Plant Propagation | Tough Kraut

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Here you will find my most recent blog posts. Tough Kraut guides you from city apartments to homesteads. Explore our categories:

Homestead Chronicles: Follow our journey. Read “A Starter’s Guide” for basics or “Life on the Land” for real stories.

Cultivate & Thrive: Grow food anywhere. Try “Homegrown Harvests” for balcony tips or “Building Soil” for yards.

Self-Sufficient Living: Learn off-grid skills. Check “Water Conservation” or “Homesteading & DIY” for practical projects.

Farm Companions: Use animals and plants smartly. Explore “Natural Pest Control” or “Foraging” for free resources.

Permie Pantry: Cook and preserve. Start with “Garden-To-Table Recipes” or “Pickle & Preserve” for easy ideas.

Guides, tips, stories or recipes directly from our off-grid homestead. From newbie tips to pro hacks, our posts help you grow smarter, not harder.

Potted Aloe vera rosette with long fleshy leaves, toothed edges, and dry brown leaf margins on a blue crate.

Aloe vera (Aloe)

Aloe vera is one of the most recognizable medicinal succulents in the world, valued for its soothing gel, drought tolerance, and low-maintenance nature. For gardeners interested in growing Aloe vera in Zone 8a, container cultivation offers the flexibility needed to enjoy this useful plant while protecting it from occasional winter frosts.

21 hours ago

Single Pineapple Sage cutting with two young leaves growing from rocky potting mix in a black plastic container.

How to Propagate Pineapple Sage from Cuttings (And Why Backup Plants Matter)

Back in 2022, during our first year living on our off-grid homestead in Central Portugal, I bought a single Pineapple Sage plant (Salvia elegans) at a local market. I planted it in our kitchen herb garden beside a thriving lemongrass clump near the mobile home, where it quickly became one of my favorite herbs.

5 days ago

Artemisia arborescens (Tree Wormwood)

Artemisia arborescens, commonly known as Tree Wormwood, is a highly aromatic Mediterranean shrub prized for its silvery foliage, drought tolerance, and ecological value. Growing Artemisia arborescens in Zone 8a is remarkably straightforward, making it an excellent choice for food forests, pollinator zones, companion planting systems, and low-water landscapes.

Jun 19

A broad Aeonium ‘Blushing Beauty’ rosette fills the frame, showing layered fleshy leaves with yellow-green centers and red edges.

Aeonium 'Blushing Beauty' (Blushing Aeonium)

Aeonium 'Blushing Beauty' is a striking branching succulent prized for its lime-green rosettes, subtle pink-red leaf margins, and sculptural growth habit. Particularly well suited to Mediterranean climates and USDA Zone 8a, this drought-tolerant plant thrives with minimal care while providing year-round ornamental interest.

Jun 18

Close view of Pelargonium inquinans with vivid scarlet flower clusters and broad green leaves against a wooden railing.

Pelargonium inquinans (Scarlet Geranium)

The scarlet geranium is a cheerful, easily propagated flowering plant with velvety leaves, soft stems, and clusters of vivid flowers that can brighten balconies, containers, and sheltered garden beds. Growing scarlet geranium in Zone 8a is certainly possible, but its frost sensitivity means that containers, protected positions, and backup cuttings are valuable insurance when winter decides to stop being polite.

Jun 16

Compact Kalanchoe blossfeldiana viewed from above, with overlapping succulent leaves surrounded by sparse weeds and dark soil.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Flaming Katy)

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a compact flowering succulent prized for its colorful blooms, drought tolerance, and ease of propagation. While commonly grown as a houseplant, growing Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in Zone 8a can be rewarding when plants are protected from winter cold and cultivated in containers. Its ability to bounce back from setbacks makes it a surprisingly resilient addition to a Mediterranean homestead.

Jun 15

Common comfrey with large textured leaves emerges from a crowded garden bed near a black-and-blue hand cultivator.

Volunteer Comfrey Plants: How One Plant Became Seven More

Seven small comfrey plants were growing where I had never planted them. They appeared in two raised vegetable beds inside our greenhouse, close to a large comfrey clump growing at the dead end of a pathway. I first noticed their small, rough leaves in spring and left them alone until I was sure what they were.

Jun 14

Sunlit Aeonium arboreum ‘Velour’ leaves form a layered dark red rosette around pale green new growth.

Aeonium arboreum 'Velour' (Houseleek Tree)

Aeonium arboreum 'Velour' is a striking succulent cultivar prized for its deep burgundy-purple rosettes and architectural growth habit. Particularly well-suited to Mediterranean climates, it thrives in containers and low-water gardens while providing year-round ornamental interest. Growing Aeonium arboreum 'Velour' in Zone 8a is relatively easy, especially when grown in pots that can be moved or protected during periods of severe winter weather.

Jun 13

Quercus rotundifolia tree with a leaning trunk and dense gray-green canopy in a dry meadow near a tiled roof.

Quercus rotundifolia (Iberian Holm Oak)

The Iberian Holm Oak is one of the defining trees of Portugal and Spain, forming the backbone of traditional dehesa and montado landscapes. Known for its exceptional drought tolerance, evergreen foliage, and large acorns, it is a valuable canopy species for food forests and regenerative land projects. Growing Quercus rotundifolia in Zone 8a is often easier than many gardeners expect, provided patience is part of the planting plan.

Jun 9

Open loquat fruit with soft orange pulp and large brown seeds, photographed outdoors in warm light.

