Lavender bloom time. Growing lavender from seed outdoors

Gardeners have long fallen in love with lavender, planting and caring for which is no longer a special secret. Its most popular name among the people, spread thanks to a famous song, is mountain lavender, and it appeared due to the fact that it interesting plant perfectly exists on the slopes of the mountains, holding tightly to the ground with roots 3-4 meters long.

Lavender is an evergreen perennial subshrub with interesting silvery leaves and spikelets in lilac, pink, purple, white or other colors. How decorative flower lavender will decorate any garden: it can be used to decorate flower beds, Alpine slide or creating a natural border.

Species diversity

More than 20 varieties of lavender are known, but the following varieties are usually bred in private farms:

lavender angustifolia (English, true) reaches up to a meter in height and about a meter in diameter; leaves are small, narrow, gray-green; blooms from June to July; easy to care for and relatively resistant to cold,

lavender broadleaf (French) is the ancestor of decorative varieties; flowers have long bracts and a variety of colors; blooms from May; has a strong and not the most pleasant aroma,

Dutch lavender (hybrid) grown commercially; reaches a height of two meters; has large inflorescences on long stems; blooms from July; less frost-resistant than narrow-leaved lavender,

lavender jagged is a heat-loving variety; leaves are silvery, soft; flowers are large, different shades of blue; in the traditional climate of the middle lane, jagged lavender is grown at home, and not on the street.

Advice! Any lavender in open field may not withstand too cold climates, and therefore it makes sense in the northern regions to plant bushes in pots or flowerpots, and at the slightest cold snap, bring them to a warm place. Lavender in a pot is more difficult to care for than outdoors, and even with all the requirements, an indoor plant will bloom less and less often.

Reproduction of lavender

Reproduction of lavender takes place in various ways:

Sowing seeds. This is the most complicated method growing lavender, although quite often it reproduces naturally, if not cut off all available flowers.

Before planting, lavender seeds must be kept at a low temperature, which can be done naturally or artificially. Natural stratification is possible only in warm climatic zones without severe frosts, when the seeds are planted directly into the ground at the end of autumn. Artificially, this happens like this: the seeds are mixed with sand, poured into a small container, wrapped in polyethylene and cleaned in fridge not less than a month and a half.

Toward the end of spring, the seeds are planted in greenhouses. When the first shoots appear, you can transfer them to prepared places. The first year or two, the plant, if it sprouts, will develop a root system, not delighting with the appearance of flowers. Much more efficient and easier than any of vegetative ways breeding.

Propagation by cuttings. Cuttings are made from annual or biennial lignified shoots, after cutting the flowers. Cuttings 7-10 cm long are deepened into loose soil by 2-3 cm, covered with a film and regularly moisten the soil. Roots will appear fairly quickly, after which the stalk can be dug up and planted in the right place.

Planting layering is an even simpler way. One of the lower shoots is bent to the side in spring, fixed near the ground so that it does not rise, and sprinkled with earth. After the roots appear, you can carefully cut off the layering and plant it in the chosen place. To avoid rotting, it is necessary to sprinkle the cut with crushed coal.

Division of the bush. Another easy way requires pre-training: in the fall, the bush is cut to 10 cm, sprinkled with earth, cut again in the spring, which ensures the appearance of new shoots. In autumn, a lush bush can be divided by hand or with a spatula.

Landing Features

In order for lavender cultivation to be successful, it is important to choose the right site for planting it. The soil needs light, loose, with a neutral or alkaline reaction. On acidic, marshy, salty and heavy clay soil, lavender does not grow well. If the soil is acidic, lime or wood ash will be the salvation. If the soil is wet due to the proximity ground water, a way out can be found in the arrangement of an alpine hill so that the plant is located on a hill.

Advice! The strong smell of lavender will help protect not only itself, but also nearby plants from various pests. It makes sense to have lavender on the backyard site was near vegetable crops.

For all their unpretentiousness, the cultivation of lavender should still be given at least a minimum of attention - without shelter, these plants will not survive in severe frosts, and without fertilizer they will refuse to bloom.

Lavender flower: photo and description

Lavender (lavandula) - a plant from the Lamiaceae family, its homeland is the Mediterranean, North Africa, India.

