Bay should be ready to harvest this month. Check for size and colour.
Growing Calendar
This month: Sep
Log to journalReady to harvest now
- •Check size and ripeness
- •Harvest regularly
- •Store or use fresh
Watch Out For
Bay sucker causes leaves to curl, thicken and turn yellow-brown at the edges: pick off and destroy affected leaves, the damage is mostly cosmetic and rarely serious
Scale insects appear as small brown bumps on stems and leaf undersides, often with sticky honeydew and sooty mould following: wipe off by hand or treat with a horticultural soap spray
Old, overgrown bay can be cut back hard to rejuvenate it, but it recovers slowly: spread the hardest pruning over two years rather than all at once
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems: no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Bay in the UK
Can bay survive winter outside in the UK?
Established bay plants tolerate UK winters in most regions, but young plants and anything in a container are more vulnerable to root-freezing and wind scorch. Move containers to a sheltered spot or wrap the pot in fleece during hard frosts.
Why are my bay leaves curling and turning brown at the edges?
This is almost always bay sucker, a small sap-sucking insect that causes leaves to thicken, curl and discolour. It's mostly a cosmetic problem: pick off and destroy affected leaves, and the plant will usually recover fine.
How often should I harvest bay leaves?
Bay is evergreen, so leaves can be picked whenever needed, at any time of year. Older, more mature leaves generally have a stronger flavour than very young soft growth, and leaves dry well for storing.
Can I keep bay small in a pot long-term?
Yes, bay is naturally slow-growing and tolerates being kept fairly compact in a container for many years with regular light trimming in summer. Repot every couple of years into fresh compost to keep it healthy, rather than moving it into an ever-larger pot.
Written from real growing experience, not just research. Read the story behind Pelham Gardens.
Member guides
There's more to growing Bay than this guide covers.
A Garden Journal to log what worked, a personalised sowing planner in My Garden, and monthly reminders timed to the calendar.