Why We Started Growing Loquat Trees from Seed on Our Quinta

Sometimes the plants that survive longest on a homestead are not the expensive nursery purchases. They are the random seedlings you almost forgot about. A young seed-grown loquat tree settling into our dry Mediterranean landscape, one small experiment at a time. Our first loquat tree on the Quinta did not survive. At the time, that felt frustrating because loquat seemed like such a promising tree for a Mediterranean homestead: evergreen, useful, attractive, and potentially pr

May 28

Dense lemongrass clumps growing inside a greenhouse, with long green blades, dry leaf litter, and logs at the base.

11 Reasons to Grow Lemongrass in a Mediterranean Garden

When summer arrives on our Quinta, the land slowly changes color. Fresh spring greens turn into dry gold, soft grasses become crispy, and large parts of the landscape begin to look like they are waiting patiently for the first autumn rain. And then there is lemongrass. While many plants slow down, dry out, or retreat into survival mode, our lemongrass keeps bringing fresh green foliage into the garden. That alone would almost be enough reason to love it. In a Mediterranean cl

May 25

Potted creeping rosemary with woody stems and needle-like leaves, set in a dry garden with grasses and succulents.

Salvia rosmarinus Prostratus (Trailing Rosemary)

Trailing rosemary is one of those plants that quietly turns rough stone edges into living Mediterranean scenery. With cascading stems, aromatic foliage, and impressive drought tolerance once established, it is an excellent candidate for growing Salvia rosmarinus prostratus in Zone 8a gardens, terraces, retaining walls, and dry slopes. Beyond its beauty, trailing rosemary also supports pollinators, suppresses weeds, stabilizes soil, and provides culinary herbs nearly year-roun

May 24

Rosemary foliage fills the frame, showing vertical stems, narrow leaves, and small dark spent flower parts.

Salvia rosmarinus (Upright Rosemary)

Salvia rosmarinus, commonly known as upright rosemary, is one of the most dependable Mediterranean herbs we grow on our Quinta in Central Portugal. Hardy, aromatic, drought-tolerant, and easy to propagate, this evergreen shrub thrives in hot summers, poor soils, and windy Zone 8a conditions. Beyond its culinary value, rosemary also supports pollinators, creates structure in the landscape, and serves as a reliable companion plant in dry-climate food forests.

May 23

Mixed garden beds and plant pots line both sides of a polytunnel greenhouse with a path leading to the open door.

Greenhouse Vegetable Growing: How Our Greenhouse Changed Everything

For our first couple of years on the Quinta, annual vegetable growing felt like hope, sweat, and mild public shame. We direct-sowed seeds into dry outdoor beds, watered when we could, and watched nature edit our plans. Some seeds sprouted. Some vanished. Some became snail snacks before they had a chance to impress anyone.

May 23

Rose pincushion cactus in bloom, showing many pink flowers and unopened buds across a spiny cactus in a round pot.

Mammillaria zeilmanniana (Rose Pincushion Cactus)

Mammillaria zeilmanniana is a compact clustering cactus prized for its rings of vivid pink-magenta flowers and soft, rounded growth habit. Native to Mexico, this ornamental cactus adapts well to Mediterranean balconies and container gardening when provided with excellent drainage and protection from prolonged winter moisture.

May 19

Overhead image of Rebutia kupperiana blooming in a brown pot with vivid flowers and dark potting soil.

Aylostera kupperiana (Scarlet Crown Cactus)

Aylostera kupperiana is a small clustering cactus admired for its vivid red-orange blooms and compact growth habit. Native to mountainous regions of Bolivia, it adapts surprisingly well to Mediterranean balconies and container culture when protected from excessive winter moisture. Growing Aylostera kupperiana in Zone 8a is ideal for growers wanting dramatic flowering without needing a greenhouse or elaborate setup.

May 18

Interior garden beds in a polytunnel with lettuce, herbs, flowers, and tall tropical plants at the far end.

Greenhouse Gardening in Portugal: How Our Greenhouse Changed the Quinta

For the first couple of years on our Quinta, annual vegetable growing felt unpredictable at best and slightly humiliating at worst. We direct-sowed seeds into dry soil, battled inconsistent watering, and celebrated every cucumber like it was a major farm win. Some plants survived. Many simply vanished into the Mediterranean chaos of ants, heat, wind, snails, and beginner impatience. Then we added a greenhouse. Not the big one at first. That came later. Our first greenhouse wa

May 17

Dense cluster of Salvia elegans leaves showing fuzzy texture and bright green growth in a nursery pot.

Salvia elegans (Pineapple Sage)

Pineapple sage is one of those plants that instantly turns a herb garden into something alive and interactive. With its pineapple-scented foliage, brilliant red flowers, and pollinator-attracting power, growing Salvia elegans in Zone 8a Mediterranean gardens can be both rewarding and humbling.

May 16

Emerging hazel leaves with pale green texture and fine hairs along a reddish stem, lit by direct sun among dense foliage.

7 Benefits of Growing Hazelnut Beyond the Nut Harvest

When most people think about growing hazelnut, they imagine bowls of homegrown nuts, woodland snacks, or maybe a future jar of homemade hazelnut spread that probably disappears faster than expected.

May 16

Helichrysum italicum in a terracotta pot, surrounded by trays and plants, with fine gray-green leaves forming a dense mound.

Helichrysum italicum (Curry Plant)

Helichrysum italicum, commonly called Curry Plant, is a drought-tolerant Mediterranean perennial valued for its silver foliage, aromatic leaves, and pollinator-friendly flowers. Growing Helichrysum italicum in Zone 8a works particularly well in dry, sunny climates where many softer herbs struggle.

May 14