There are more than 40 types of lavender, which are widely used in medicine, cosmetology, cooking and landscape design.

If speak about botanical description lavender, then it is a shrub or shrub up to 1 m high. The leaves of lavender are lanceolate, small, sessile, bluish-green in color. The flowers are bluish-violet or pinkish, collected in semi-umbels or spike-shaped inflorescences. The flowering time of lavender is July - August.

About 28 types of lavender are known. Lavender oil is obtained from l. broad-leaved (L. latifolia), l. spike (L. spica) and l. angustifolia (L. angustifolia).

Lavender is suitable for group plantings in rockeries and rock gardens. Dried lavender sprigs are a decoration of the premises, they emit a delightful scent of summer and at the same time repel moths.

The first descriptions of lavender date back to the times of Ancient Greece and ancient rome: both Romans and Greeks used this plant in medicine and cooking. Due to the strong specific smell, lavender is added only to some dishes and is used for smoking meat, adding to smoldering sawdust or coals.

In medicine essential oil lavender is included in preparations with antispasmodic and sedative effects. Also, this strong antiviral agent helps with rhinitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, is used in the treatment of stomatitis, and is used to relieve tachycardia. Lavender preparations are used to provide first aid for injuries, bruises, dislocations, burns, neuralgia, and also for skin diseases.

Conditions for growing lavender and caring for flowers (with video)

Common lavender comes from areas bordering the western Mediterranean, but despite this, it tolerates winters well in more northern countries. Even when planted in a container, it can stay outdoors if the winter is not too harsh. At temperatures below -10 ° C, its roots need shelter. For example, a pot can be buried in the ground and covered with evergreen branches or straw. To do this, in advance, before frost, dig the necessary recess in the ground. In summer, this grayish shrub prefers places well lit by the sun. Ideally, the soil should be light, sandy and mixed with some non-acidic clay, however plants will also grow well on a standard soil mix. potted plants. Ensure good drainage and do not water until the soil is almost completely dry, as lavender roots do not tolerate waterlogging. Lavender flowers are easy to care for, and you can admire fragrant blue flowers at the end of summer. Cut them into a bouquet
bright day and hang it upside down to dry with florets. Later, you can put lavender among your clothes or bed linen to give it a pleasant fragrance.

AT middle lane Russia and to the north, with wintering in the open field, only narrow-leaved lavender is grown. A sunny and well-heated place is suitable for lavender (even hot southern slopes are suitable). For planting and caring for lavender, you need to prepare gravel or sandy-clay, moderately nutritious soil that passes water well. Lavender can grow in infertile soils, but thrives best in rich ones. On the acidic soils lime must be added. Lavender cannot grow on heavy clay soils with high acidity and high standing groundwater. In the garden, lavender is placed according to the scheme 30 × 40 cm. Care consists in regular spring pruning, as well as watering in drought. Despite the drought tolerance of lavender, the lack of water at the beginning of flowering leads to a decrease in the number of inflorescences. Lavender responds well to organic and mineral fertilizers. In the conditions of central Russia, lavender should be covered for the winter with spruce branches or mulched with dry leaves, sawdust and peat. If the above-ground part is frozen, it is cut off. When growing and caring for lavender, pruning is used to rejuvenate the bushes (however, do not prune too much, to lignified stems, as the plant may die). When propagated by cuttings, lignified annual shoots are cut into cuttings 8–10 cm long and rooted. This method is most convenient when growing lavender indoors.

Lavender goes well with many flower crops, it is better to pair her with those plants that tolerate a slight drought well, for example, varieties or. Also, many varieties of English lavender look good next to roses.

A necessary condition for growing lavender is to provide the plant with a sunny, warm place; in open ground, this plant is not bred in all regions. In a cool climate, it is recommended to grow it in lawns, and when cold weather sets in, transfer it to a warm room. The main condition for growing lush plants is the right place for planting. Most of all, lavender likes open, well-lit areas.

The photo of growing lavender shows how to care for this plant:

Lavender is quite drought-resistant, waterlogged soil can cause plant death. A solid drainage layer under the lavender beds will help solve this problem. Lavender also prefers light loose soils with a slightly alkaline reaction. If you doubt the quality of the soil, add organic matter and wood ash with lime to it before planting. Also, the plant prefers loose soil with good air circulation - therefore, beds with lavender will have to be regularly weeded and loosened.

When caring for a plant, lavender is best fertilized mineral mixtures, which must be applied to the soil at the beginning of flowering plants. 2 tbsp will be enough. l. liquid fertilizer per 8 liters of water. The mixture should not be poured under the root, but watered around the perimeter of the site and between the bushes. If you have placed a layer more than 1 cm thick under the lavender bushes, you can not apply fertilizer at all. If lavender hibernates in the ground, she needs to prepare a shelter - cover with cut branches coniferous trees and fasten them so that the wind does not blow them away. The usual shelter from fallen leaves will not work - under them the lavender bush can rot.

See photos of planting and caring for lavender to better understand all the intricacies of growing this crop:

Lavender is decorative both during flowering and without flowers. This is a very common partner. Indeed, the delicate blue-lilac flowers make for a lovely rosary padding. They are successfully combined with both pink and crimson, and with yellow and orange roses. And the aroma of lavender perfectly complements the aroma of roses. As the practice of gardeners shows, lavender winters well in the same shelter with roses. But it is desirable that when caring for lavender, she does not get rose food; when planting, keep some distance between these plants.

The video of growing lavender shows all the basic agricultural practices:

Plant species lavender: photo and description

In this section of the article, you can get acquainted with the photo and description of the types of lavender grown in the middle lane.

Dutch lavender. Also, the plant is called "hybrid lavender" or "Lavandin". A hybrid lavender was bred by Dutch breeders on the basis of English and broad-leaved. Culture received high decorative qualities: long inflorescences, large flowers. The bushes themselves reach a width of 2 meters. This variety is considered late: the plant blooms only in July.

English lavender. It is this variety that received last years greatest distribution.

Pay attention to the photo - for a lavender plant of this species hallmark is the presence of long narrow leaves and elongated spikelets of inflorescences:

This plant can be grown outdoors in winter in the middle lane.

French lavender. She draws attention to herself. beautiful shape flowers, as well as a slightly perceptible aroma.

As you can see in the photo, this type of lavender has wider leaves, they look great against the background of shortened inflorescences:

However, frosts are detrimental to her, so she is mainly grown indoors.

Spanish lavender. The most pronounced aroma makes this plant unique, which is why it has been widely used in the manufacture of perfumery products.

Toothed lavender. Very interesting decorative look: has silvery carved leaves and large flowers. The bush itself is quite compact (only 30 cm high), charming with its bright flowers. In open ground, it feels good in the southern regions, and in the middle lane it can be grown as a houseplant.

Here you can see a photo of lavender, the description of which is given above:

Reproduction of lavender: how to grow a flower from seeds (with video)

Lavender can be grown from seeds or cuttings or cuttings. When planting a plant, remember that adult bushes do not tolerate transplanting well, so it is better to plant them immediately in a permanent place. The distance between plants should be at least 35–40 cm.

The easiest way to propagate lavender cuttings. When propagating lavender, the cutting should be deepened 2–3 cm into a loose soil mixture, covered with a film and watered regularly. Carefully dig rooted cuttings with a clod of earth around the roots and transplant to the chosen place.

Layers are rooted branches of a plant. To obtain planting material in the spring from a healthy powerful bush, you need to bend one of the lower shoots to the side, fix the place of its contact with the ground with a bracket and sprinkle with earth. When roots form on the layer, it can be carefully cut off with a sharp knife, sprinkled with crushed coal and planted in the desired place.

Lavender seeds are difficult to propagate. In order for the seeds to sprout, they need to arrange a cold wintering - stratification. There are two options - to plant seeds in the ground before winter, but in severe frosts they can die. Another option is to mix the seeds with a little sand and refrigerate them for 40-50 days. Then the seeds can be planted in pots or greenhouses. Plants grown from seeds will bloom only after a year.

