Imagine this, waking up in the morning, pouring yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and stepping out onto the sunny balcony or patio where you have a fantastic fragrant lavender garden. Doesn't that sound like a perfect morning?
It does for me at least, and to me there are few things that smell as good as lavender. And not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant, but it can also be used for so much.
In this guide, I will go through everything you need to know about growing lavender at home, from sowing from seed to harvest and what you can do with lavender after harvest. Lavender is a flower that prefers sunny spots and light alkaline soil. However, they can be sensitive to frost, so if you want to plant them early in the spring, this should be done indoors.
Here's how to plant lavender from seed:
- Prepare the soil with sand or small stones if it's clayey. Also, add some clay pellets at the bottom for drainage.
- Make small holes in the soil, just a few millimeters deep, and place the seeds in the holes. Lightly cover with soil.
- Water gently, as lavender does not like overly wet soil.
- Place your planted seeds in a sunny location.
Now, all you have to do is wait, and then transplant your plants if they grow too big for their pots.
To repot lavender, follow these steps:- Choose a large pot, preferably one with drainage holes, and fill it with clay pellets at the bottom and alkaline soil.
- Dig a hole large enough for the entire plant's roots.
- Take a firm grip on your plant and pull it out of its original pot.
- Place the plant in the hole and cover the roots with soil without packing it.
- Water generously.
- Place in a sunny spot.
What do I need to plant lavender?
We at Benson recommend these products to succeed with your lavender:How do I plant lavender?
When planting lavender, it is most common to start with a ready plant. My little tip is also to use mussel shells at the bottom of the pot you want to plant in, especially if it's a larger pot with holes at the bottom. The mussel shells not only provide good drainage but also prevent soil and clay pellets from falling out through the bottom hole. After that, add clay pellets and some lightly alkaline soil because lavender does not like overly acidic soil. If you notice it's a bit clayey, you may add some extra sand. Then it's just a matter of digging a hole for the plant and placing it in the hole and loosely covering it with soil without packing it. If you plan to plant your lavender openly or have multiple plants in the same pot, it's important to give them enough space between each other. After that, just water and place the plant in a sunny spot.How do I take care of and water my lavender?
As mentioned earlier, lavender is a plant that likes alkaline soil and sun. It also doesn't like overly clayey soil, so watering should not be too generous, as this can drown the roots. Otherwise, there's not much you need to do with lavender; it's a hardy plant that can survive in most climates.
Should I harvest my lavender?
It's always good to harvest your lavender when they bloom, as this gives the plant a chance to develop more flowers.
What can I do with my lavender?
Lavender is a plant that can be used for a variety of things. Lavender is related to both mint and sage, making it fully edible. However, if you're allergic to mint or sage, you may also be allergic to lavender, so keep that in mind. Since it both smells and tastes good, you can do everything from baking with it to using it in scented candles and oils. Here are some suggestions:- Bake lavender cookies. You can really elevate your baked goods by adding a little lavender. It provides a lovely subtle floral flavor that can balance out your baked goods if you don't like overly sweet treats.
- Lavender syrup. Having a syrup in the fridge is something I really like. Being able to add that little extra to a cold lemonade or a lovely summer drink is so nice. And it's so easy to make. You just need water and sugar, apart from dried lavender, of course. Start by boiling 2 dl of water, and when it boils, add 2 tablespoons of lavender and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then add 2 dl of sugar. Let the sugar dissolve and let the syrup cool. Once it's cooled, pour the syrup through a sieve into a bottle to remove all the lavender bits. It's that simple, and it lasts for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Jam and marmalade. You can also add lavender to jam or marmalade to give it a slightly floral and summery twist.
- Scented candles. Adding a little lavender to your scented candles creates a scent reminiscent of calmness and relaxation, as lavender actually has a soothing effect.
- Soap. If you like making your own soap, you can always add lavender to it to always have wonderfully lavender-scented hands.
We at by Benson hope this article has inspired you to grow lavender this year!
