Willow Growing & Harvesting

Willow is a quite amazing plant, producing a huge variety of colours, and prodigious annual growth -- up to 15 feet in some cases. There are over 1,500 varieties of willow in England alone, many of which can be used for making baskets and structures for the garden.
	Freshly harvested willow from my allotments

 

The Annual Cycle

Willow grows from early March to mid-September, during which period it can grow inches per day in the right conditions. Planting is traditionally closely spaced, forcing the willow rods to grow straight and and tall to reach the light, which makes them ideal for basket weaving. It produces generous foliage during the growing season.

Willow in full leaf on my allotments

From mid-September to late November willow stops growing and gradually sheds its foliage. Between late November and early March willow is dormant and this is the season both for harvesting and for planting cuttings.

I grow 30 different varieties of willow for their bark colour, and weave some of this when freshly harvested. The remainder is allowed to dry out completely and is then resoaked prior to use.

Further Information

If you would like further information about growing and using willow for basketmaking, you can obtain a copy of a comprehensive publication:

	"Cultivation and Use of Basket Willows" A Guide to Growing Basket Willows, produced by
	The Basketmakers' Association and IACR Long Ashton Research Station, 2001, price £5 (including p&p) available from:
	Basketmakers' Association Sales 216 Walton Road East Molesey Surrey KT8 0HR
	Please make cheques payable to: The Basketmakers' Association

 

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