Fragrant lavender from seeds - how to grow at home

It is quite easy to grow the southern beauty lavender even in our Russian garden.

N. Bondar, Bryansk

I decided to tell you about my experiment - how I grew lavender. I really wanted to have this fragrant beauty in the garden.

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Is it possible to grow lavender from seeds

Lavender is common in the highlands of the Alps. There, as in most Russian regions, there are cold winters and dry summers. This is what gave reason to believe that this modest fragrant flower may well take root not only in the Crimea and the Caucasus, but even in the Moscow region, Siberia and the Urals.

To grow lavender from seeds in your area, you should choose varieties that are resistant to frosty winters. These include plants belonging to the subgroup of narrow-leaved lavenders:

• Munstread;
• Voznesenskaya 34;
• Lublin Semko;
• Royal Blue;
• Felice;
• Crimean woman;
• Isis

If growing from seeds is practiced for these varieties, fragrant flowers grow without shelter for many years, and they are not afraid of long winters. Moreover, sowing lavender seeds is considered the most productive method of plant propagation.

Next, it is worth paying attention to studying the question of how to plant lavender with seeds and care for seedlings. Any non-compliance with the plant's requirements for light, humidity and temperature can lead to the death of plants even before planting in the ground. Strict adherence to the rules described below will help to avoid such errors.

Lavender in landscape design

Lavender can be used in low hedges, in the foreground of mixborders, in rock gardens and rockeries. This plant looks great in containers - pots, pots and tubs, placed at the porch and around the garden.

Shrubs and shrubs that grow on dry soils are good partners for lavender in the garden. Lavender adjoins well with roses.

Plants with yellow flowers are ideal partners for lavender - after all, the color combination of yellow and blue or purple is classic. Yellow flowers perfectly set off blue and purple lavender inflorescences. Traditional partners for lavender are various types and varieties of fragrant santolina, which is also called "cotton lavender".

Considering that blooming lavender spreads a strong smell, then it makes sense to plant it not only in the garden, but also in the garden - next to vegetable crops in order to scare away pests from them. Although it should be noted that my lavender has a mild, very delicate scent. Apparently, when grown in cold climates, this is the norm for her. But in warm climates, when under the hot sun, a lot of essential oils are formed - the fragrance of a blooming lavender bush, of course, is much stronger and brighter.

Lavender flowers are harvested in full dissolution, at which time they are most fragrant. Dry in a shaded and well-ventilated place.

Where to start - preparing seeds for sowing

In nature, lavender seeds are specially treated with humidity and temperature. They are formed and ripen in late August or early September, and then fall on the soil surface. Autumn rains "pull" them to a shallow depth, where they persist throughout the winter.Low temperatures contribute to the destruction of the dense shell of the seed and the awakening of vitality in it.

This is the principle that should be used when preparing lavender seeds for sowing. Gardeners call it "stratification". You need to start preparing in the fall, immediately after collecting or buying the variety you like. To do this, the seeds are mixed with slightly moistened sand, poured into convenient containers with a tight lid and placed in the vegetable section of the refrigerator. The stratification of lavender seeds lasts at least 2 months.

During this time, the seed shell will become thinner, and the tiny sprout of the future lavender will gain strength and harden inside another whole seed. This will strengthen the natural immunity of the plant - it will easily tolerate short-term cold snaps after germination.

Video "Seed Lavender - Secrets of Growing"

Methods for stratification of lavender seeds

There are 4 ways to stratify lavender seeds:

1. The seeds are placed in clean, disinfected sand. Disinfect the sand in the oven for 10-15 minutes. The sand is cooled and mixed with seeds, poured over with cool water. As soon as the water comes to the surface, sprinkle the mixture with a handful of peat. Store the prepared mixture at room temperature. After 3-4 days, the lavender seeds will swell.

The seeds, together with the sand, are removed and laid out for easy drying. Then put the seeds and sand in the boxes with holes and place them in the bottom compartment of the refrigerator. The openings on the drawers will help circulate cold air as well as expel excess liquid.

Seeds should be checked every 3-4 days. Complete stratification as the upper seed cover leaves. Remove the boxes from the refrigerator, drip into the snow and keep in such conditions until spring, respectively, the beginning of sowing. This certification method is ideal for the treatment of large quantities of seed.

1. Lavender seeds are placed in pre-prepared gauze patches. The size of the flaps is 15X40. Spread the seeds evenly over the entire length of the flap. The long side parts are folded, and the side parts are rolled up. Put 5-6 seeds in each roll. Put the finished rolls in a bowl and pour a small amount of water so that the rags are slightly wet. When the rolls are drowned under water, the air will be displaced by the water. The soaked flaps are refrigerated for 2-3 weeks.
2. The seeds are spread on the bottom of a shallow cup, the bottom of which is lined with gauze cloth folded in 3-4 layers. Top close hay closed with the same fabric, but folded in 2 layers. The fabric in which the seeds are contained is impregnated with a growth stimulant and put away for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator in the lower drawer. Monitor the condition of the seeds every 10 days, control the humidity.
3. In a container with holes, lay dry lavender seeds with sawdust, sand and peat in the following sequence - sawdust, peat seeds, sand. The container should be wide and contain 2 layers. Keep in the refrigerator for 40-45 days on the bottom shelf.

Tip # 1. To stratify lavender seeds, choose a container with holes in the bottom and sides. This will create the right conditions for air circulation. The lack of air contributes to the cessation of the development of embryos in lavender seeds.

Sowing seeds - timing and method

In order to obtain conditional lavender seedlings from seeds at home, it is important to sow them on time. If you do this too late, young plants will not have time to get stronger and will freeze. If sowing is carried out early, the lavender will outgrow, and after planting on the beds it will “hurt” for a long time, which can also lead to its freezing in the first winter.

In order not to be mistaken and choose the right timing for sowing seeds, you need to check the calendar or remember when the weather is warm in the region where lavender will be grown.Then 8-12 weeks are subtracted from this period - this is how much it takes for seeds to germinate and form real leaves in lavender.

Example: If warmth is established in early May, seeds should be sown in mid-February.

The container in which the seeds will germinate should be wide and shallow. In bowls that are too deep, moisture will accumulate, which is detrimental to lavender. It is advisable to equip the bottom with drainage holes. The soil is selected loose, with a high content of sand and peat. Such soil retains sufficient moisture for seed germination, but does not retain water and does not sour.

The processed seeds are laid out on the soil surface, sprayed with water from a spray bottle with a fine spray, and then sprinkled with a thin layer of sifted soil. It is important not to compact the casing layer of the soil, as lavender can only be grown from seeds when light hits them.

The soil needs to be moistened from time to time with a sprayer in the morning. In this case, you need to ensure that the soil is not wet. Only the top layer of the soil should be slightly damp! The first seedlings appear relatively late, about 4 weeks after sowing.

Direct seed planting in open ground is not possible in northern latitudes. Seeds often do not germinate or die immediately after sprouting. Experienced flower growers recommend planting lavender before winter only in southern regions with mild winters.

Video "Lavender from seeds - growing seedlings"

Outdoor cultivation

When planting seeds immediately in the garden, they try not to bury them strongly in the ground. If sowing is carried out in the fall, the bed must be mulched: this measure will protect the seeds from freezing. During the winter, the seeds will undergo natural stratification, and in the spring only the strongest and hardened of them will sprout. Then you don't have to worry about the quality of the plants.

