Content
- Plant lavender properly
- Where does the lavender come from?
- What does lavender look like?
- What can I use lavender for?
- Where can I get plants?
- Is lavender multi-year or one-year old?
- Which location does lavender need?
- Does lavender fit in a herbal spiral?
- Which soil does the herb prefer?
- Which distance does lavender need?
- When can I prefer lavender plants?
- How can I multiply lavender?
- Can I also cultivate lavender in the pot?
- When do I have to repot lavender?
- Can lavender also go into the garden bed?
- When does lavender bloom?
- Is lavender poisonous?
- Which plant parts can I use and how?
- When and how can I harvest?
- Can you plant lavender as a hedge?
- Good neighbors / bad neighbors
- Tips & Tricks
Plant lavender properly
A herb garden without the highly fragrant and versatile lavender is unthinkable - especially in a Mediterranean bed with rosemary, thyme, oregano & Co. The pretty, lush blue to purple flowers are an eye-catcher in any garden. In this article we tell you the best tips & tricks on how you can grow lavender in your garden - or on the balcony.
Where does the lavender come from?
The lavender is native to the mint family and originally comes from the Mediterranean, where it still grows wild today. In the high Middle Ages, some monks of the Benedictine order brought the medicinal herb over the Alps, where it quickly found a new home in many monastic and cottage gardens. Meanwhile, the sun-hungry lavender is common in almost all climatic areas of the world.
What does lavender look like?
Lavender botanically belongs to the half-shrubs. At the base of the up to 60 centimeters long awake shoots. The leaves are gray-green, tomentose hairy and rolled out at the edge to reduce evaporation. The flowers are usually purple, some varieties also white, pink or dark blue. They stand at the shoot tip in so-called Scheinähren. First you see the colored goblet, from which unfold the intensely fragrant flowers.
What can I use lavender for?
Above all, the flowers contain essential oils - which are responsible for the beguiling scent of the plant - coumarins and flavonoids. In addition, there are also tannins and bitter substances. Young shoot tips and leaves season herb sauces, fish soups, stews and lamb dishes. They are similar in taste to rosemary. Used internally, lavender has a calming effect and helps with flatulence. A tea from the flowers is therefore ideal for stress conditions, but should also be helpful in cardiovascular problems. You can also use lavender as a bath additive or expel headaches with the help of the beguiling scent of lavender oil. Not very enthusiastic about this smell are moths.Scented pillows with dried lavender flowers help keep the vermin out of wardrobes. Furthermore, lavender plays a major role as a fragrance in perfumes and soaps.
Where can I get plants?
Young plants are available in every garden center or in many nurseries. However, you can also buy seeds and use your own lavender plants. Bear in mind that lavender is growing very slowly.
Is lavender multi-year or one-year old?
Lavender is a perennial plant that needs to be cut vigorously and is also very sensitive to cold. Especially in colder regions lavender needs a winter protection from brushwood, some varieties can even be kept in the pot with us. This includes, for example, the particularly aromatic lavender, which tolerates cold only very badly and should therefore be frost-free, but cool and as bright as possible winter.
Which location does lavender need?
Ideal is a sunny, sheltered from wind place. Here the sun should shine as possible from morning to evening. This is not only important for lavender to thrive - you will be able to taste and smell the difference clearly. Not without reason are Mediterranean herbs such as lavender so particularly flavor and aroma intensive. A partially shaded location is less suboptimal because the herb can not develop its full intensity. Beware of sinking: In them, cold night air collects, which does not appreciate the heat-loving lavender.
Does lavender fit in a herbal spiral?
Ideal for growing herbs - especially in a small garden - is the herbal spiral. This is simply a built in spiral or worm shape and stone-milled mound. Plan the spiral as generously as possible, because it is too small, the plants oppress each other and suffer from lack of light. A possible planting could look like this: moisture-loving herbs such as chives and parsley can be planted at the foot of the spiral wall, dryness-loving herbs such as savory, marjoram, hyssop, pimpinelle or sage above. The south and west sides offer ideal conditions for thyme, rosemary and lavender. Chives, mint, watercress, lemon balm and sorrel are especially good on the north and east sides.
Which soil does the herb prefer?
Lavender has as a typical Mediterranean plant only a small need for moisture and nutrients. Therefore, you should keep the small shrub, which comes after all from rocky regions, as lean as possible. Ideal locations are therefore a dry wall or a sunny rock garden. The soil should be permeable and slightly calcareous.
Which distance does lavender need?
Lavender needs a lot of space, because the plant grows bushy. Therefore, you should plant the individual young plants at a distance of about 30 centimeters.
When can I prefer lavender plants?
If you enjoy growing your own, you can sow the fine seeds in March in a warm cold frame or in bowls on the windowsill. The seeds usually germinate irregularly and need to rise between two to three weeks. Lavender is a light germ, d. H. Under no circumstances should you cover the seeds with soil. From May you can put the young plants in the garden.
How can I multiply lavender?
Usually, lavender is propagated by division or by cuttings. For the propagation of cuttings, cut off a few shoot tips in the spring - even before flowering - and place them in a sandy substrate. Before you can dive the interface still in rooting powder. Keep the substrate slightly damp, but not wet. Do not be surprised that the cuttings do not seem to grow - it takes a long time for the young plants to take root.
Can I also cultivate lavender in the pot?
Lavender is great for pot culture, but needs sufficiently deep and large pots. The plant develops a very deep tap root, which is why shallow vessels - such as bowls or balcony boxes - are unsuitable. In particular, the lavender is perfect for a bucket on a balcony or terrace.
When do I have to repot lavender?
However, lavender needs a lot of space, so you should better repot the plant than once too often. Spring is best suited for such an action before the first new shoots start to sprout.
Can lavender also go into the garden bed?
Yes, lavender feels good in company with other (Mediterranean) herbs, but also in the vegetable or flowerbed. However, not all varieties are suitable for planting outdoors, for this purpose choose the real lavender.
When does lavender bloom?
Depending on the variety, lavender flowers throughout the summer: flowering time is between June and September. Cut withered flower spikes right away.
Is lavender poisonous?
No, lavender is not poisonous. On the contrary, the herb has been known for centuries as a fragrance, spice and medicinal herb.
Which plant parts can I use and how?
Above all, the flowers of lavender are used, mostly dried, but also freshly picked. Used sparingly, the young leaves can also be used as a spice.
When and how can I harvest?
Young leaves and branches can be cut at any time as needed. To dry, cut the flowering shoots as soon as the small florets have opened. For this purpose, the flower stems are cut off in the midday sun and dried at moderate heat. After that, the flowers are repelled and kept in a dark container.
Can you plant lavender as a hedge?
With lavender bushes you can also plant low hedges. This can be wonderful especially bordering herbal and rose beds.
Good neighbors / bad neighbors
Lavender blends particularly well with other Mediterranean herbs, but also with fragrant roses.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to plant lavender in pots, they should at least have a diameter of 20 centimeters. In addition, a drain hole in the floor ensures that no waterlogging can occur. To grow lavender, pots of clay or wood are recommended, as they can store moisture and thus prevent the plant from drying out.
IJA