The effect of propagation term and method on the growth and fresh herb productivity of sage and balm cultivated in pots

The growing of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and balm (Melissa officinalis L.) in pots for the purpose of obtaining fresh culinary herbs was conducted during four terms from spring to autumn. The objective was to determine the possibility of using stem cuttings taken at different developmental stages of the mother plants and to compare this method of plant propagation with that based on seeds. The period of sage growth was shorter when it was raised from cuttings than from seeds. In the case of balm, the use of cuttings was more effective than generative propagation in the period from summer to autumn. In both species, the best results of rooting were achieved when cuttings were taken before plant flowering in spring and after flowering in August. The poorest balm rooting was recorded when taking cuttings at plant flowering, and at flowering and after flowering in July for sage.