How to grow Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Pruning is required to keep lavender neat. Young plants should be pruned soon after blooming to encourage them into a compact shape, or to train them to size. Any parts of the plant that are killed over the winter should be pruned out in early spring. If older, woody plants are looking a bit tired, they can be cut back half way when new growth begins in spring to rejuvenate them. If needed (due to size or age) or desired (to make more plants), lavender can be divided in the fall.

Growing Lavender from seed

Seeds are slow to germinate. Cover them slightly and they will germinate in 1 to 3 months. When large enough to handle transplant to individual pots and grow in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter, planting them out late the next spring later the last expected frost.3
Lavender is easier from cuttings taken with a heel( a small amount of stem skin achieved by pulling off a side shoot) in mid summer. Strike into very gritty compost using a clay pot and positioning the cuttings around the perimeter.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.23 inches (0.6 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Lavender about 1 days after your last frost date .

Transplanting Lavender

Deadheading after first bloom may encourage plants to rebloom. Avoid pruning after late summer until new growth begins the following spring. Cut back heavily (to about 6 inches) every 2 to 3 years to keep plants from getting straggly. Do not cut into old wood. Replace plants every 10 years.3

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Lavender is a hardy plant.

Harvesting Lavender

Lavender spikes may be cut in bud for some purposes such as making lavender fans. For more flower fragrance, wait till the flowers are opening; cutting early rather than later is recommended.

Hang the stems to dry tied in small bundles out of the sun with some ventilation, or spread out loosely on a screen or newspaper. A warm, dry place is important to prevent the stems molding.

Seed Saving Lavender

Lavender seeds can be obtained by cutting the stalks as they are just starting to go to seed then tying them into a bundle. Put the bundle flowers down into a paper bag and store in a dry cool place for at least a couple of weeks.

Seed viability is five years.

How long does Lavender take to grow?

These estimates for how long Lavender takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Lavender to germinate?
11 days

Average 11 days | Min 1 days | Max 37 days (140)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Lavender?
+ 35 days

Average 35 days | Min 17 days | Max 84 days (5)

Days to Maturity How long until Lavender is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 586 days

Average 586 days | Min 335 days | Max 1433 days (20)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Lavender?
= 632 days

When should I plant Lavender?

Our when to plant Lavender estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Lavender before or after your last frost date.
1 days after Last Frost Date

Lavender Etymology

Lavo is Latin for wash in reference to using lavender as an aromatic wash. 1

Angustifolius is Latin for "thin"or “narrow”.2

Lavender Folklore & Trivia

Lavender is often used as a calmative in sachets and pillows to encourage sleep (or even dreaming) and sometimes is used in love potions.

Other names for Lavender

Common lavender, Garden lavender, English lavender, True lavender, narrow-leaved lavender

Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula spica, Lavandula vera

Misspellings: Lavendar, Lavander, lavendula, Lavenda, Lavandula augustifolia, Lavdener lavenduta

Footnotes

1 Missouri Botanical Garden

2 Latin Dictionary

3 www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene9108.html


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