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Garden Gate:  Is there a trick to growing lavender?  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 10:49:44 AM
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I just can't seem to grow it. I have tried and tried but they all seem to die or just never grow. I love lavender but obviously don't know how to grow them. If anyone has the answer, I'd love to know. Thanks.
Kris
PS. I know I said I would not post anything else, but I just need to know this.
Happiness is simple. |
Edited by - kristin sherrill on Jul 06 2010 10:52:37 AM |
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blackantsnpeonys
True Blue Farmgirl
151 Posts
Denise
Hinckley
Illinois
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 11:00:20 AM
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Lavender likes to be mounded up in a well drained area. Mine loves to be neglected! :)Hope this helps.
Happiness is simple!
Appreciate the little things, for they are not really that little. |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
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Chassen
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Chassen
Columbus
OH
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 1:09:11 PM
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I have clay soil and my lavender would never grow. I finally built raised beds (to my hubby's great dismay) and in my "forget it" bed, I made the soil slightly sandier than the rest. I composted a bit of humus, no manure, and it took off this year! I grow munstead and hidcote-one's a little shorter and bushier than the other. What varieties are you trying to grow?
City-bound for now! Looking for my little piece of heaven... |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3339 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3339 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 4:06:21 PM
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They are Munstead. This spring I bought a bunch of herbs and some good soil and made an herb bed from an old cattle grain feeder. It's about 12' long and fairly deep. So I need to move the lavender out of that bed then? I don't water it much. But the 2 lavender plants in there are dried up in the middle and just not growing.
I'll Look at the article, Karrieann. Thanks. And I don't ever spray anything around here. And I haven't even been able to prune. Maybe one day.
Thanks for all the advice. I will put them by theirselves and leave them alone and see what happens.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 4:32:58 PM
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I have mine in a couple of old tin buckets by the front step. They are in crappy soil. Full sun. And thoroughly neglected. Already harvested a pile of flowers a week ago and the things are sprouting again. When I babied it.... nothing. =)
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3339 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3339 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2010 : 8:05:20 PM
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Oopps, sorry Melody. I should have known you didn't spray your plants. I guess that's why they are looking so bad in the middle of the plant then. I just shoot water on the whole bed when I do water them. I am not doing too good with the gardening this year. I really wanted the lavender for making soap. And also saw a recipe for making lavender honey I wanted to try. So I will try to rescue the 3 plants I have left and try to neglect them a little more. That should be pretty east to do! Thanks for all the help ya'll.
Kris
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2010 : 07:29:38 AM
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goodmorning kris, i would say its your soil and position of plants. just a thought. lavender loves gravely well drained poor soil in full sun with very LITTLE water. it really does need to be abused so to speak. just like the girls said. mostly gravel and sand type soil. i think clay would need to be reworked with gravel and sand. just a thought happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Bart
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
115 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2010 : 2:01:57 PM
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I grow mine in a really hot, sunny rock garden. It's definitely a plant that craves neglect :)
I do hose water (so lots of sprayed watering).
I use the lavender in soaps, sachets and with lots of cooking and baked goods. It is one of the most versatile and wonderful of plants. If you put a few sprigs in with some sugar it will flavor it wonderfully. I pack it in with my fleece, to keep out moths too.
Has MJ magazine ever done a whole article on just lavender? |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2010 : 4:25:56 PM
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It's been 98 for days now with no sign of rain at all. So neglet won't be so hard to do. Actually, I have all kinds of little rocks in that herb bed to try to keep darn chickens from scratching them all out of the ground. It doesn't work. And that lavender sugar sounds good.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2010 : 5:37:38 PM
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DRY soil is the key! They dont like water much.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 11:37:54 AM
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| Hi, I don't know what kind of lavender plant I bought last year, but it came up again this year much to my amazement. I also grew some from seeds, transplanting them this spring. They are munstead and are now doing well, but I wasn't impressed at first. They seem to like the sandy soil. I try not to overwater. They are happier now that the rain has stopped and the sun out and hot. It's my favorite scent -- good for helping me feel less sick with migraines. Suzanne |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17476 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17476 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 1:05:14 PM
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yep, lots of good advice here....
Kristen, sandy soil, little water,let dry in between waterings, Never ferterlize or use pestacides, and lots of sunshine.