If sowing is carried out in the spring, the seeds must be stratified artificially. Usually, the procedure is carried out by placing the seeds for a while (several weeks) in the refrigerator.

Seedling care

Young lavender seedlings should be kept in a warm and very light place. The temperature should be at the level of 19-23 degrees. Natural or artificial light (it is worth using special phytolamps) should illuminate young seedlings for at least 8 hours daily. Under these conditions, the stem will not stretch, the plant will form stronger.

Before the appearance of true leaves, lavender seedlings should be kept in bright light at a temperature of 18-22 degrees. It is worth watering it carefully so as not to create favorable conditions for the development of fungi. Shading is not necessary for seedlings, as in the absence of the sun, fungi and mold may appear. Lavender itself tolerates bright sunlight well.

When 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings must be transplanted into individual pots with a diameter of about 5-7 cm. The soil for plants must be made up of equal parts of sod and leafy soil, peat, and coarse sand. If necessary, you can add perlite granules, coconut fiber.

You need to transplant plants like this:

• Fill a new container 2/3 with soil, make a depression in the middle.
• Carefully remove the lavender sprout from the lump of soil.
• Place the plant in the pot so that the roots are upright. There should be no bends!
• Gently pour water over the roots so that they are finally straightened.
• Cover the roots of the plant with earth, part of the stem. It is important to ensure that the central kidney remains on the surface.

Compaction of the soil must be done carefully, without excessive pressure. Next, the plant is watered with a small amount of water, exposed to light, and the temperature is maintained at 15-20 degrees.

Growing up lavender seedlings require care in the form of periodic feeding. It is advisable to periodically water it with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers for flowers. This should be done after watering. A good option is to fertilize the soil directly with slow-dissolving granular fertilizers. However, you need to be extremely careful with them. With an excess of nutrients, lavender roots run the risk of severe burns.

Growing conditions

Let's find out how to choose a suitable place for lavender on the site, what conditions the plant needs.

Location and lighting

Lavender needs plenty of sunlight. In order for the shrub to bloom perfectly, grow well and not get sick, it needs at least 8-10 light hours per day. It is also important to provide space - the plant does not like crowding.

Temperature and humidity

This plant is thermophilic, so it is better to plant it from the south side. If there is not enough heat, as well as light, lavender is unlikely to please with abundant flowering. Moisture levels are preferred slightly above average. In hot weather, the flower bed can be sprayed to make the microclimate more favorable.

Priming

Dense soil will not work for the plant: lavender needs a fertile and loose soil. Organic matter should be added to the ground - the plant will respond gratefully to feeding. The acidity of the soil should be moderate.

Transfer to a permanent place

A place for planting lavender must be chosen well in advance. It should be elevated, open to the sun and wind. In spring, autumn and during rain, water should not stand on the site - it is detrimental to lavender. It is recommended to grow the plant on slightly acidified soils, so it is worth fertilizing the bed with compost, peat, a little lime (with a high Ph level) or pine needles (with low acidity).

Advice! Before planting lavender seedlings in the open air, it is worth two weeks in a row to take it out into the air for hardening.

The planting bed should be as loose as possible. You can loosen it in the fall, and then repeat the digging in the spring. A separate hole must be dug for each plant. Its depth should be the same as the height of the seedling pot. The distance between them should be 26-35 cm.

Lavender needs to be removed from the pot with a clod of earth. So that it does not collapse, you should not water the seedlings the day before. Seedlings are placed on the garden bed and covered with soil. Then the plant is watered from a watering can with a fine mesh so that the water does not erode the soil.

Young plants should not be allowed to bloom. It is recommended to cut flower stalks with buds. Closer to autumn, all the stems are cut, leaving a third of their height. Only in the second year after planting, when the lavender finally gets stronger, it can be given complete freedom. Until autumn, you need to monitor the cleanliness of the beds, remove weeds, and water the plants during dry periods.

With the onset of the first frost, lavender is cut off and covered with spruce branches and oak leaves. It is not recommended to use film and other airtight materials, as the bushes can get in contact with them. In the spring, after the snow melts, the shelter is removed. It is important to remember that lavender emerges later than other plants. If leaves do not appear on the surface of the earth after it thaws, you just need to wait.

Charming and fragrant lavender, the cultivation of which many gardeners consider overly difficult, may well become a decoration of flower beds in the middle lane. With due diligence, this flower will grow in one place for at least 15 years. Growing lavender from seeds is no more difficult than other flowering crops. To do this, you just need to follow a few rules: plant it in a bright and dry place, do not feed it with fertilizers.

Features of growing lavender

The lush bush of lavender does not have a trunk - its young bushes begin to branch near the very ground. The lower part of the branches quickly lignifies and loses leaves.Therefore, from time to time, lavender bushes need to be rejuvenated by pruning the shoots. But never cut the lavender too short or the plant will die.

Under good growing conditions, lavender forms a dense, almost spherical bush (50-80 cm high and wide). But dwarf lavender varieties form a miniature bush (20-25cm high and wide).

Lavender grows poorly on swampy and acidic soils with a close groundwater table. She needs dry, well-permeable gravel or sandy-clayey, moderately nutritious soil.

Since the plant is mountainous, the roots of lavender are very powerful, branchy and reach a length of up to 4 meters in depth.

Lavender is little affected by diseases and pests. Of the diseases, the main harm to the plant is caused by septoria, and from pests - by cicadas.

Preparing for landing

Lavender is grown from seeds. Unlike many ornamental crops, for which it is recommended to buy the material in the store, lavender seeds can be harvested from your own plantings - daughter flowers will not yield to the beauty and aroma of the mother.

In regions of Russia, where the climate is cold, and the seeds are usually not sown directly into open ground, but lavender is planted with seedlings. Sometimes they are sown in a closed greenhouse. In any case, you must first prepare the seeds.

Stratification

Before sowing, the seeds are necessarily stratified, i.e. awaken. There is already prepared material on sale, but if it has been stored for too long, it will also need to be activated. Without the procedure, the seeds may not sprout at all or sprout too late. In addition, stratification significantly increases the winter hardiness of the material.

Interesting fact In the seeds, the embryos of the future lavender are in a state of physiological dormancy and are waiting for optimal conditions to start growing. Since the summer in the middle lane is too short for lavender, it is necessary to "wake up" the seeds in advance.

Stratification in sawdust:

1. Take sawdust (they should be ten times more in volume than seeds), pour over boiling water, and then squeeze out excess moisture.
2. Mix the seeds with sawdust and place everything in an airtight container (such as a plastic bag, glass or plastic jar). There must be air in the container with sawdust and seeds.
3. Leave the seeds with sawdust for three days at room temperature. During this time, both materials are saturated with moisture, the sawdust will swell.
4. After three days, move the container to the refrigerator for 1-1.5 months. The optimum temperature will be from +3 to + 5 ° C. If it is higher, the germination period of the seeds will increase.
5. As soon as white outgrowths appear on a quarter of the total number of seeds, the stratification procedure has come to an end and they need to be planted. It is impossible to allow sprouts to sprout out of the seeds, since when planted in a substrate they will be easily injured.

