Whether youโre a novice gardener or already have a thriving herb garden, youโre probably wondering what may add a splash of color and scent to your kitchen garden. Learning how to grow lavender can be just what you need.
Lavender may be the ideal addition to your garden for its distinct flavor, which transforms ordinary items into spectacular recipes, and its many flexible applications.
This blog will look at the basics of cultivating this plant, several varieties of lavender, and some helpful tips for a fragrant and enjoyable gardening trip.
1. What Exactly Is Lavender?
You might be surprised to hear that lavender, like other famous herbs like thyme, oregano, and basil, belongs to the mint family.
While lavender has been used in Mediterranean cuisine for decades, it is arguably best recognized for its usage in tea, cosmetics, natural treatments, essential oils, and aromatherapy products such as neck pillows and potpourri sachets.
Gardeners worldwide love this plant for its captivating greyish-green leaves and purple blossoms, and it acts as a natural repellent of insects such as fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and other pests, therefore, protecting both the garden and the house.
Cultivating lavender is also a great method to attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, stimulating the natural fertilization of your plants and help the bee communityโs health.
2. Varieties Of Lavender
The first thing you should know about lavender is that it prefers dry soil and hot temperatures. This plant is native to the Mediterranean and certain species can thrive in hotter areas and other species withstand lower temperatures.
Many amateur gardeners who think that growing lavender is difficult are either overwatering their plants, using the incorrect soil or attempting to cultivate the incorrect kind for their environment.
If you reside in a cooler area, consider the following lavender varieties:
2.1. English Lavender
If you canโt give the hot temperatures, other kinds require, grow English lavender and its hybrid cousins. These lavender flowers bloom from June to August and have a stunning deep purple to light pink tint.
If you only have one lavender plant, make it English lavender, which can be referred to as Lavandula angustifolia. Its fragrant blossoms dry nicely and have a delicate flavor that may be used in cooking.
It is the hardest of all lavenders, making it ideal for Northern California and most other regions of the United States. Lavandula vera, True lavender, and Lavandula officinalis are all acceptable names for the ancient plant.
Cultivars of this plant produce some of the worldโs most attractive and popular lavender kinds. Flowers range in hue from deep purple to blue, mauve-pink, and white. Hidcote and Munstead are two popular kinds.
That is to say:
- Hidcote โ purple
- Munstead โ purple and hardly
- English Pink
- English Perfume โ plum
Because the natural shape is rounded, trim lightly after June flowering to maintain the dome shape. If it is excessively clipped, the blooms the next season will be drastically decreased.
Aside from their durability, they are also thought to be the greatest for culinary usage due to their low camphor level, which can produce a soapy flavor and is not recommended for eating.
2.2. Lavandin
This variety is a natural hybrid of the hardy English lavender and the heat-resistant Portuguese lavender, making it an excellent choice if you live in an area with inclement weather.
It blooms from mid to late summer and is distinguished by tall, dark violet flower spikes that are exceedingly fragrant.
As a result of its high camphor content, this species is mostly used for filling sachets and manufacturing potpourri and is not considered edible. Grosso and Provence are two of the most well-known variants.
The following kinds are suitable for individuals who live in warmer, more humid climates:
2.3. Fringed Lavender
Also known as French lavender, fringed lavender is distinguished by its tiny and light purple blooms capped with bracts.
It has fewer aromatic blooms than English lavender, but its thick, thin leaves are more fragrant and have a botanical fragrance comparable to rosemary.
French lavender, referred to as Lavandula dentata, has unique tiny teeth around the margins of its leaves. Itโs a robust addition to your garden.
This is not the lavender produced for essential oils in France; it is a hybrid between English lavender and spike lavender. Enjoy it in the garden and flowers for its beauty and aroma.
Lavender fields are stunning in France and have never failed to draw visitors from all around the world. While there, you may stay at some of Franceโs top hotels and resorts, which feature stunning views of lavender fields, lakes, and mountains.
The flavor is powerful, like its Spanish cousin, and should be used only when you want an intense taste. Fringed lavender is great for cooking but use it sparingly because it has a powerful flavor. It blooms from early summer through late October.
2.4. Spanish Lavender
Spanish lavender, also known as Lavandula stoechas, is distinguished by its distinctive pineapple-shaped blooms with deep purple bracts, commonly known as bunny ears, that protrude from each flower spike.
This cultivar blooms from mid to late summer, and while the flowers arenโt particularly fragrant, the pale green, almost grey foliage is highly scented. It has a strong flavor, similar to fringed lavender, so use it sparingly in cooking.
Spanish lavender features a few alert-looking bracts. Just trims after the first bloom to shape it and encourage a second bloom in the summer.
Spanish lavender has a pungent, almost resinous taste, so use it sparingly in cooking. The blooms are stunning when they are in bloom. However, they do not dry well.
If you intend to keep your lavender inside, you can grow whatever type you like. Consider how you want to use your lavender, so you may select the finest kind for your requirements.