Watch a video on how to grow lavender from seeds, layering and cuttings:

Pruning a lavender bush (with video)

Lavender requires regular pruning. If it is not carried out, then the bush becomes ugly, with nodes and bare branches, often with a minimal amount of foliage. Such neglected bushes are difficult to rejuvenate, and it is better to plant new plants instead. In central Russia, pruning should be carried out in April, and in the south of the country - in October.

Regular pruning of lavender, firstly, will allow the formation of bushes of the desired shape, and secondly, will prolong the life of the plant itself. Pruning can be done in summer and autumn. In summer, literally a few centimeters of the stem with flowering flowers are cut off. In autumn, pruning should be carried out more radically, but all branches should not be shortened to the lignified part: the plant may die.

After 7 - 10 years, lavender bushes begin to age. In this case, it is necessary to carry out a short rejuvenating pruning. When cutting shoots, the aerial part is left at a height of 20-30 cm from the soil surface.

After each flowering, it is necessary to remove faded flowers and inflorescences, this must be done carefully, without affecting the old wood. If the plants are not old, then it is necessary to cut the lavender annually with scissors, each time removing the tops of the shoots and inflorescences.

The lavender pruning video shows how to properly form a shrub:

Lavender pests and their control

Pennitsa slobbering – Philaenus spumariu. Systematic position: order of homoptera, family of pennits (Cercopidae).

Pennitsa drooling is ubiquitous. Polyphagous pest.

Adult insect 5-6 mm long, oblong, yellowish-gray; forewings leathery, roof-like folded along the body; oral apparatus piercing-sucking; jumping hind legs. Larva 3-5 mm long, greenish-yellow.

The eggs hibernate at the base of the shoots, no higher than 5-10 cm above the ground. The hatching of larvae from eggs coincides in time with the growth of shoots.

The larvae, immersed in the foamy mass secreted by them, feed on the underside of the leaves and on the shoots. As a result, the leaves become wrinkled, deformed, the ovaries become underdeveloped. With a population of 200 larvae per lavender bush, the yield is 36% lower than from undamaged plants. The duration of development of larvae is 30 ... 50 days. Adult leafhoppers that have emerged do not live long on lavender; they fly to different herbaceous plants where they feed until late autumn. Returning females lay their eggs in shoot incisions made with the help of the ovipositor. Fertility is about 40 eggs. Pennitsa drooling prefers shaded, damp places. Such a microclimate is created by the plants themselves on the old plantations of lavender, to which it causes the greatest damage. One generation develops per year.

To combat these pests, it is necessary to place plants in dry places, which to a lesser extent meets the ecological requirements of the pest. Treatment of plantations with a population of 60 larvae or more per plant with preparations, EC (l/ha): fastakom - 0.5; Decisom Profi - 0.06; Bi-58 New.

Agalmatium biloba (Agalmatium bilobum). Detachment of homoptera - Homoptera, family isid - Issidae. Damages lavender and other crops.

Imago size 4.7 ... 5.7 mm. The cover of the body of males is pale, uniform, sometimes fuzzy brownish blackouts on the forewings, females are much larger in size, with an intense color. The egg is 0.9 mm in size, pale yellow, convex. Larva short oval, glaucous, with indistinct brownish pattern (ill. 25).

Eggs hibernate in groups (2-22 each) on perennial lavender stems and other plants. Egg laying occurs in two rows on the shady side of the shoots, mainly from the eastern side (90%). They become covered with dust and become like sticky lumps of soil. Depending on weather conditions, larval hatching starts in March and ends at the end of June. The larvae have five instars. AT younger age they live in the herbage of weeds, are inactive, in the older one they feed on lavender, damage the leaves, causing the formation of dots and spots. Fledging of adult leafhoppers takes place in June - July and the first half of August, in mass they appear in late June - early July. They feed on leaves. They reach full sexual maturity in the second half of July - in August. They lay eggs that remain for the winter. One generation develops per year.

To combat this pest, weeds must be destroyed on plantations, field edges and intercellular roads. If the leafhopper is damaged by 25 ... 30% of the leaf surface, the plantations are treated with insecticides in late July - early August.