Advice! Mix sawdust with seeds from time to time: this will improve germination and prevent the appearance of mold.

To carry out stratification using soil in early January, moistened lavender seed is scattered over the surface of the substrate in a small container. Then they cover everything with foil and put it in the refrigerator on the lower shelf, on the glazed loggia, in the cellar or basement for 30-45 days. The temperature there should be approximately + 4˚ С.

Lavender loves relatively loose and very fertile soil. The necessary soil is most often purchased in the store, but it will not be difficult to prepare it yourself.

This will require:

• 3 pieces of garden land;
• 2 parts of humus;
• 1 part coarse river sand.

Advice! Take garden land from under the trees, as in these places the most fertile layer of it is formed.

If there is no garden or forest land, then ordinary soil will completely replace it.Sand is needed to ensure that the soil is light and permeable to oxygen.

It is recommended to disinfect the substrate before planting seeds. To do this, a couple of days before sowing, the soil is spilled with a hot pale pink (1%) solution of potassium permanganate, steamed, heated in an oven (at a temperature of 110-130˚ C) or exposed to cold (for example, in a freezer). Then the substrate must be loosened: sift so that there are no large lumps left. It is also advisable to disinfect dishes and tools, since most rot and viral diseases of seedlings are not treated - they are easier to prevent.

The last preparatory stage is to pour a layer of expanded clay or small clay shards on the bottom of the container. The soil is placed on top.

Advice! In no case should vermiculite be used for the drainage layer, as it often contains asbestos, although manufacturers do not indicate this on the packaging.

Lavender is a heat-loving plant, so young bushes are afraid of frost, and they need to be planted in the ground after constant heat is established, best of all - at the end of June. In order for the seedlings to grow stronger by this time, the seeds are planted at home in February. In the greenhouse, the material is protected from cold weather, so it is permissible to sow a little later, in March.

Place the awakened seeds in the prepared substrate together with sawdust to a depth of three to five millimeters and leave at a temperature of + 20-25˚C for germination. In order to strengthen the seedlings, they are periodically sprayed with Epin's solution.

The container must always be in a plastic bag or under a lid; there is no need to open it for irrigation, since natural moisture is provided due to the accumulating condensate. However, you need to carefully monitor that there is no mold, if this happens, the damaged areas should be thrown out, and the seedlings should be allowed to air (the temperature in the room should be at least 20-25 degrees.

Advice! Try to protect the seeds as much as possible during germination from temperature extremes. It is also important to ensure the optimum level of humidity in the room (approximately 60-65%).

After about 15 days, tender sprouts will appear. From this time it is recommended to start hardening, daily removing the greenhouse cover for 10-20 minutes and gradually lengthening this interval. The sprouts must first prepare for indoor conditions, then for relocation to the garden.

Preparing lavender for winter

Home-grown lavender is an evergreen ornamental plant that rests during winter. To do this, the flower needs to create certain conditions and prepare it for wintering:

• After flowering, the bushes need to be cut a few nodes above the beginning of the flower's growth.
• Dry stems are removed.
• A pot of lavender is placed in a cool room.
• Watering is reduced to once a week.

When growing lavender in winter, you need to ensure that the plant has enough light. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to drop and wither.

Seedling care

As soon as the first shoots appear, move the container to a well-lit place. The sill of a south-facing window is best suited. Plants must be sure to get enough light for ten hours. Additional illumination with a phytolamp will help to provide the optimal amount of light. The most suitable temperature for seedlings is from +15 to + 22˚ С.

Advice! The seedlings are elongated, they look weak, the leaves are pale - these are clear signs of a lack of lighting, it is necessary to extend the daylight hours.

Root respiration is essential for lavender. In order to prevent excessive compaction of the soil, you should periodically carefully so as not to damage the roots and stems, loosen the soil with a sharpened match or a toothpick.

At the stage of two true leaves, lavender seedlings need to be moved into large boxes or separate pots - this is necessary so that the roots and foliage of adjacent bushes do not interfere with each other's development.

The transplant should be done carefully, using the transshipment method, so as not to damage the root system. The sprouts are dug in with a small object (a ruler, the smallest baby scoop, a tablespoon) together with an earthen lump and transferred to the prepared hole. There should be at least five centimeters between the plants.

Since lavender is a visitor from the tropics, it loves abundance of water. The soil in the container with seedlings should always be slightly moist. The plant must be watered once a day with settled water at room temperature. But if the room is cool (within 18-20˚C), then you need to water less often: excess moisture will lead to mold or rot, and the lavender will die.

Advice! Water the root plants very carefully as the lavender seedlings are very tender. This is best done with a disposable small syringe or syringe.

Once every 7 days, it is recommended to feed lavender seedlings with specially designed complex fertilizers (sold in specialized flower departments and stores). Adult bushes need fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers and only during the flowering period.

Relocation to the garden

60 days after germination, you can start transplanting lavender into open ground. A good time is May-June, however, due to unstable weather over the past few years, it is preferable to relocate the seedlings to the garden at the end of the first summer month. But before that, you need to correctly choose a site. For the flowering of lavender to be early and abundant, the bed should be well lit, but in a slight shade: direct sunlight harms the plant. In full shade, lavender will also bloom, but much later.

The level of water in the soil is equally important. Lavender will die from both excess moisture and moisture deficiency. For this reason, it is strongly discouraged to plant plants in swampy areas, in hollows and where groundwater runs close.

The composition of the soil should be light enough, permeable to moisture and air, with a slightly alkaline reaction. A few days before transplanting, it is necessary to refresh and disinfect the soil. If last season the plantings were affected by disease or pests, and the soil was not renewed, it is necessary to remove the top layer and replace it with a fresh one. Then the bed is spilled with a hot, weak solution of potassium permanganate. After that, it is thoroughly loosened.

Advice! To ensure a slight alkalinity of the soil (if the pH is below 6.5-7.5), add a little wood ash or lime.

Next, holes or trenches are prepared. At the bottom, a drainage layer of expanded clay, clay shards or broken brick is laid out. The bushes are transferred to a new place of residence by transshipment, so as not to damage the delicate roots.

Sowing lavender seeds for seedlings

Sowing lavender seedlings should be done in the last decade of winter, around mid-February or early March. Lavender should be sown in large containers quite rarely, spreading the seed one at a time, since, despite the fact that lavender is not afraid of transplanting, it has very powerful roots and first of all begins to build up a long root system, which, when very densely sown, is easy damaged. Basically, the landing rules are pretty simple:

• The containers should be filled with soil from above and level it without tamping.
• The soil must be moistened from above with a spray bottle.
• Lavender seeds should be planted one plant at a time, one and a half to two centimeters apart.
• Seeds from above should be covered with two or three millimeters of soil.
• Immediately after sowing, the containers must be covered with foil or glass.

Conditions for seed germination

For lavender, it is imperative to provide 2 main factors:

• Moderate temperatures ranging from fifteen to twenty degrees Celsius.
• Bright light.

During the entire time before the first shoots of lavender appear on the surface, it is imperative to maintain a stable and light soil moisture, making very careful spraying of the soil in the morning and airing the containers, waterlogging of the soil is very dangerous. but without light moistening, you are unlikely to succeed in achieving the appearance of friendly shoots. As a rule, the germination procedure for lavender is quite lengthy. The very first shoots of the plant may already appear after two weeks, and friendly shoots in about one month.