3. Growing Kit For Faster Development
A growing kit is a perfect option if you want to watch your lavender plants develop in a month or less.
Usually, the growing kit is handy and environmentally friendly, and it includes everything you need to produce your own organic lavender at home. It also includes an organic soil blend designed to give your plant the ideal growth conditions.
The growing kit also includes a large glass jar with lots of room, so you wonโt have to risk hurting your precious seedlings by transplanting them from one location to another.
4. The Essentials For Growing Lavender
Lavender is a perennial which is also known as a plant that is expected to exist for more than two years and that will persist for several years if cared for properly. Many gardening experts estimate that lavender may survive for up to ten years!
Sow or plant once the threat of frost has gone in the spring, spacing seedlings 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the type. If in doubt, always study the back of your seed packs for vital information on sun exposure, seed spacing, depth, and water requirements.
4.1. Sun
Lavender requires full light and dry soil as a real Mediterranean plant. These aromatic plants do not thrive in shadow, so consider where you intend to sow the seeds or set the pot.
Keep an eye out for tall trees or other big plants that may obstruct the light and make necessary adjustments.
Make sure your lavender gets at least eight hours of direct sunshine every day and that as the temps drop, you bring it inside and place it near a sunny window.
4.2. Water
Overwatering is the leading cause of plant mortality in this and many other species, so itโs crucial to be aware of this risk while learning how to grow lavender effectively.
In the case of lavender, itโs all about balancing keeping your plants hydrated and not drowning them. This is particularly critical throughout their initial growing season.
Lavender plants, once established, are incredibly low care and require very little irrigation, becoming exceptionally drought resistant.
Soak seedlings for an extended length of time before planting them and then only water them after the soil seems dry. In short, frequent irrigation can cause root rot.
Water at the plantโs base during hydration to avoid wetness on the foliage, which might develop a septoria leaf spot, a fungus that infects the tissues of the leaves.
4.3. Planting Soil
Along with adequate watering, potting soil is a vital factor that may make or break your lavender production. The idea is to replicate the Mediterranean soil conditions to the best of your ability.
That is to say:
- Soil pH ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline.
- Excellent air circulation
- Soil that is lean and calcareous
To begin, choose a high-quality organic potting mix with the ideal pH level for lavender growth โ between 6.7 and 7.3. The more alkaline the water, the more fragrant the lavender.
These plants do best in light soil because it promotes a larger concentration of their natural oils. As a result, replacing traditional moisture-holding mulch with lighter and drier organic materials, such as tree bark, is an excellent idea.
Before planting your lavender, add some sand or gravel into the soil to guarantee appropriate drainage. This step is especially vital for the next winter months.
4.4. Containers For Growing
While lavender may be sown or planted in containers, raised beds, or directly into your garden soil, most gardeners believe that it favors smaller settings. This might be due to the fact that the larger the container, the greater the risk of excessive wetness.
As previously said, it is critical to keep lavender plants as dry as possible, therefore selecting a grower or pot with adequate drainage is critical to promoting healthy development. A clay or terracotta container is an excellent choice for adequate root aeration.
A cloth garden bed is another excellent option. A cloth garden bed has the advantage of lasting longer, it is priced low, and it is most importantly good for the plants and for the environment as well.
It promotes excellent root aeration, resulting in the ideal growth environment for your lavender to grow happy and healthy.
If you live in a cold region, utilizing containers can help you keep your lavender plants alive by allowing you to bring them inside as soon as the chilly weather arrives.
4.5. Pruning
Lavender, like other plants, benefits significantly from a good trimming at the start of spring. The idea is to wait until new growth appears at the plantโs base before pruning the woody stems.
This is especially critical if you reside in a region where the plant suffers from winter die-back. If you start trimming too soon, your lavender plant will stop growing.
Please feel free to cut the fading blooms to stimulate fresh blossoming during summer.
5. Culture Of Lavenders
Lavenders require full light, adequate drainage, and alkaline soil to thrive. If your soil is acid clay, compost should make up one-quarter of the total planting soil, combined with a tiny quantity of pebbles to aid drainage.
If purchased as a plant, lavender should be planted on a mound or slope where excess water may flow. Water once a week during the first summer and once every three weeks after that.
A busy gardener will appreciate that lavender does not require fertilizer or good soil. Mulch it with pebbles to evoke its Mediterranean origins.
6. Grow Lavender To Add Color To Your Garden!
Itโs easy to get carried away with lavenderโs benefits. Drought tolerant, deer resistant, and little maintenance are depressing reasons to plant it.
Flowers range in hue from white to deep purple, with delicate stalks that brush against your ankles as you go past are also some amusing reasons.
It may appear difficult at first, but you now have a fundamental understanding of how to cultivate lavender properly. This gorgeous, medicinal, and colorful plant is an excellent addition to any garden, regardless of how you want to utilize it!
Last Updated on by ritukhare