Watch the Lavender Pests video for how to deal with these insects:

Lavender is a valuable plant with a delicious aroma and rich lilac flowers, which has a number of useful properties. AT wild nature it grows in North and East Africa, Arabia, Australia, India, the Canary Islands and southern Europe. As a habitat, lavender chooses rocks and mountain slopes, where the land is stony and poor. French Provence is famous for its extensive lavender fields. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the plant for washing and washing. From here it got its name, which comes from the Latin "lava" and means the word "wash".

Description of the plant and useful properties

The evergreen shrub has a fibrous root system that goes two hundred centimeters deep into the ground. Lignified at the bottom, the stems can grow up to sixty centimeters tall. Some varieties reach a meter.

The straight leaves of rich green color with a silvery sheen are located opposite and slightly pubescent. In some varieties, the leaves take on a narrow shape and are thin, while in others they are wide and rounded.

Small flowers form inflorescences in the form of an ear, located in whorls of six to ten pieces. Inflorescences appear at the top of shoots that do not have leaves. The classic color of lavender flowers is lilac with a blue tint, but there are flowers in other shades: snow-white, bluish, lilac and pink. Flowers emit a delightful spicy aroma that spreads throughout the area. Due to this aroma, the plant is an excellent honey plant. Depending on the climate Lavender blooms can be seen from June to August. Lavender seeds will germinate for a long time if stored properly.

Lavender is especially valued for its precious essential oil. It is obtained most often from lavender broadleaf. Medicinal lavender is cultivated for medicinal purposes. Healing properties Plants have been known since ancient Greece. Lavender has been used to treat a wide range of ailments.

Lavender contains essential oil, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, resins, terpene alcohols, bitterness and other substances. Lavender soothes, relieves pain, disinfects, promotes tissue repair, expels worms, and also has a diuretic, antispasmodic and bactericidal effect. Lavender tidies up nervous system, has a beneficial effect on sleep and improves mood. It is used for diseases of the bladder, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and musculoskeletal system.

Characteristics of lavender varieties

Lavender serratus is a compact plant with large flowers. This variety can be successfully grown at home. In gardening stores, this type is most often sold. It does not tolerate frost, but hibernates in a cool room with enough light.

• french lavender(broad-leaved) is a plant with wide leaves and rich color. The buds are colored in a less bright shade than other varieties, and the smell is sharper and more noticeable.
• lavender angustifolia(English) is a shrub with narrow leaves. It reaches a meter in diameter. This variety tolerates the winter months well and is easy to care for. Angustifolia lavender blooms in mid-summer. 'Hidcote' is characterized by dark purple flowers and small silvery leaves. Fragrant flowers of the Provence variety are used in the production of oils and for culinary purposes. A variety called "Munstead" is different blue flowers and high decorative qualities.
• Lavender hybrid is the result of a combination of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved varieties. It is quite common among gardeners.
• Lavender stahad blooms pink-purple flowers and blooms from March to June. The leaves reach a length of one to four centimeters and have a grayish tint.
• Woolly lavender differs in tubular flowers of purple color, forming spike-shaped inflorescences. This variety is difficult to tolerate precipitation and excessive soil moisture, so it is well suited for growing indoors.

How to grow lavender from seeds (video)

Reproduction of lavender in the garden with seeds, seedlings and cuttings

Before planting, lavender seeds must be stratified, which is carried out in February. Seeds are sown in a container filled with wet sand or peat, then it is covered with a film. For thirty to forty days, a bowl with seeds is left in a room with a temperature of plus three to minus five degrees. For these purposes, a basement, cellar or refrigerator with a specified temperature is suitable. The bowl is regularly ventilated and disposed of condensate. After the specified period, the bowl is placed in a warm place with a temperature of fifteen to twenty degrees, so that the seeds begin to germinate. A well-lit window sill is ideal for placement. Seedlings will not stretch if there is enough light.

When the planting material has four to six leaves, the seedlings are seated in separate pots - they dive. The top of each plant is pinched, counting five to six pairs of leaves so that it bushes well. Seedlings are planted in the garden in May when the frost is gone. Saturated lilac flowers will appear next year.

If it is not possible to grow seedlings, seeds can be sown immediately in open ground. They do it in October. Seeds are sown to a depth of four millimeters and covered with sand on top. Then the soil is moistened, and in winter more snow is thrown at the place where the seeds are planted.