Growing plants

After the emergence of friendly shoots of lavender, the film or glass should be removed from the container, but still try to maintain light moisture in the soil. Young shoots of the plant must be placed in a bright place (best of all on a southern and sunlit windowsill). If the plant does not have enough sunlight, then it needs to be illuminated, increasing the daylight hours to eight, ten hours.

Diving seedlings and caring for young lavenders

A lavender pick should be carried out only when the flower forms at least one pair of real leaves and the 3rd, 4th full-fledged leaf begins to develop. Basically, even young shoots of this plant begin to build up the root system, and at this stage of development, powerful roots begin to form, which will not have enough space in a container that is shallow in depth. Lavender needs to be transplanted very carefully. This procedure is very easy for the plant to transfer.

The picking procedure should be carried out in individual containers or small cups with a diameter of five, six centimeters. You can also use large containers, remembering to leave the same distance between the plants. For lavender seedlings, you can use a peat-sand mixture or a lighter substrate designed for indoor crops with the presence of sand and perlite. You can apply long-lasting fertilizers to the soil. The lavender should be moved to new containers, being careful not to destroy the earthy clod. In this case, you should carefully crumple the soil near the seedlings to accelerate the rooting of the plant.

Lavender seedlings will need to be hardened for at least one week in order for the plant to adapt to new conditions. Lavender should be taken out gradually, starting from the first hour of the day, and then increasing the period of exposure to the outdoors every day.

Planting lavender seedlings

Lavender grown from seed will only start blooming the next year after the first shoots appear. The first year, lavender will not develop very quickly: first, the plant will begin to build up the root system, and after that, the shoots. But still, a perfectly rooted plant next year will begin to develop very quickly and delight you with its fragrant and bright inflorescences.

• For planting lavender seedlings, you should choose bright, sunny areas with light soil, to which you need to add organic fertilizers.
• This perennial plant is best suited for sandy-clay, rocky soils. a more appropriate pH value for a given plant species is 6.5 to 7.5.
• For planting, it is best to prepare a special soil mixture by mixing the soil removed from the planting pits with sand, mineral fertilizers and humus in a ratio of 3: 1: 2.
• The distance when planting a plant should be between thirty and forty centimeters. This plant should be planted in rather large individual pits with a diameter and depth of about 30 centimeters.
• The lavender plant responds well to both abundant irrigation and mulching immediately after planting. The mulch layer in this case is best kept constant.But try not to twist it under the base of the plant bushes.
• In the very first year after planting lavender seedlings or sowing it in the soil, it is better for the plant to try to ensure constant watering. These procedures should be carried out only in drought.

Planting care

Once planted outdoors, lavender will need careful maintenance over several seasons. The plant develops rather slowly, needs weeding and moderate watering in dry weather. In late autumn, young plants must be covered with fallen leaves or spruce branches. This is necessary for insulation.

Advice! The composting will improve the aeration of the soil, air will easily penetrate to the roots. In addition, such a measure will saturate the earth with micro and macro elements.

In the first year of life, lavender looks inconspicuous, this is due to the growth of the root system during this period. Plants gain green mass, bush and bloom only in the second or third year. To increase bushiness, you need to pinch the tops of the bushes - the first procedure is carried out when 6 pairs of leaves appear on the plant. Pruning first years to a height of 15 cm will also help to give a beautiful shape.

How to care

We will find out what care lavender needs for successful growth and development.

Watering

Moisturizing the soil in the lavender planting bed should be abundant. Water the soil regularly, keeping in mind this procedure. Especially in the first year after planting.

But moisturizing procedures should be carried out only in dry times. If it rains, damp and cool, it would be right to refuse the next watering.

Top dressing

Like most other ornamental garden plants, lavender also needs additional nutrition. Young plants should be fed with mineral solutions after planting and rooting. The deposit is carried out once a week.

In the second year, be sure to feed the lavender when it blooms: this will ensure the duration of the decorative period.

Weeding, mulching

After planting, the soil is mulched, and then simply maintain the already formed layer in a "working" state. It is imperative to protect the soil from weeds. Especially in the first year, when the plants are still weak.

Pruning

If lavender begins to bloom in the first year, it is recommended to trim or tear off the inflorescences. In the first year of life, it is important for the plant to focus on the roots, and not the vegetative part.

A few more recommendations

Experienced gardeners recognize that caring for lavender seedlings is troublesome. But if done correctly, the result will not be disappointing.

A few notes and tips to help you grow luxurious flowers:

1. Growing lavender from seeds is a costly way to get plants, but one of the most reliable.
2. Choose seed varieties designed for the climate close to your garden conditions.
3. The most unpretentious care is considered to be broad-leaved lavender. Narrow-leaved is unstable to low negative temperatures, sensitive to excess moisture in the soil, often dies as a result of damping.
4. Systematic ventilation has a beneficial effect on lavender, but it is afraid of drafts.
5. The optimal time for plant transplantation is early spring or autumn.

Provided with proper care, even the most whimsical lavender varieties will surely delight you with the appearance of flowers with a delightful aroma. Growing a culture is not too difficult, it adapts well, the main thing is accuracy and patience.

USEFUL PROPERTIES OF LAVENDER

Lavender processing products are widely used in cosmetology, perfumery and medicine.

The most valuable product is lavender oil, which restores hair, helps with burns, smoothes wrinkles, and rejuvenates skin cells.

Lavender flowers contain a large amount of vitamins A, E, the entire group B, as well as unique substances that have a revitalizing effect on skin cells, rejuvenating and making it elastic. Natural antibiotics and antioxidants are also present in them.

Decoctions and tinctures of lavender flowers are used to treat skin diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a number of nervous diseases, heal wounds, strengthen the cardiovascular system, restore liver cells, and increase general immunity.

Lavender flowers are widely used in the manufacture of perfumes, shampoos, soaps, creams and other cosmetics.

Lavender oil is simply irreplaceable in the confectionery industry for making fillings for the most expensive sweets, as well as cakes and pastries.

Description of lavender

It is one of the most famous plants and is in great demand all over the world. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean coast, but despite this, it develops well at home. The flower belongs to the group of perennial, evergreen plants. It is presented in the form of a half-shrub with numerous shoots. In nature, lavender can grow up to 60 centimeters tall.

Useful properties of the plant:

• restores the work of the nervous system;
• normalizes sleep;
• is a good tool for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases;
• improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
• has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties;
• relieves muscle fatigue;
• improves joint function;
• restores the natural color of the skin;
• helps to improve the condition of the hair.

Lack of light can lead to stretching of seedlings, which will negatively affect their further development. Therefore, in cloudy weather, it is recommended to install a lamp near the pot.

Recognizing lavender among many other plant species is not difficult. This can be done by leaves, buds and smell. The plates have a grayish-silvery hue. Lavender flowers are small. They can be either blue or purple. All are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.

A distinctive feature of such a plant is its rich aroma. The strong smell of lavender can repel insects. Therefore, it is often grown near private houses and in the country.

