English Lavender

Overview: English Lavender is most often considered an herb. Its is famously known for its beautiful purple fields in Provence. It has fragrant leaves and fragrant flowers. Walking into a spa, the first thing you may notice is the smell of lavender. It is known for it's relaxing aroma and vivid purple coloring.

The image on the left shows blooming lavender at Senanque abbey, Gordes, Provence, France.

History: English lavender is indigenous to the western Mediteranean. When travelers visited the Mediteranean, they brought it back in large bundles. By the start of the sixteenth century, Lavender became a staple plant in English gardens. Since then, it's popularity has remained constant as it has many uses today.

Uses: Lavender has several uses including but not limited to-

floral arrangements
making lavender essential oils
relief from headaches, stress, migraines, and depression
considered to be anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial
Cooking and baking
- - - - Recipes:
        Lavender and Lemon Tea Cookies: https://everydaydishes.com/simple-food-recipes/tea-lavender-and-lemon-cookies-recipe/
        Lavender London Fog (my favorite): https://thefrayedapron.com/london-fog-drink/
        Lavender Lemonade: https://www.thecookierookie.com/lavender-lemonade/

General Plant Information:

Common Name: English Lavender
Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Planting Zone: 5 to 10
Plant Type: Perennial
Pot size: 12 to 16 inches. Start with larger pots as lavender can grow to the size of small shrubs.
Days to Germinate: 14 days to 1 month
Planting Depth: up to 1/8 of an inch deep, only cover lightly with soil
Seed Spacing: 2 inches apart with 2-3 seeds in one hole. Move plants to 18 inches apart when almost full grown if the plants are overcrowded.
Sun Requirements: full sun
Water Requirements: low to moderate moisture, allow soil to dry between watering
Plant Size: 2 ft tall to 3 ft wide
Days to Harvest: 18-23 weeks from seed
Harvesting Code: Yellow (moderate difficulty)
Growing Code: White (easy difficulty)

Planting Instructions:

Plant lavender in the spring, after frost has ended.
Sprinkle seeds over the area you would like the lavender to grow
Do not cover heavily with soil. You can simply sprinkle the seeds and not cover them, or lightly sprinkle soil on top. Do not cover seeds by more than 1/8 of an inch.
Water every time the soil is dry to the touch.
Plant the lavender in an area with full sun.
Lavender can be planted in containers, raised beds, or in ground soil.
When plants are full grown and ready to harvest, they will have closed flower buds. (See photo below.) Harvesting should be around early fall, before the first frost.

Harvesting the Lavender:

Identify which blooms you are goin to harvest.
Follow the stem down until you meet a junction, where two buds separate.
Cut the stem at the junction. (Just above the side branches)
Now that the center flower is harvested, the plant will redirect its energy usage to other parts of the plant.
Repeat this process as new blooms form.
See this youtube video for extra help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X68RBs9yOZg&themeRefresh=1

Harvesting the Seeds:

Harvesting lavender seeds is relatively simple!
Wait until the plants have bloomed.
Snip off the flowing stems.
Gather into bundles.
Hang the Lavender upside down and allow it to dry out.
Place a bag under the drying lavender.
The seeds will fall out and land into the bag.

Resources:

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-lavender/ (How to grow)

https://www.homesandgardens.com/advice/how-to-grow-lavender (How to grow)

https://homesteadandchill.com/how-to-harvest-dry-lavender/ (How to harvest)

https://getbusygardening.com/collect-lavender-seeds-garden/ (How to harvest seeds)