Lavender can be grown from cuttings, this method easier breeding seeds. In late June - early July, cuttings are cut, using the middle of shoots one year old, which are only half lignified. Each cutting should be ten centimeters long. Leaves below are removed. For cuttings, a greenhouse is prepared with soil consisting of peat and sand in a ratio of one to one. The tips of the cuttings are treated with a means for the rapid formation of roots and planted. In a month, young plants will have roots. Lavender propagated in this way is planted in open ground until mid-August.

Features of transplanting a plant in the fall to a new place

Lavender is difficult to transplant, but in some cases this procedure is necessary. The plant is transplanted, if the bush has stopped growing, the plant needs to be transplanted to a more suitable place or needs to be divided big bush. The plant has a very strong root system, which can go into the bowels of the soil by three to four meters.

The shrub is dug out carefully, injuring the roots as little as possible. The preferred time for transplanting lavender is autumn. Lavender needs at least two months to establish itself before frost sets in. If it is necessary to divide a large bush, the root system is divided into several parts using garden knife. Each part must remain with the roots. Places of cuts are sprinkled with coal and each new plant is planted in a permanent place.

Planting lavender in open ground

Lavender seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May. The plant is used to decorate alpine slides, flower beds. Lavender is planted along curbs and paths.

Soil selection

A suitable place for planting lavender is immediately chosen carefully, because the transplant negatively affects the plant. Lavender can comfortably exist in one place for twenty years. A sunny area located in the south or southwest of the garden is suitable for her. If the shade falls on the lavender, it will not give a lush bloom. In areas located in the lowlands and periodically flooded, flowers are not planted. If there is no garden suitable place for a plant, then artificially create beds forty centimeters high, be sure to organize drainage from expanded clay or crushed stone.

Lavender loves slightly alkaline or neutral, sandy or slightly rocky soils that do not retain moisture. To clay soils which are quite heavy add sand, lime and compost. If groundwater reaches high level be sure to organize drainage.

Methods for propagating lavender (video)

Planting process

Before planting, the soil is prepared by digging to a depth of twenty centimeters, and loosened by adding compost or peat.

Seedlings are planted in the garden, keeping a distance of eighty to ninety centimeters. If tall lavender is planted, the distance is increased to one hundred and twenty centimeters. The hole should accommodate the root system of the seedling and not constrain it. Before planting, the roots are slightly shortened.. The bush is placed in a hole and covered with earth. The root neck is dug to a depth of four to six centimeters. Planted plants are well watered.

In places where a warm climate prevails in winter, the seeds of the plant are sown directly in open ground. The process takes place in October. First, the soil is prepared, fine gravel or sand is introduced into the moist soil to increase the air and moisture permeable properties of the soil. At a depth of three to four centimeters, the seeds are sown, then the soil is compacted and the crop is watered if the autumn months are not generous with rains.

Lavender Care Secrets

Water the flower as the soil dries out, because excessive saturation with moisture can cause rotting of the root system. It is also not recommended to allow plants to dry out. A jet of water during irrigation is directed under the root system, trying not to fall on the leaves. In the spring and autumn months, the bushes spud. The plant needs a haircut.

In spring, the plant is fertilized using nitrogen fertilizers. For ten liters of water add a tablespoon of urea or two tablespoons of "sodium humate". The resulting fertilizer is watered with lavender bushes, spending five to six liters per plant.

When lavender begins to bloom, it is fed with Agricola Fantasy. The solution is formed by adding two tablespoons of the product to ten liters of water. Three to four liters are spent on each bush. Stop fertilizing lavender starting in mid-summer. If you continue top dressing in the second half of the summer, lavender will actively grow foliage and will not be able to prepare well for the winter cold. Around the plants, the soil can be mulched with compost.

Purpose and technology of pruning lavender

Lavender shrubs need periodic pruning. If this procedure is neglected, over the years it will lose its decorative properties due to the exposure of the lower part of the stems. Prune the plant in autumn, removing one third of the shoots. After flowering, this should not be done. In the spring, they get rid of the inflorescences of last year.