The flowering of this unique plant can be seen in summer. There are several types of lavender, but only one of them perfectly tolerates frost. To grow a winter-hardy variety, you should remember that you can do this with cuttings and grains. The second option is especially popular. It is by this method that it is easy to grow rare varieties that are difficult to acquire in the form of seedlings.

Description and types of lavender

The thermophilic lavender comes from the mild warm climate of the Mediterranean and loves space and abundance of sunlight. It is a low-growing shrub up to 1 m high with narrow silvery-green leaves and lilac flowers.

There are two varieties of colors: English and French. In the English species, the leaves are narrow, and the purple inflorescences are elongated. English lavender is unpretentious and winter-hardy, suitable for growing in the open field and even in the middle lane does not require digging in the fall for wintering in pots. French, unlike English, has wider leaves, lavender inflorescences and is shorter in size. In cultivation, this species is more capricious, when the air temperature drops to -15 ° C, the plant dies, therefore this species is grown mainly in pots.

Medicinal plant varieties There are different varieties of medicinal lavender, among which there are dwarf varieties (for example, Little Lottie and Nana Alba), as well as plants with different shades of inflorescences:

• White - Alba.
• Blue - Beechwood Blue.
• Pink - Rosea.
• Purple - Gem and Hidcote.
• Pink Perfume - 45-60 cm tall, pink flowers.

How to grow lavender at home?

It is not difficult to settle fragrant and incredibly beautiful flowers at home or on a plot. Before growing lavender from seeds, prepare them properly. It is best to buy grains in a specialized store. In order for them to rise well, special attention must be paid to the time of their collection. It is best to buy seeds from the previous year.

Seed preparation

Growing lavender at home should start with seed stratification. This procedure is needed in order to significantly increase the germination of grains. Preparation should start from winter or even from the end of autumn. To do this, you need to take wet sand and combine it with the seeds.

Transfer the mixture to a small container and refrigerate on the lower shelf. Keep in this state for two months. The longer they are in the cold, the better. This will have a positive effect on the rate of their germination and the rate of development of seedlings.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

After this time, you can start sowing seeds. Choose a nutritious substrate for lavender. You can either buy it in a store or cook it yourself.

To do this, you need to connect:

• part of the sand (preferably river);
• two parts of humus;
• three pieces of garden land.

Before planting lavender seeds at home, the resulting substrate must be sifted well. It should be free of debris and large lumps. If this is not done, then small grains may simply not sprout.

It is also necessary to disinfect the soil. To do this, the substrate should be carefully spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate or steamed.

Sow lavender seeds for seedlings in a container with good drainage. This is necessary in order to prevent rotting of the root system. After the pebbles or broken bricks have been laid, the substrate can be poured. Place the grains evenly and sparsely. Top with a thin layer of sand and pour over everything with warm water.

For quick germination of grains, the container should be covered with glass or polyethylene.

The first shoots will appear in 25 days. If after a month the seeds have not sprouted, then the vessel must be placed in a cold place for 21 days. This time will be enough for seedlings to appear on the surface. After the seedlings appear, put the pot on the window.

So that young plants do not get stress from the unusual temperature, you should not immediately remove the mini-greenhouse. This should be done gradually.

As soon as the seedlings begin to grow rapidly indoors, you can begin to transplant them into separate flowerpots.

The procedure must be carried out very carefully, since the root system of lavender is very delicate and fragile. The first time, watering should be done every day, little by little. The liquid should be used only well-settled, and preferably boiled.

Self-picking lavender seeds and choosing them for sowing

When choosing lavender seeds, pay special attention to price and manufacturer. Buy lavender only from trusted firms and suppliers you trust, with a wide palette of ornamental plants and a representative collection of not only summer seeds, but also other perennials. Remember that lavender seeds cannot be readily available: cheap seeds can be unpleasantly surprised by “substituting” one type for another. Make sure that information about the manufacturer, plant characteristics, planting characteristics is presented in full.

You can also collect the seeds yourself, by buying or collecting fully blossoming inflorescences, making bouquets of lavender and, after drying, preserving the small and fragrant seeds that have spilled out.

Lavender seeds remain viable for an astonishingly long time. It is not at all necessary to use them fresh, even after 5 years they will grow together, subject to all the rules of agricultural technology. And the main condition is proper storage of seeds: they must be kept in hermetically sealed containers.

Plant care in a flowerpot

To grow beautiful lavender from seeds at home, you need to adhere to some rules. Compliance with the recommendations will help to achieve the desired result.

A place to grow. This type of plant prefers good lighting. Therefore, flowerpots with lavender should be kept on the west and east windows. In order for the bush to be healthy and bloom profusely, it must be illuminated from 8 to 10 hours a day. If in the summer period of the year these indicators are easy to observe, then in winter the opposite is true.

In warmer months, lavender vases can be placed on the terrace, loggia or in the garden. It is necessary to accustom plants to new conditions gradually. In the early days, the pot should be kept outside for no more than two hours.

Air humidity. The flower is not very demanding on these indicators, but still you should not experiment with it. The room in which lavender grows must be ventilated daily. In winter, when the heating system is operating in the house, the flowerpot should be kept away from batteries and other appliances. If this is not possible, then the bush must be sprayed daily with settled water.

Irrigation. Lavender is a plant that loves moist soil. The flower should be irrigated with liquid at room temperature. In this case, the water should be well settled.

In the summer months, watering is carried out once a day, and in the winter - once every three days. But in order not to harm the bush, you should check the condition of the topsoil before each procedure. If it is not dry, then watering should be postponed.

Top dressing. Lavender, like most plants, needs fertilization. Young bushes should be fed with complex preparations for 10 days.

This should be done every seven days. Also, the mixture should be applied during the flowering period.

In order for lavender to please with long flowering, it is recommended to use nitrogen preparations.

When growing a flower, you need to ensure that it has enough light. Otherwise, the bush will begin to shed its leaves.

By knowing how to plant lavender seeds at home, you can grow a beautiful and healthy plant. If everything is done correctly, the bush will be fluffy, and the flowering will be plentiful and colorful.

Types and varieties

Scientists have discovered about 30 types of lavender, of course, there are many more varieties. Let's get acquainted with the most popular varieties.

Jagged lavender

A small-sized shrub, during the flowering period, completely covered with rather large ears-inflorescences. It dissolves in July. The foliage has a beautiful jagged shape, a silvery shade. Since the flower is very thermophilic, it is not suitable for open ground: the cultivation of serrated lavender is permissible only at home.

Broadleaf

The second name is spikelet. The plant boasts especially fragrant flowers. Each stem produces at least three inflorescences.

Narrow-leaved

This lavender is also called "English". The plant is especially loved by gardeners and landscape designers. It is this flower that is frost-resistant: therefore, it is grown more often than others. It reaches a meter in height, has characteristic narrow leaves and elongated inflorescences.

It dissolves in July. Flowers can be traditionally blue, as well as pink, white, lilac, purple. The aroma is very delicate and pleasant.

Important: choose narrow-leaved lavender if you plan to grow a flower in the garden as a perennial.

Stage three. We sow the seeds

When sowing, adhere to the following algorithm of actions.

