Take a root cutting

We usually think of something leafy stuck in a pot to take root when we think of cuttings. But some herbaceous plants, such as oriental poppies, are most easily propagated by root cuttings.

Dig up the clump you want to increase and chop up a few of the roots into pieces about 2 - 5cm long. Cuttings should be set vertically (top end up) into pots full of a sandy, light compost. If you want to make the top cuts slanted and the bottom cuts straight, it helps remind you which is which when you're potting them up. You'll need to wait for several months, but by June, you should have young plants sturdy enough to be grown-on in a bed.

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Photograph by Maddie Thornhill