Preparing flowers for winter

During the winter months with hard frosts, when the thermometer drops to minus twenty-five degrees, the flowers can freeze if there is not enough snow. To avoid this bushes are covered using a light cover that does not retain water. Spruce spruce branches are perfect for this purpose. Do not use dry leaves or sawdust as shelter: these materials cause the bushes to rot.

How to grow lavender in a country house in the Moscow region and the Leningrad region

In the Moscow region and the Leningrad region, English lavender is successfully cultivated - medicinal, or narrow-leaved. In these areas, the same principles of cultivation and subsequent care apply as in regions with a more gentle climate. Seeds are sown in the ground after frost - in May, and seedlings are placed in open ground mainly in June. It is not recommended to sow planting material before winter.- it can freeze in severe winter conditions.

How to cultivate lavender (video)

Lavender is a magical plant with rich colors and a divine scent. Not a single gardener will refuse the opportunity to decorate his plot with a flowering fairy tale.

Lavender - these are whimsical shrubs, shrubs, herbaceous plants that belong to the Lamiaceae or Lamiaceae family. It comes from the word "lava", which means "to wash" in translation. Since in ancient times, these plants were added to the water when taking a bath. There is also a common name. This is a "butterfly".

Blooms for 2 months, from July to September. It has a pleasant, rather sharp aroma when flowering. The plant is native to the Canary Islands. Any type of this plant can be grown at home. Care is demanding and regular. Shrub height up to a meter. The stems are straight, thin and long. Stems are silvery. The leaves are very small and also silver in color.

Lavender blooms with lilac small flowers that alternately cover the stems. Flowers sit on short pedicels, form inflorescences - spikelets. The root is densely fibrous, lignified, up to 4 meters long. The genus includes 45 species.

Lavender is often grown for design, as given plant from a distance it resembles a lilac carpet. Lavender oil is extracted from it. AT natural conditions Lavender grows and expands very quickly. Therefore, the bushes must be cut once a year immediately after flowering.

Lavender - care:

Lighting:

Lavender thrives in highly lit areas. Likes straight lines Sun rays. It can withstand partial shade, but in this case it will bloom less abundantly and less in time. The longer the day and the more sun hits it, the more power Lavender will have.

Temperature:

Lavender is a cold hardy plant. Can withstand frost down to -10°C. The plant loves warmth. It tolerates high temperatures well, but during such a period it requires abundant watering of the soil. In general, it is not whimsical to the temperature regime.

Watering:

The shrub is not very moisture-loving. Lavender is watered only in summer. Do not spray leaves. In winter, the plant is not watered.

Humidity:

The plant is capricious about moisture. The soil should be rather dry than wet. It is badly affected by dry air and very wet soil. The plant is sprayed only in room conditions.

Top dressing:

Fertilize Lavender mineral fertilizers in small quantities. Usually at the beginning of spring, humus is introduced into the soil. The plant is also fertilized with urea.

Transfer:

The plant is not transplanted, as Lavender does not tolerate this procedure well. The soil should be poor and not moisture resistant. Soil is better to take lime. When planting, this soil is mixed with coarse, sifted sand in a ratio of 4: 1.

Reproduction:

Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds are better to buy. They are sown in open ground in mid-spring. Soil temperature should be above 10°C. Seeds are sown in light, poor soil. Cuttings are plucked at the end of summer and placed in containers with earth. In the spring, they are planted in the ground at a distance of more than two meters from each other.

Some features:

A very hardy plant. Lavender does not need to be transplanted. The plant does not like to be touched. By the end of flowering, the branches are pruned. Before winter, the crown of the plant is sprinkled with ash, bone meal, after compost. Although Lavender is a frost-resistant plant, it is recommended to cover it with spruce branches for the winter. Lavender care includes: elimination of weeds, loosening the soil, watering, pruning, preparing for winter and fertilizing.

Lavender - diseases and pests:

Few pests. Plants must be treated for weeds. Among the pests are root rot. It affects the plant with excessive watering.

Through the efforts of breeders in the gardens of the Moscow region, every year more and more plants appear that are unusual for these regions. One of them is lavender. This heat-loving shrub wins the hearts of people with its unpretentiousness, pleasant fragrance, and elegant flowers. Landing and care does not take much effort.

