Do you want to grow bay leaf in New Mexico, but don’t know when to plant them?
Planting bay leaf is not as easy as it seems.
Here’s why:
- Bay Leaf are not able to survive frost or cold weather under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
So if you plant them outside too early in the spring they will die. And if you plant them too late, your bay leaf won’t produce a harvest before the first frost arrives in the fall.
Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to plant bay leaf in New Mexico:
- To Learn More About HOW to Grow Bay Leaf, Check Out This GUIDE!
When to Plant Bay Leaf in New Mexico
As you may have already guessed, you need to pay very close attention to your local weather in the spring. Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the last frost occurs.
In general, when there hasn’t been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your bay leaf outside in New Mexico!
For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in New Mexico. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.
New Mexico Last & First Frost Dates
Unfortunately, Mother Nature plays cruel tricks on us every year.
It should be noted that the above dates are just averages.
There are years when the last frost comes MUCH later. Sometimes, the last frost happens much earlier and you can get your bay leaf planted outside in New Mexico much quicker.
Like I said before, you need to be very diligent in checking your local weather.
So what happens if a frost comes AFTER you plant your bay leaf?
When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.
- If bay leaf are in pots, bring them inside
- If bay leaf are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
Also, make sure not to plant your bay leaf in your garden too late.
- Planting bay leaf too late will cause small bay leaf or even worse, no bay leaf.
When Should You Start Your Bay Leaf Seeds Indoors?
Depending on the type of bay leaf, it takes roughly 120-180 days to grow bay leaf from seed indoors and then transplant them to your garden.
For a specific date that you should start bay leaf seeds indoors you should:
- Find the last average frost date HERE
- And then subtract 180 days from it
Not only this, but I recommend again paying close attention to your local weather report.
It should also be noted that the best technique for bringing your bay leaf plants outside is to introduce them (in their pots) outside for an hour. And then increase the amount of time they spend outside each day by an hour until they have been outside for 8 hours.
This will “hardened” your bay leaf plant, increasing its chances of fighting off diseases, insects, droughts, and wet conditions.
If you want to learn WHEN to plant ANY Vegetable in New Mexico, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.
