Don’t Waste Those Holly Berries!

Holly trees are getting scarce so it’s time we all made sure there will be plenty in the next millennium. Greedy people are now cutting down whole bushes with chainsaws. Some foresters predict that they will be rare trees in the future.

Holly berries germinate if they are left in sand for two winters.

Method

• Get an old bucket or large flower pot. Make sure there are holes in the bottom.
• Put in about 5cm of horticultural sand. River sand or play sand is excellent. Some people use coal ash instead.
• Place a layer of berries on top of this.
• Put in another layer of sand and another layer of berries. Continue doing this until you get to the top.
• Moisten the sand and leave it outside in a cold place. In the summer bury the pot in case the contents dry out. Make sure to mark the spot!
• In March twelve months inspect the pots. You will see lots of tiny white roots.
• Gently lift the little plants by holding their shoots. Transfer them to well-washed empty one litre milk cartons. (Make sure these have holes in the bottoms). Watch them grow.
• You can sell them when they are three years old. Some people like to remove the flesh from the berries before they put them in sand. To do this leave them in a plastic bag until the flesh rots. Then wash them under the tap.