room.

We are talking serious root systems here.

This image and the next one show some blanched leaf shoots; they have spent the past two weeks pushing their way out of the soil.

The force of life continues to amaze me. Plants, like animals, struggle to come to life, to live, to stay alive, and to procreate.

My collection of about twenty new stock from just two gooseberry plants. Together with the small wooden pegs used to keep them underground during our strong winds.

Nine pots ready-to-go.

A bit of a close-up.

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