GrowSabzHow to grow bay laurel in pots
Also called Sweet Bay, Bay Tree, True Laurel, tezpat · Laurus nobilis
تیز پات
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 1.4 Levery 5 days, 20 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 15–25°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 20 L35 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 180–365days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 0.2 kgper 20 L pot
Bay Laurel is a long game. From seed it takes 3-5 years for significant leaf harvest before you see a harvest, which is why most growers start from a nursery plant. Container growing is entirely possible, but the container has to be sized for a plant that will live in it for years.
Short answer
Grow bay laurel in a 20 litre container at least 35 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 5 days, and keep temperatures between 15 and 25 °C. First harvest comes 180–365 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does bay laurel need?
20 litres and 35 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 20 L | 35 cm | Ensure good drainage and adequate size for root development. |
| Grow bag | 20 L | 35 cm | Fabric bags promote air pruning and prevent root circling. |
| Open ground | — | 60 cm | Prefers well-drained soil; establish slowly. |
| Raised bed | 40 L | 45 cm | Provides excellent drainage and control over soil composition. |
Watering
How often should you water bay laurel?
Every 5 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 7 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Deep root watering works best.
Too little water
- leaf curling
- wilting
- browning leaf tips
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- leaf drop
- root rot
Avoid: standing water; soggy soil; frequent shallow watering.
Climate
Can you grow bay laurel where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 15 – 25 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 35 °C |
| Germinates above | 18 °C — best at 22 °C, about 21 days |
| Flowers drop | above 30 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 35 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for bay laurel? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Bay Laurel growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for bay laurel
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why bay laurel fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 20 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Bay Laurel wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 30 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Watercress
Requires consistently wet soil, which can lead to root rot for bay laurel, which prefers well-drained conditions.
Companions
What to plant with bay laurel
Good neighbours
Both are Mediterranean herbs that thrive in similar conditions: full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate watering.
Shares similar growing preferences for sun and well-drained soil, making them compatible garden partners.
Known to deter various pests, including nematodes, which can benefit the overall health of nearby plants like bay laurel.
Keep apart from
Requires consistently wet soil, which can lead to root rot for bay laurel, which prefers well-drained conditions.
Heavy feeder that can compete for nutrients, especially if bay laurel is grown in a container, potentially stunting its growth.
Prefers highly acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5), which is too acidic for bay laurel, which thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0).
Problems
Bay Laurel pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Scale Insects humidity any · temp 18-30
Small, immobile, dome-shaped pests that attach to stems and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing yellowing and stunted growth. Often accompanied by sooty mold.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and secreting sticky honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold.
Mealybugs humidity any · temp 20-30
White, cottony insects found in leaf axils and undersides of leaves. They suck sap, weaken the plant, and also produce honeydew.
Sooty Mold humidity >70% · temp 18-30
A black, powdery fungal growth that covers leaves and stems, often a secondary problem resulting from honeydew secreted by sap-sucking pests like aphids and scale. It blocks photosynthesis.
Leaf Spot humidity >75% · temp 15-28
Small, dark, often circular spots on leaves, which can be fungal or bacterial. Severe infections can lead to defoliation. Improve air circulation and reduce overhead watering.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Yellowing leaves, wilting, and stunted growth despite adequate watering. Caused by consistently waterlogged soil due to overwatering or poor drainage. Roots turn soft and black.
Chlorosis humidity any · temp any
Leaves turn yellow while veins remain green, indicating an iron deficiency often caused by high soil pH (alkaline soil) or poor nutrient absorption. Can be corrected with iron supplements or soil acidification.
Frost Damage humidity any · temp < -5
Leaves turn brown or black, become crispy, and may fall off. Severe frost can kill branches or the entire plant. Protect plants in winter in colder climates.
Harvest
When to harvest bay laurel
First picking falls between day 180 and day 365, and the plant then keeps producing for about 365 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Leaves are mature, dark green, and aromatic
How much to expect
Storing it: Fresh: Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks. Dried: Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
Questions
Bay Laurel: common questions
How long does bay laurel take to grow?
About 730 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 180 and day 365. It then keeps producing for roughly 365 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does bay laurel need?
At least 20 litres and 35 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 40 litres of soil and 45 cm of depth.
How often should I water bay laurel?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 5 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 7 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
Why is my bay laurel flowering but not fruiting?
Almost always pollination. Bay Laurel carries separate male and female flowers and needs pollen moved between them — without insects, nothing sets. Hand-pollinate in the morning with a male flower brushed against the centre of a female one.
What temperature does bay laurel need?
It does best between 15 °C and 25 °C and survives from -5 °C to 35 °C. Seed needs soil above 18 °C to germinate, ideally around 22 °C.
Can I grow bay laurel in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when bay laurel is ready to harvest?
Leaves are mature, dark green, and aromatic. Once picked: fresh: refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks. dried: store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.