![]() Harvest in the morning hours when the oils are the most concentrated.After a few weeks, transplant it into a larger pot.Water when soil is dry an inch down feed with 1/4-strength liquid plant fertilizer once a week.(If you tug gently, the root shouldn’t move.) Then remove the bag. Allow about 3 weeks for roots to appear.Cover the whole pot with clear plastic or a polythene bag to create humidity. Insert bare stem into potting soil. Firm the soil and water in.Optional: Dip each cutting in rooting hormone first. Fill a small pot (4 inches or so) with potting mix.Remove foliage on the bottom 2 inches of the stem. Gently scrape the skin off the bottom portion of the stem on one side with a knife. Cut very low near the root, getting several inches of stem.Cut following the plant’s bloom. Choose side-shoots for cuttings that have no buds.The flowering stems can be harvested while in bloom or snipped off after the flowers fade to keep the plant tidy. In warm climates: All pruning can be carried out in autumn. Remove about one-third of the top to keep the plant from becoming leggy and bare at the base, but do not cut back into old wood, as it will not regrow. In cooler climates: Prune established plants in spring when green leaves start to emerge from the base. Water sparingly, as the plant will be dormant at this time. Another option for cold areas is to grow lavender in a pot, keeping it outdoors in the summer and indoors in winter. While indoors, place the pot in a south-facing window with as much light as possible.Read more about winter care of lavender plants. Cover the plants with a winter mulch of evergreen boughs or straw, insulating them from freezing winds and temperatures. In colder growing areas, plants may need extra winter protection.Water mature plants every 2 to 3 weeks until buds form, then once or twice weekly until harvest. (Yellowing leaves are often a sign of overwatering.) Water once or twice a week after planting until plants are established.Keep the mulch away from the crown of the lavender plant, however, to prevent excess moisture and root rot.Ĭheck out this video to learn how to plant lavender: Add mulch (rock or pea gravel work particularly well) to keep weeds minimal.Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. Seeds may take up to three months to germinate, and seedlings must be overwintered indoors in cool climates. Lavender is challenging to grow from seed we recommend purchasing small starter plants from a garden nursery or taking a softwood cutting from an existing plant.If planting in the fall, choose larger, more established plants to ensure their survival through the winter.Lavender is best planted as a young plant starting in the spring after the soil has warmed up to at least 60☏ (15☌) and the threat of frost has passed.Plant lavender in a spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day (“full sun”). Amend compacted or clay soil with compost or aged manure to improve drainage. Standing water and wet areas could encourage root rot. Lavender makes only one demand for the soil: It must drain well. ![]() Lavender is even useful in the kitchen in baking and in drink recipes! Learn more below.Īs mentioned above, lavender thrives in most soil qualities, from poor to moderately fertile. In ancient times, lavender flowers were sewn into sachets to aid with sleeplessness. ![]() When the essential oils are inhaled, lavender has calming properties that reduce anxiety it’s also a gentle sedative for insomnia. In addition, lavender has proven medicinal uses. Today, it’s often used in soaps and shampoos. Interestingly, the name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means “to wash,” because it was used in baths to purify the body and spirit. Plant lavender along a walkway or near a seating area. It is not fussy about soil, and its presence lures bees, butterflies, and pollinators to the garden. The oils in the flowers give the herb its distinctive balsam-like fragrance.Ĭalled “English” lavender because it proliferates in the English climate, this plant’s main requirements are lots of sun and good drainage. A bushy perennial, lavender grows from 1 to 3 feet tall, bearing small blue-violet flowers on spikes with blue-green needle-like foliage. officinalis) which is hardy to USDA Zone 5. The commonly-cultivated lavender is the common or English lavender Lavandula angustifolia (formerly named L. Learn how to plant, keep lavender plants in shape, propagate, and harvest/dry the flowers. Best seeded indoors (in late winter), lavender is planted outdoors in early spring. Lovely lavender adds aroma and soft beauty to the garden and also has culinary and medicinal uses. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |