lavender

Grey · Tue May 03, 2005 4:26 pm

I have fallen in love...

In the past 2 weeks I have found myself purchasing 3 varieties of lavender. Now I had better learn how best to care for it!

I understand they like well-drained soil, two that I bought were started in peat, which stays pretty damp. What is the best soil combination for them?

What sort of nutrients do they require? I'm lookin' around online and if I find any links, I shall post them. These little babies are all of 5" high, but I have fallen for them! lol.

Grey · Tue May 03, 2005 4:36 pm

here is a helpful site:
https://www.happyvalleylavender.com/herbal_articles.html#

The Helpful Gardener · Thu May 05, 2005 7:40 am

The humidity in Georgia will be a real trial for them, Grey. Try and find the sunniest, driest spot in the yard...

Scott

SnOEagle · Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:13 am

I just found this place and was looking for information on Lavender.

That web link was really helpful, but it didn't tell when you can harvest the seeds yourself. I have several Lavenders bushes that are beautiful and I want to have more of them(from the same plants)

SnOEagle · Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:19 am

Sorry about that.....

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/SwDreamWvrArt/Stuff/lavenderplants.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/SwDreamWvrArt/Stuff/Project4.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/SwDreamWvrArt/Stuff/Project3.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/SwDreamWvrArt/Stuff/Project1.jpg[/img]

Grey · Sat Jul 02, 2005 10:33 am

The Helpful Gardener wrote:The humidity in Georgia will be a real trial for them, Grey. Try and find the sunniest, driest spot in the yard...

Scott

Right now they are still in pots, on the deck, which gets nearly full sun. It's been really humid and sticky out the past two weeks, hopefully they survive this summer. I let the dirt pretty well dry out before giving any water. (basically I just let mother nature do it)

Grey · Sat Jul 02, 2005 10:38 am

Oh, and SnO - your lavender looks lovely.

SnOEagle · Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:48 pm

Thank you GREY!!

They are on the southside of my house and get a lot of direct sun. We have a lot of humidity up north too. I have had Lavender grow wonderfully in Large containers before. The soil in the front is more for the dead evergreen we had to dig up (they planted it to close to he house) so all I had to do is add a little top soil.

opabinia51 · Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:15 pm

Seeing that this seems to be a lavender lovers thread..... Here is a recipe for really lovely Lavender Tea. (Though really, it's not a tea, it's an infusion)

4 or 5 lavender flowers
a few sprigs of mint
half a lime
1 L (4 cups) boiling water

Just boil the water and put the ingredients into a container with the water. Let it steep for several hours (and cool down). Then, put in the fridge. Very refreshing.

You can also add Lavender to chicken and seafood dishes. Nice and fruity.

The Helpful Gardener · Tue Jul 05, 2005 1:23 pm

A friend makes tea cookies with lavender that are lovely...

opabinia51 · Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:07 pm

Sounds deliccious. Recipes?

Grey · Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:27 am

yes - recipes?

SnOEagle · Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:37 am

Ooooooo I have to try that Lavender tea.. Thank you!

The Helpful Gardener · Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:59 pm

Should have known; I'll ask Janet...

HG

FairyDust · Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:10 pm

I didn't want to start a new thread when a thread on Lavender already exists.

I thought lavender was grown in semi-shade to shade? But after reading this thread now I understand it as lavender is supposed to be in full sun?

I had planned on planting lavender bushes along the front of my house in the flower beds that are already there. They would get semi-shade though. I live in zone 6 and it does get humid during the summer here. Is this a bad idea then? Should I find a different plant to put infront of the house?

The Helpful Gardener · Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:24 pm

Yea they like a lot of sun...

and dry, like [url=https://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.australianbedandbreakfast.com.au/tasmania-bandb/gallery/images/bridestowe-lavender-farm.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.australianbedandbreakfast.com.au/tasmania-bandb/gallery/lavender-farm.html&h=366&w=443&sz=32&tbnid=1JptzmAeQZSb3M:&tbnh=102&tbnw=124&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3DLavender%2Bfarm%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG]this image[/url]

Might be a new plant; sorry...

Scott

FairyDust · Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:31 am

Oh well, I'm glad I read this though. Would've hated it more to find out the hard way and kill them. My backyard gets full sun, do you think with the humidity it'd be ok if I ever put one in back there? Or should I just forget about it? lol We have sandy soil also that drains really well.

Grey · Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:23 am

I might try one - if you have full sun and sandy soil. I admit I am still learning about lavender, but from what I understand, full sun and well-drained soil are a must.

The Helpful Gardener · Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:35 pm

Yup, but a raised bed drains easily and you can create any kind of soil you'd like; love will find a way...

HG