Table. Sowing lavender seeds Yuzhanka

Steps, no.	Short description	Illustration
Step 1	Take a prepared container and fill it with soil. This can be not only a pot, but, for example, a wide container, not divided into cells, or a seedling tray.	Fill a container with planting seed mixture
Step 2	Moisten the surface of the soil slightly, then sow the seeds. If using a split seedling container, place one grain in each cell.If the container is not divided, then sow the seeds at a distance of 1.2-2.5 centimeters from each other.	Sow seeds. Sprinkle the soil from above
Step 3	Sprinkle the seeds with a layer of soil approximately 0.3 centimeters thick. This is for protection. In this case, the layer should not be too thick, because the seeds require sunlight to germinate.	Sprinkle the seeds 1/3 cm
Step 4	Place the container with seeds in a warm room (the temperature should be about 21 degrees).	Keep seeds warm
Step 5	Water the soil lightly. The humidity should be medium (if you overdo it, a fungus will begin to develop, which will destroy all the seeds). It is better to water in the morning so that the soil dries up by the evening.	Watering
Step 6	Wait a while, watering the soil regularly. Typically, lavender seeds will germinate after two to four weeks.	Seedlings
Step 7	When the first shoots appear, make sure they get enough sunlight. If there is no suitable place, provide artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps (seedlings should be illuminated for at least eight hours a day).	Lighting

Growing lavender at home

Homemade Lavender Cosmetics

Lavender-infused cosmetic oil is very easy to make. Pour a handful of dry or fresh lavender flowers into 0.5 liters of quality olive oil. Heat in a water bath for 2 hours, leave overnight. Strain the oil in the morning and transfer to a glass bottle. This oil is great for softening dry skin and helping with eczema.

Lavender tonic and lotion. Cover a handful of lavender flowers with 2 cups of white wine or apple cider vinegar. Add 6 glasses of water. Leave it on for a week; shake the bottle every day. After a week, strain the liquid. Use on face and body as an invigorating lavender toner. Lavender lotion works well for oily skin.

Plant this amazing plant in your garden - grown lavender will heal and delight you!

From March to May - growing seedlings

Seedling care

After about two weeks, the first shoots of lavender will begin to appear. They take care of them in the same way as for seedlings of any other seedlings:

1. Gradually remove the shelter so that the seedlings get used to the open air.
2. Provide good lighting without direct sunlight. In winter, the days are short, so the seedlings in the morning and in the evening will need additional lighting.
3. Monitor soil moisture. The soil is moistened with settled water using a sprayer. The soil should not be too wet, otherwise the seedlings will be affected by fungal diseases or the roots will simply rot.

Picking

When a second or third true leaf appears, lavender is dived, that is, they are seated in separate pots. For picking, you can use disposable cups or cassettes

Pick procedure:

1. Water the seedlings first.
2. Fill cassettes or cups with substrate. The same soil is suitable as for crops.
3. Make indentations in the soil.
4. Using a small spatula or an improvised tool, dig a seedling along with a clod of earth and place it in the hole.
5. Sprinkle soil up to the cotyledonous leaves, water gently and top up the soil if necessary.

After picking, keep the lavender in the shade for the first day, and then again put it in a well-lit place.

Watering and feeding

Water the lavender seedlings as needed, preventing the soil from drying out. Two weeks after the pick, the bushes are fed with mineral fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen.

If possible, grow lavender seedlings on a closed balcony or veranda, where it is not very hot and light. This is necessary so that young plants do not stretch out.

Diseases and pests

Diseases do not threaten lavender, and pests are deterred by its specific aroma. However, if the rules of care are violated, gray rot appears on it.The reason is waterlogging of the soil. Stems and flowers are covered with a brown bloom. To get rid of the problem, the affected parts should be removed and burned, and the plant should be treated with a fungicide.

Pests that lay eggs on lavender are pennies. They do not threaten the life of the shrub, but spoil its appearance, covering the leaves with a substance similar to saliva. It is enough to rinse the plants with a stream of water, and they will return to their previous appearance.

Lavender repels ants, aphids and slugs. And pollinating insects, on the contrary, are attracted.

How to propagate?

To increase the number of lavender bushes on the site, use seeds, layering, cuttings and dividing the bush. Cuttings and cuttings are much simpler than seeds, so let's start with them.

To propagate lavender by cuttings, simply cut off young shoots and dig them into damp ground. To propagate the plant by layering, bend the branch to the ground, fix it and sprinkle it with humus. After a while, this branch will take root.

The division of the bushes is done in autumn Before this, the bush is cut to a height of 10 cm and covered with earth, filling the space between the stems. In the spring they add earth. As a result, by autumn they get strong growth on the bush. It can be dug up and divided.

Application of lavender

The medicinal properties of lavender have made it a popular herb recognized by phytomedicine throughout the world. Lavender essential oil is obtained commercially from fresh flowers. Lavender oil is used in medicine, perfumery, veterinary medicine. Nowadays, lavender oil and dried lavender are available in all pharmacies and many stores.

Lavender has a simultaneously tonic and soothing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, relieves headaches, normalizes blood pressure, acidity. Syrups, decoctions, infusions are made from lavender.

If you have problem skin, use cosmetics containing lavender oil, or add a few drops of oil to your cream or lotion - lavender normalizes the sebum secretion of the skin and relieves inflammation.

In the cold period of the "heyday" of viral infections, drink herbal tea to which add dried lavender and lemon balm leaves. Along with eucalyptus, peppermint, fir and tea tree oils, add lavender oil during inhalation for sinus inflammation.

If your muscles ache after physical work, take a bath with lavender oil or sea salt with lavender added.

If you suddenly get a mild burn, gently spread lavender oil over the area. The pain will subside almost immediately and the burn will heal without scars. You can treat the wounds with lavender oil so that they do not become inflamed and heal faster.

For eczema, you can apply lavender-infused olive oil to dry, flaky skin.

If your feet are tired, add 5 drops of lavender oil to a hot foot bath.

To lower your baby's body temperature, wipe it with warm water and 1 drop of lavender oil.

If you suffer from a headache, you can make a compress: put a few drops of lavender oil in cold water and moisten the gauze for the compress; or rub oil into temples, forehead and back of the head.

Lavender oil is an excellent remedy for itching and inflammation after insect bites. Mosquitoes and flies cannot stand the smell of lavender: wipe with lavender lotion or put a cotton swab dipped in oil next to it before bed. Hang bags of dried lavender in cupboards to repel moths; drip 1 drop of oil on them from time to time to refresh the scent.

Attention, there are contraindications! Lavender oil should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause the muscles of the uterus to contract. The use of lavender oil in large quantities can cause depression and irritation of the stomach and intestines.

Eating

Lavender is used in cooking as a seasoning.Flowers are ground and added to a variety of dishes:

• salads;
• canned stewed meat;
• sauces;
• custards;
• baked goods.

Dried leaves and flowers go well with dill, sage, rosemary and thyme.

The plant is especially widely used in France. It is put almost wherever possible. Flowers are used to decorate desserts and are simply placed on the table during a meal.

In combination with other herbs, lavender is used to make aromatic teas. Gives the drink a pleasant scent and gives it soothing properties.

Cooking recipes

Real French cookies are made with lavender - Madeleine.

