If you live in a colder growing zone, you might have to grow lavender in a container and bring indoors or in a cool basement during the winter. It was carried by Roman soldiers to dress wounds and combat infection and was grown by monks and nuns in England in the Middle Ages. An ideal mix for germination of vegetable, herb and flower seeds and for cutting propagation. A lavender pot size of 12 to 16 inches is ideal since the plant can grow quite huge and bushy. New research by La Trobe University and AgriFutures Australia will look at how to turn those numbers around and make the country a world leader in lavender oil exports. Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions. Lavender Club membership for past members and nongrowers. Lavender comes in three main types, English, Italian and French. To grow a French lavender hedge, plant one stem every 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm). Pruning lavender at least twice a year is an important way to ensure it stays bushy and healthy, so there’s no harm in taking the offcuts from routine pruning to create even more lovely lavender plants. Use a terracotta pot, as it’s porous and dries out quickly. Copyright © 2020 Reader's Digest Australia. Growing to 800mm high and 1m wide, this evergreen shrub forms a tight mound if pruned regularly. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk. Lightly cut back after flushes of flowering to retain shape and promote young healthy growth. All rights reserved. The research will identify the best growing conditions and farming methods for Australian lavender, using trial planting about an hour northwest of Melbourne Airport. One important tip to grow French lavender in pots: avoid soil moisture at all costs. Growing lavender is extremely rewarding - not only does it have an intoxicating scent, but the delicate flowers look simply divine and are perfect for attracting bees to your garden.Full sunlight and well-draining soil are two of the most crucial things you’ll need to achieve in order to grow lavender successfully, whether you’re planting it in the garden, in a pot or even indoors. Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. “Maintenance is always an issue for the lavender,” Debbie adds, “so at this time, we don’t plan to expand past 4 acres.” Lavender, she says, needs a dry, arid climate—“Certainly not what we have here in Texas!” While the plants grow best with about 15 inches of rain a year, the farm gets around 39 inches in a normal year. Some types of lavender bloom freely, making it hard to get a blossom-free stem when the wood is soft. ... English varieties tend to flower in the warmer months, whereas French lavender will often flower in … Lavender (Lavandula spp.) Known as the shade lover, ‘Mona Lavender’ likes semi-shade in locations protected from frost. Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Enrich the soil with. Ajuga has a wide variety of foliage colors usually in the rich deep burgundy realm. Yates Thrive Natural Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food, Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food, Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser, Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food, © 2020 Yates, a division of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd, While the seedlings are growing, choose a sunny spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in, Once seedlings have emerged, feed weekly with. Step #1: Select the appropriate type and size of growing pot. It’s raining now. I have some Lavender seed from my friend brought from Belgium. Growing lavender presents a range of marketing opportunities from cut and dried flowers, to oil, to value added products such as soaps and cosmetics. Growing to 800mm high and 1m wide, this evergreen shrub forms a … Add your Lavender plant and fill the pot with soil within a couple of inches of the top. Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Lavender Lavandula species, hybrids and cultivars Family: Lamiaceae. A brilliant, compact lavender from Plant Management Australia’s lavender breeding program. TIP: Place potted lavender near vegies as a valuable companion plant. Position lavender next to a wall or solid fence to protect it during winter nights, as these surfaces retain heat from the day and release it after dark. The Best Time to Plant Lavender. It has deeply perfumed purple flowers that bloom on square stems from winter to spring with aromatic grey-green foliage. Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Deer and rabbit resistant, bee and butterfly friendly, frost hardy and drought tolerant, it's a great all-rounder. The English variety is known as true lavender and is the most popular with home growers. Lace lavender . Wearing gloves, sow seeds in trays filled with. Planting French lavender in pots. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes. This is an e:news service only. This highly aromatic compact form of lavender is ideal for low hedging, borders or pots. Small flower heads with long ribbon-like bracts are held above the foliage. It requires very little to … Hidcote Blue lavender - seed – HIdcote Blue is a popular variety of English lavender beloved for its deep purple-blue flowers; the upright bushy habit suited to informal edging and low hedges, and wildlife gardens. Once established, it is a water miser and enjoys coastal conditions, but will need once to twice weekly watering in summer and winter. It tolerates light frost but wet soil can cause root rot, while high levels of humidity lead to mould problems. This is optional, but it’s likely to help your lavender … In most parts of Australia it benefits from added lime at planting and again, when established, in … Setting up a lavender farm does not necessarily need to be a large capital expense. However, due to long flowering periods which vary across a range of varieties, it is possible to have lavender in flower for most of the year. They are the truest blue annuals you can find for your garden. Lavender (Lavendula spp.) Double-check that the pot has a hole. When transplanting them into your prepared pot, ensure seedlings are well spaced. Lavender is fantastic for attracting bees into your garden, so great to have near the vegetable patch or fruit trees to promote better pollination. I’m going to grow in pot as I have only roof top garden. French Lavender. These free-blooming plants are best rooted from hardwood cuttings. Lavenders are really versatile plants. Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Gardening Australia presenters answer commonly asked gardening questions. The sharp scent also deters unwanted pests like mosquitoes, mice, and moths. This page is especially for those wishing to grow lavender … In more modern gardens the subdued colour and informal habit of lavender is perfect for softening hard landscaping. I will start tomorrow as I just get the seed today. Photograph: Claire Takacs. How to use lavender. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. are hardy perennial plants that are well known for their attractive clumps of silver-grey, aromatic foliage and purple to blue flower spikes.The flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Please note in QLD it's an invasive plant. Most lavenders need dry heat in summer to grow well. Be sure to determine the mature diameter of the lavender and choose an appropriate container.Lavender is shallow rooted, so the pot does not need to be a tall one. Water thoroughly; Add a 2 in. It will take about a year for the propagated lavender to become big enough to plant, so it pays to think ahead! This is a variation of lavender that is tolerant of drought. Ageratum flowers are tough plants that can even handle a bit of shade. Firm the soil to remove air pockets. Lavender is a great plant for pots and tubs. Add a drainage layer made with small gravel or clay pebbles. Traditionally, Australia has been a net importer of lavender oil but with a growing number of Australian producers some imports are being replaced with domestic production. Wait! Keep the mulch away from the crown of the lavender plant, however, to prevent excess moisture and root rot. Italian lavender has two brightly coloured wings at the top of each flower, while the French variety has serrated leaves. Lavender requires at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. Growing lavender attracts beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, and many varieties resist deer and rabbits. It tolerates soils with a pH between 6 and 8. Choose a pot that has adequate drainage holes and place it in a position that is in a sunny position. Blossoms drain the plant of energy, and it’s unlikely that a stem will have the resources to form good roots if it is trying to bloom. Lavender is a well known and fragrant plant with gray-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and a compact shrub form. It tolerates drought, repels deer and rabbits, draws bees and butterflies and tolerates the cold. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugar cane or pea straw and water in well. Approximately 10,000 plants are required per hectare, with lavender plants ranging in price from $1.20 to $3.00 each, depending on the variety. You can also use them around the garden as a hedge or mass plant them as a feature. Lavender (Lavendula spp.) I want to grow in Cambodia. Which type of lavender to grow? Water in well. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. The flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Dip the bottom of the stem in a rooting hormone. Lavender grows well in containers in part to full sun. Lavender is a popular choice for growing alongside roses as it hides leggy rose stems during the winter months – famous cottage gardener Gertrude Jekyll, who developed the popular 'Munstead' lavender, loved this combination. Lavender are perennial plants that are hardy to zone 5 outdoors. How to grow yellow Allamanda! The English variety is known as true lavender and is the most popular with home growers. Full membership for those growing lavender in Australia and overseas. Lemon thyme and English lavender edge the gravel pathway with clumps of purple. Lovely Lavender – Planting and growing lavender Lavender has enjoyed universal and enduring popularity in Australian home gardens and the reasons are quite clear. Liquid plant food that provides your flowering plants with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth and flower production. Avoid planting in exposed areas where it can be pummelled by strong winds and instead choose a warm northerly spot that receives full sun. A high quality all purpose organic-based potting mix suitable for most indoor and outdoor potted plants. Taking Cuttings from Lavender Growing lavender in pots is an option where soils are poorly drained, however, take care that pots have ample drainage holes and water does not collect in the pot saucer. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as. 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