Lavender
Introduction
Lavender is grown for its pretty and fragrant flowers, typically purple in colour, but can be white or pink. These are loved by bees, and make excellent cuttings for hanging in rooms or pot pourri for their scent.
Planting
- Generally bought as plants, or propagated by cuttings in spring and summer
- Can be grown from seed, germinated indoors in early spring
Harvesting
- June - September
- The plant is perennial and does not die back in winter
(inside)
(outside)
(fresh)
(stored)
= jar, 
= freeze, 
= store
Varieties
There are many types of lavender, and lavender is often classified into English and French types.
- English types are generally more hardy and suitable for growing outside
- French types like warmth and will need extra care in winter to avoid being damaged by cold weather
(grow in pots and move to a greenhouse or polytunnel during winter).
The easy way for a gardener to organise their growing and discover gardening ideas.
Growing
Lavender is very easy to grow, and the plants can be propagated by taking two inch cuttings of lavender sprigs and pushing these down into fresh soil. This is worth doing every two or three years as lavender grows towards the sun, and old plants can become large and woody (covering up neighbouring plants or pathways).
Lavender enjoys growing in full sun and can withstand dry conditions. The plant performs less well in shade and wet soil. Newly planted lavender plants will need watering in the first year whilst the roots are establishing.
A great feature of lavender is not only the fragrant leaves and stems that can be picked, dried, and brought into a home, but also how they bring beneficial insects like bees and butterflies into a garden.