Known for its delicate flower spikes and heady fragrance, lavender is an excellent addition to any garden. Host Jackie Cicchino and herb specialist Robyn Bazemore share tips on how to grow, cut and harvest this versatile herb.
Lavender can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Both require a tray of fresh potting soil amended with perlite.
How to grow:
- Sprinkle seeds over a tray of fresh potting soil and lightly cover with a layer of vermiculite. The vermiculite will help protect the seeds and retain moisture. Keep slightly damp. Germination time will vary depending on the variety, but transplants should be ready in five to six weeks.
- Lavender can also be propagated from a tip cutting. Snip off a 1-1/2" - 2" sprig where the new, soft growth starts. Gently strip off the bottom leaves to prevent root rot. Dip the stem in rooting hormone and pinch down into a tray of fresh potting soil. Keep slightly damp. The cutting should be ready for a 4-inch pot in four weeks.
Lavender in the landscape:
- Lavender is native to the dry Mediterranean climate of Provence, France, and grows best in well-drained, sandy soil with exposure to full sun. Some varieties grow better in different parts of the country, like Dutch lavender in the south. English varieties have the best fragrance and are widely used in many commercial products.
- Lavender works well as an accent plant, in containers or as a small hedge. 'Goodwin Creek' lavender, or woolly lavender, blooms profusely and makes a lovely landscape plant. Spanish lavender is a hardy variety with a bloom that looks like a small pine cone with a butterfly perched on top (figure A).
Harvesting:
- Harvest in the early morning after the dew dries. Cut stems, group together with a rubber band and hang upside down in a cool, dark environment. After three to four weeks the bouquet will be ready for display.
Resources Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb
by Ellen Spector Platt (ISBN: 0811728498 )
Stackpole Books, (April 1999)
Order this
title.
The Lavender Garden: Beautiful Varieties to Grow and Gather
by Robert Kourik, Deborah Jones (ISBN: 0811815706)
Chronicle Books (1998)
Order this
title.
Guests Robyn Bazemore
Co-Owner, Shore Acres Nursery
6877 Nassau Avenue
Orlando, FL 32822
Phone: 407-957-4847
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