One of the most popular herbs I grow on the homestead is lavender. I grow it everywhere I can because I can't get enough of the silvery stalks, the lovely purple blooms, and the lovely fragrance wafting through the air. Not only that, but it's a main ingredient in my body products. So I need to grow it everywhere. And I plant more every year.
But lavender doesn't grow well from seed for me. I've solved this problem by rooting lavender cuttings. In late summer I grab a pair of clippers, fill a small bucket with water and head off toward the lavender patch. I find a young pliable stalk and clip off the top 3-4 inches. I immediately plunge the cutting in the bucket of water and keep it there until the bucket is full.
Then I take it into the greenhouse where I dip the wet stalk ends in rooting hormone before sticking them in shallow trays filled with sandy soil. Disposable muffin tins work well for this. I place the trays of cuttings on the upper shelves in the greenhouse, and they stay right there through the winter. As long as they're kept moist, they'll develop roots and be ready for planting by Spring. This has been a great way for me to expand my lavender patches without the frustration of starting them from seeds. And the best part is that it's inexpensive!
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