How to Grow Bay Laurel
Bay Laurel At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -7°C
Plant Family
Lauraceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
A young potted bay tree is the easy way to start, and one plant gives you leaves for years. Grow it in a pot with drainage holes, set it outside about 2 weeks after your last frost, and bring it in before the first fall frost.
Bay is a slow-growing evergreen tree that stays happy in a pot for many years, which suits our winters, since it can take only a few degrees of frost. Only true bay laurel is used in cooking: cherry laurel and mountain laurel are different plants and are poisonous, so buy a plant labelled sweet bay or Laurus nobilis.
When To Start
Bay Laurel needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Bay Laurel?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Bay Laurel Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Bay Laurel Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Set your bay tree outside now that frost is past
2 weeks after your last frost
Lightly trim your bay tree to keep its shape
30 days after your last frost· every year· optional
Bring your bay tree indoors to a bright, cool window
3 weeks before your first frost· every year
Water your new bay laurel plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Hello to your bay tree! Let the top of the soil dry a little between waterings, since it dislikes wet roots.
About 30 days after you plant it
Your bay tree grows slowly, and that is normal. Keep it in a pot you can bring indoors before the first frost.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Bay Laurel's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
100 cm
Plant Spacing
150 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give bay a bright, sunny spot outside in summer and the brightest window you have in winter.
- 2Plant it in gritty potting mix with a little compost, in a pot with good drainage holes.
- 3Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of soil is dry, and much less in winter, since soggy roots are the main problem.
- 4Feed with compost tea or worm castings once a month from spring to late summer.
- 5Watch the stems for scale insects, small brown bumps stuck to the bark, and wipe them off with a damp cloth.
- 6Bay leaves can upset the stomach of cats and dogs, so keep pets from chewing them.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
200 cm
Mature Height
120 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Pick leaves anytime once established; older leaves have the strongest flavour
How to Harvest
- 1Start picking leaves once the plant is about 2 years old and growing well.
- 2Choose dark green, fully grown leaves, since young pale ones have little flavour.
- 3Take only a few from each branch so the tree keeps its shape.
- 4Dry the leaves in a single layer in a dark, airy spot for 1 to 2 weeks, which makes their flavour stronger, then store them in a jar.
- 5Add a leaf or two to soups and stews and take it out before serving, because the stiff leaf is hard to chew and swallow.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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