Components:

• flour - 100 g;
• butter and sugar - 150 g each;
• baking powder and dried lavender flowers - 1 tsp each;
• zest of one lemon;
• a pinch of salt.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Eggs are mixed with crushed zest and flowers, salted, sugar is added.
2. Beat thoroughly.
3. The oil is heated in a water bath.
4. The flour is carefully poured over the eggs.
5. The dough is kneaded until smooth, put in a bag and put into the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
6. If there are special forms for cookies, then they are used for cooking. If not, then spread small pieces of dough on a greased baking sheet.
7. The delicacy is baked for 10 minutes. at 200 ° C.

Decorate the finished cookies with fresh lavender flowers.

Another recipe is an unusual meat duo of chicken and pork.

Components:

• chicken breast - 0.4 kg;
• pork tenderloin - 0.3 kg;
• flour - 30 g;
• olive oil - 45 g;
• sour cream - 20-25 g;
• dried lavender flowers - 1 tsp;
• a few slices of lemon for decoration.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Both types of meat are washed and wiped off with a paper towel. Divided into 4 parts.
2. The resulting pieces are lightly beaten and rolled in flour.
3. The meat is fried for 8-10 minutes in olive oil.
4. After the specified time, add sour cream and flowers.
5. Stew for about 5 minutes.

Chicken is placed on pork and served on the table. Add a few slices of lemon if desired.

Stage four. We carry out the first pick

When a few true leaves appear on the shoots, make the first transplant. The leaves must be "correct", that is, fully developed. At that time, the roots will grow so much that they will not be able to develop further in a not very deep container (for example, the same seedling tray).

Grown lavender, about 2 months

Potted lavender

Prepare larger containers and fill them with soil (not the one used for germination, but another - preferably consisting of perlite, peat and earth). If you are using a tray, keep in mind that the distance between plants in it should be about 5 centimeters.

Preparation for a dive, transfer

On a note! Never use vermiculite. The fact is that it may contain asbestos, even if the manufacturer does not indicate this on the label.

Add some granular fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to the soil. Then make a hole in the soil of the new container to the desired size. Gently remove the lavender from the old container along with the soil, place it in the hole and compact the surface around it (the plant needs to be well fixed).

Preparing the soil for seeds. Lavender loves alkaline soil

Fill the pots with soil

Apply fertilizer

Transplant sprouts gently into pots

The next transplant will be required when the plant height reaches at least 7.6 centimeters (this can take from one to three months), and until then, gradually "accustom" the lavender to natural conditions - take the containers out into fresh air for several hours every day. After a week, lavender should adapt to new conditions.

Plants must reach a height of 7.6 cm before replanting them again.

Lavender sprouts

Lavender - planting and care

How and when to dive lavender seedlings

Despite the fact that lavender tolerates a dive normally, it is important not to miss the right moment and carry out the procedure on time, but when is it necessary to dive lavender seedlings? The timing of the event is determined by seedlings - 2 true leaves should form on the seedlings and at the same time the second pair of true leaves begins to grow.

For a pick, you need to choose individual containers, for example, bulky plastic cassettes, peat or plastic cups. The diameter of the container is about 10 centimeters.

The soil for filling a new container can be used the same as for planting, only you need to add more sand to it and be sure to perlite or vermiculite to make it lighter.

Note! Seedlings that are grown in peat pellets do not need to be dived. Seedlings can be planted in open ground directly in tablets.

Step-by-step instructions will help to correctly dive lavender seedlings at home:

• make a drainage layer at the bottom of the container, fill the containers with soil and level the surface;
• water the seedlings an hour before the event;
• use a pencil or some object to make indentations in the middle of the container;
• using a spatula or spoon, pick up the seedling along with the earthy clod and plant it in the groove;
• compact the soil around the seedling and water it.

How to plant lavender seeds?

A distinctive feature of lavender seedlings are powerful long roots that can be easily damaged if sown too densely. The seed setting process consists of the following steps:

1. Pot selection and substrate preparation.
2. Uniform distribution of soil in the container without tamping.
3. Moisturizing the earth from a spray bottle.
4. Seed placement at a distance of at least 2 cm from each other.
5. Covering the planting material with sifted earth no more than 4 mm thick.
6. Covering containers with glass or foil.

Pot for lavender

Due to the nature of the root system, lavender in a pot will only grow with the right planter. The selection rules are as follows:

1. It is better for these purposes to choose large, wide containers, the area of ​​which is enough for the growth of a powerful root system of plant seedlings.
2. Drawers and containers must have large drainage holes to drain excess moisture. Lavender is very sensitive to waterlogging and waterlogging of the soil, as well as to its drying out.

Land for planting lavender

Demanding environmental lavender, growing from seeds of which gives good results, prefers loamy or sandy soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5. The earth must pass moisture and air well, for this:

1. Be sure to place a drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
2. You can use a standard seedling mix or prepare the soil yourself. It is necessary to mix two parts of sod land with two parts of humus. Add one part of sifted coarse river sand.
3. It is better to disinfect both purchased and self-prepared soil at high temperatures in a microwave oven or oven, or moisten it with a bright solution of potassium permanganate.
4. Immediately before planting, it is better to sift the substrate to saturate with oxygen.

Planting lavender in peat tablets

Lavender is no less lush and fragrant, grown from seeds at home, which was carried out in peat tablets. This method is widely used by many summer residents, because it is not necessary to first prepare the substrate and containers for germination, to dive the seedlings later. This seed lavender is no different from a container grown crop. The landing technology is as follows:

1. The tablets are placed in the tray with the opening facing up.
2. Warm water is poured to the bottom. It is necessary to ensure that the jet does not fall on the tablets themselves.
3. Within 30 min. the products will swell, and after they have passed, the remaining water will drain off.
4. In each tablet, a small hole is made with a toothpick, where 2-3 seeds are placed.
5. The planting material is covered with peat to a depth of no more than 3 mm.
6. Then, as in the case of planting in containers, the substrate is moistened and covered with foil or glass.

General information about the plant

Lavender is an excellent member of the Yasnotkov family. Reproduction of lavender, in addition to sowing seeds, is possible by cuttings, stem layering, dividing the bush.

By the way! Lavender fits perfectly into the composition of an alpine slide, rockery. Looks very good along the paths on the site.

The plant is warm and sun-loving, so it grows well in the southern regions. In colder regions (for example, in the Middle Lane) cultivation is possible, however it is best to plant narrow-leaved lavender or English lavender (shown in the photo below), it is the most winter-hardy variety.

The scent of lavender cannot be confused with any other - spicy, rich, graceful, pleasant. Very often, the scent of the flower is used for aromatherapy, which uplifts and soothes. The flowers of the plant are used to make a delicious tea with a calming and relaxing effect.

By the way! Lavender blooms the next year after sowing.

Why is it worth planting lavender on your site? The plant is beautiful, has a wonderful aroma, you can make medicinal teas from flowers, or just make a sachet and use at home for aromatherapy, lavender is an excellent honey plant, so it can lure beneficial insects into your garden.

Soil preparation and site selection for lavender planting

When choosing a planting site for a flower in a personal plot, it is recommended to take into account the following features:

• the plant loves space, so it is better to choose open sunny areas that are well ventilated;
• the land should not be swampy, since waterlogging can destroy plantations;
• if the acidity of the soil is increased, then dolomite flour or lime must be added to it before planting.

