Live plants x 3(siebert). Potted(large,well drained,miracle grow twice monthly)@May 1. Outside, well protected, @4h morning sun, shade rest of day. Continual gentle leaf harvest from June 15...Early August finds us mostly through a Summer of ample rain and heat. The yield continues to be good.

Aesthetically superb via quid or smoalk. Should have @2 shoeboxes dried leaves by end Sept. Plan on overwintering in basement as Zone 7 cold to severe. Will cut back and repot(maybe/maybe not)in Spring to see if another season viable.

Question. How many seasons to expect from a particular clone? Should cuttings be taken for further propagation first season or some season hence to keep line going/vigorous?

Love and respect to SW for dedication to the Shepherdess.

Peace

My technique has always been to take cuttings and then harvest all leaves from a mature plant (about 16 weeks post-rooting). This of course sacrifices the older plant, but in my experience, a fresh cutting will grow very vigorously, whereas an older plant will grow slowly and not be very productive.