Lavender Growing Guide

Lavandula

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any average, well drained soil.

Position

Full sun to partial afternoon shade, with excellent air circulation.

Frost tolerant

A hardy perennial from the Mediterranean, lavender will survive severe winters

Feeding

Not generally needed beyond annual topdressing with rich compost in spring.

Spacing

Single Plants: 40cm (1' 3") each way (minimum)
Rows: 35cm (1' 1") with 50cm (1' 7") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with a purchased plant or sow seeds. Frost areas: start seeds indoors in early spring. Frost free areas: sow in seed trays or seed beds in early spring. Some strains are propagated only from rooted cuttings. A mature clump of lavender will grow to 60 cm wide.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Try different strains, and even species, to find the right lavender for your climate. Lavender demands excellent drainage, and benefits from dry, airy conditions.

Harvesting

Gather spikes of lavender flowers as soon as they open, and dry in small bundles before storing in an airtight container. You can also dry lavender branches for use in recipes, sachets or potpourri.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

< Back to All Plants

Pests which Affect Lavender

Aphids (General)

Rosemary Leaf Beetle

Slug

Snail