The soil is dug up and fertilized before planting. Humus is suitable as fertilizer, as well as compost or peat. It is also advisable to add ash to each hole. If the ground is heavy, sand is brought in for digging.

Lavender as a flower culture

Lavender, or Lavandula, is a non-herbaceous plant. This is a shrub, a representative of the Lamiaceae species, which unites about 30 species. You can meet them in Africa, Arabia, southern Europe, India, Australia.

Interesting. Lavender is a symbol of France, or rather one of its parts - Provence. This is because in the days of the Roman Empire, it was those lands that were used for the cultivation of this plant. It was considered very valuable and sold for almost its weight in gold.

The first name of the flower came from the Latin "lava", which means "wash". This is because the ancient Greeks used it not only for medicinal purposes, but also for washing and washing their clothes. A little later, the French christened the fragrant flora lavandre, it was this name that spread throughout the world.

When to plant lavender seeds?

Depending on the chosen method of planting lavender, the timing of planting seeds in the ground also varies:

1. For pre-winter sowing, seeds are planted in the soil at the end of October, like other perennial crops. It is not recommended to deepen them, and after the procedure, experienced gardeners advise mulching the soil to protect it from bad weather. Shoots can be expected no earlier than May.
2. Spring planting of seeds begins in mid-May, when temperatures are comfortable for planting material, even at night. With this method, only pre-stratified material is planted.
3. Narrow-leaved lavender is considered the easiest crop to grow, so many people prefer sowing it for seedlings to get the best shoots. The procedure for growing seedlings can be started from late winter to early spring.

Growing lavender

After the emergence of friendly shoots of lavender, glass or film is removed from the containers as soon as possible, but they continue to maintain a light soil moisture. Young shoots should be placed in the brightest place (preferably on a sunny southern windowsill). If there is not enough sunlight, lavender is supplemented with light, increasing daylight hours to 8-10 hours.

Transplanted lavender seedling grown from seed.

Lavender tale

Evergreen lavender is a small bush in which small flowers are collected in ears. You can see its beautiful flowering at the end of summer - at this time the garden is painted in purple, white, lilac or blue tones.

Lavender loves sunlight, warmth and moisture. But at the same time it is quite resistant to cold winter tests and indiscriminate in soil types. In nature, it can be found in the mountainous areas of the Caucasus, Crimea or the coastal part of the Alps, as well as in the south of Russia.

Lavender for landscaping is a whole topic of discussion. Due to its stunning flowering, it is used for landscaping large-scale backyards and parks. But it will look just as good in more modest areas like garden beds and alpine slides.

The decorativeness of lavender is one of its strong points.

The main trump card of the heroine of our story is a deep saturated color, which is noticeable from all points of the site. It is not so difficult to wait for the magical moment of flowering - lavender is unpretentious, starting from the moment of planting and further care. Rock gardens, rockeries, various garden compositions - all these are excellent opportunities for using lavender.

If you want lavender to “work” all year round, get its narrow-leaved variety, which, in addition to its beautiful flowering in summer, will delight you with beautiful gray-green foliage colors in winter.

To create a hedge of lavender, use several types of lavender for varied and more attractive results. Lavender is also used as a background plant, and undersized varieties allow you to create a real carpet, where the flower shows all its brilliance.

Stage one. Stratification

Usually lavender is bred by cuttings, but if desired, this can be done using seeds. The second method - even if it is slow and not effective in all cases - is good because it is much cheaper than purchasing planted bushes or cuttings, and if a number of requirements are met, it gives the same beautiful plants.

Lavender angustifolia southerner - seeds

Set for growing plants "Lavender"

What is the main difficulty in growing with seeds? And it lies precisely in stratification. More precisely, this is not even a difficulty, but the need for additional time for the preparation of planting material.

On a note! Stratification means simulating the impact on seeds of natural winter conditions, making it easier for the seeds to germinate. The procedure increases germination and accelerates germination.

Seed stratification - timing

Lavender seeds are characterized by the fact that they may not germinate at all, without first being in the cold for a certain time. The stratification process is not difficult: take a not very deep container, pour sand into it, and put the seeds on top. Then sprinkle the seeds with a little more sand and place in the refrigerator (basement) about a month and a half before the expected sowing date. In this case, it is necessary that the temperature during storage is approximately 5 degrees. Actually, this completes the stratification procedure, we proceed to further actions.

Stratification Tanks Stratification Tanks

Perforation

River sand will be needed

We take seeds. It is advisable to soak them in water in advance.

Mix 1 part of seeds with 3 parts of sand, moisten, put in a cool place

The temperature is set from 0 to +5 degrees

Also, for stratification, instead of sand, you can use perlite.

May or June - planting seedlings in the ground

Since lavender grows in mountainous areas, it likes good lighting and sandy loamy alkaline soils. When digging a bed, add a glass of dolomite flour for each square meter of the bed if the soil is neutral and three glasses if it is acidic. Be sure to add sand to the soil (one bucket per 1 sq. M).

You will be interested to know: Petunia: when and how to properly dive seedlings step by step with a photo

The lavender planting holes should be slightly wider and deeper than the glass. The distance between the holes depends on the height of the future adult lavender bushes. To create a lavender hedge, plant the bushes at a distance equal to half the height of the plants.

Attention! Perennial lavender grown from seeds will increase the green mass in the first year, and will bloom only in the second year.

Remember to water the plants after planting.

Conditions for seed germination

For lavender, there are two main factors to ensure:

• bright lighting;
• restrained room temperature in the range from 15 to 21 degrees Celsius.

During the entire period before the emergence of lavender shoots, it is necessary to maintain a light but stable soil moisture, carefully spraying the soil in the morning and airing the "greenhouses". Waterlogging is very dangerous, but without constant, at least light humidity, it will be difficult to achieve friendly shoots.

Lavender usually takes a long time to germinate. The first shoots can appear in 2 weeks, friendly shoots - on average, after 1 month.

Which reproduction to choose: vegetative or from seeds?

Lavender can multiply both vegetatively and with the help of seeds. The bush of an adult plant produces a lot of growth that can take root on its own. If lavender grows nearby, for example, in a field next to a summer cottage, you can cut off branches directly from it.

Cuttings are also well rooted, which are buried in the soil for 2-4 weeks, after which they are transplanted into a permanent pot.

Propagation by cuttings and shoots seems simple, but everyone who decides to use this method is faced with one difficulty: a limited number of plants. Not many cuttings and shoots can be removed from one adult bush, and whole thickets of lavender rarely grow within walking distance.

In most cases, this plant is not found at all, either in friends or in the wild. It is problematic to get cuttings.

Stage two. We prepare everything you need

Immediately before sowing, you need to prepare the container. It should be deep and wide. If you are using a pot, then its diameter should be at least 30 centimeters. The fact is that the lavender root grows over time to a decent size, and if the pot is small, then at one "fine" moment it will simply stop growing.

Remember to rinse the pot with soap

Another important point is soil preparation. Lavender Yuzhanka, as noted earlier, needs only loose soil when grown. You can use a store-bought substrate or, alternatively, mix peat with sand yourself (ratio - 1: 1). If you wish, you can further increase fertility by adding eggshells or perlite.