Try putting one of your plants in a recycled 1-2gal bucket of combination sand/potting soil, make sure you drill water drain holds in the bucket first then water the plant soil well, let drain and place in a sunny location...check it every couple days to see if it needs water. Keep in mind, your lavender plant can live in this bucket for a season but by next year I would transplant it to an ever bigger container or into a sandy/loamy soil location....even lavender roots, as tuff as they are don't like to be over crowded.
Also you might want to check if there are any lavender farms in your reigion/zone then contact them for advice specific to your area.
I know my lavender grew like crazy back in Moorpark, CA.(southern Cal) but up here in the Inland NorthWest I have had to re-think my lavender growing & type to be more Winter hardy....so I got my starts from some growers in Sequim, WA., that ship to a local Nursery over here.
Good luck & have fun, you will love the results.
Oh & Bart,in answer to your question, yes, MaryJane has be thinking about doing an article on Lavender.
Love that lavender, the plant w/a 1000 uses.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom.
"Is it time for my Dirt Manicure yet!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Edited by - katmom on Jul 10 2010 1:10:14 PM |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 6:45:08 PM
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I will have to try that, Grace. I have 3 left. One is in the ground and doing pretty good. The other 2 are in the herb bed. I'll take those 2 out.
Suzanne, I'm so sorry you get migranes. But I'm sure the lavender helps alot.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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KathleenL
True Blue Farmgirl
84 Posts
Kathleen
Littleton
Colorado
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 11:34:42 AM
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I don't know if it's a good idea but my husband piles the firewood on top of mine and it keeps growing year after year. lol
Kathy |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 2:49:57 PM
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He actually piles it on top of the plants? Now that is neglect for sure! How far are you from Col. Springs? Mt sister lives there and I just talked to her. She was freezing. I said what?? Freezing? Is your AC on to low or something? No, she had the windows open. Had on Jeans and a long sleeve shirt. She said it was 75 degrees. Good grief! Here it is 99 degrees in the stinkin' shade and I am drenched with sweat dripping in my eyes and down my back to you know where and she's FREEZING in the middle of JULY! Come on. Something just ain't right here. I am going to have to move to Col.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Leilaht
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Elizabeth
Highland
MI
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 12:35:10 PM
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When we lived in the trailer park we had clay soil. I planted my lavender under the overhang and it did beautifully. I really miss it. Just like everyone said. Bad soil and no water. Lavender likes dry feet. I have some more started, but they are not doing much yet.
The same advice applies to trumpet vines by the way. Bad soil or they won't bloom.
Liz
Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Proverbs 31:25 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 3:23:41 PM
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Last week my SIL and his friend came to weed eat and mow for me. I was so happy. And they only killed my poor clematis vine and a lavender plant I had near the cardinal flowers. SO I have 2 lavender left. I thought I was very fortunate to have only lost 2 things this time. It's usually a lot more. Men and weed eaters ya know.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2010 : 5:29:38 PM
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My favorite scent this summer is lavender -- I found a luscious body lotion with lavender scent -- organic and no gluten. A delight.
My lavender survives here and one plant made it through our cold Montana winter. I buy my plants locally at nursuries and this year planted some from seeds that seem to do well here.
I do have to keep my husband from soaking the lavender when he waters. Suzanne |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17476 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17476 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2010 : 11:06:43 PM
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Ok, for those of you with lavender plants,,,if you peek up around or under your plants you might find lil 'starts' or 'plugs' as they are called...that you can transplant....
I do this from time to time, infact I have 14 plus in a little recycled fast food container,,,,sitting on a sunny window.
Just be sure to dig deep enough to loosen the tap root w/o breaking it. Use the same type of soil that is around your lavender...Give the start a lil, but not to much, water. After 2-3 days if the plug is hardy it will start doing well...Voila' free lavender (baby) plant....just wait till the plant is of decent size befor re-planting it outside.
I just transplant the plugs(when they are 2-3" tall) into pint containers and when the plant is about 6" you can plant it out side(this usually takes a year/Season) depending on where you live.
Enjoy one of Mother Natures best little plants....
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom.
"Is it time for my Dirt Manicure yet!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Garden Gate: Is there a trick to growing lavender? |
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Is there a trick to growing lavender?