Lavender flower: description

- semi-shrub of the Lamiaceae family (Lamiaceae), ornamental, perennial, evergreen plant. It grows wild in India, the Canary Islands, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Africa.

The stem is small. Branches begin almost at the very ground. Flowers pink to purple. Bloom up to 10 years. It grows up to 70-100 cm. They exude a pleasant smell.

Lavender is a relative of fragrant herbs:

• motherwort;
• basil;
• rosemary;
• oregano.

Types and varieties of lavender

The genus includes 47 species.

2 varieties are grown everywhere:

• broadleaf lavender (French);
• narrow-leaved lavender (English).

Lavender angustifolia (English)

Another name is lavender officinalis. Latin name- Lavandula angustifolia (angustifolia). Most suitable.

Blooms in July-August. Flowers - bluish-lilac, in the form of an ear. The leaves are bright green, narrow. Height varies from 30 cm to 1 meter. Grows 20 - 30 years. Seeds are stored for several years. It is found in the wild in the Kuban.

The most common varieties:

• Hidcote. Height 40 - 60 cm. Flowers - purple-blue. Recommended for decoration of fences.
• Voznesenskaya. Suitable for cultivation in Russia. Used for medicinal purposes.
• blue expanse. Height - up to 35 cm.
• blue dwarf. The flowers are purple. Height - up to 40 cm, winter-hardy variety.
• Purple Haze. Height - up to 40 cm, frost-resistant.
• Munstead. Planted in places with strong winds. The flowers are blue, height - 40 cm.
• Delight. Height - up to 60 cm. Flowers - blue-violet. Strongly branched.
• Southerner. The color of the flowers is dark purple. Height - up to 60 cm.

Lavender broadleaf (French)

Flowers with a strong scent. It blooms the earliest - in April-May. Sometimes 2 times a summer. Color - light purple. The leaves are wide. It tolerates cold down to -15 o C. It grows well indoors. Ancestor of decorative varieties. Not suitable for gardens near Moscow, as it does not tolerate frost. Most beautiful variety Papillon - with flowers in the form of a butterfly. The aroma is not very pleasant.

The most famous varieties:

• Regal Splendur;
• Helmsdale;
• Yellow Vale;
• Tiara;
• Rocky Road.

Lavender hybrid (Dutch)

The highest of all. Height - up to 2 meters. A hybrid of narrow-leaved lavender with other species. Blooms in July. The flowers are large, white and purple. Differs in decorative effect. The smell is strong, pleasant. Suitable for temperate climates. Used in industry.

Popular varieties:

• Richard Gray (dark purple flowers);
• Arabian Knight (lilac, blue);
• Grosso (purple-lilac);
• Alba (white flowers);
• Sawyers (light, lilac).

Lavender jagged

It is thermophilic, grows well in the southern regions. It tolerates cold down to -5 o C. It is difficult to tolerate planting in open ground. Suitable for growing at home. Flowers with a lilac hue. The leaves are indented, silvery. For the Moscow region, it is only suitable for growing in a pot. It reaches a height of up to one meter. The famous variety is Royal Crown.

How to grow more crops?

Any gardener and summer resident is pleased to receive big harvest with large fruits. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get the desired result.

Often plants lack nutrition and useful minerals

It has the following properties:

• Allows increase yield by 50% in just a few weeks of use.
• You can get good harvest even on low-fertility soils and in adverse climatic conditions
• Absolutely safe

Features of growing lavender in the suburbs

The difficult weather conditions of the Moscow region allow breeding only 1 species - narrow-leaved lavender. She is being used. Decoration of flower beds, flower beds. It finds use in aromatherapy. Used as a medicinal plant.

Seed-grown lavender is more sustainable. Seedlings in the Moscow region are planted in open ground in early summer. Sowing and further care is no different from other areas.

Care includes:

• watering;
• top dressing;
• pruning;
• loosening;
• weed removal;
• fight against diseases and pests.

Some gardeners believe that it does not need to be covered for the winter, it is enough just to cover it with snow.

She is bred in an apartment as well. But at home, she is more picky. Requires special temperature regime, air humidity. For the winter, they provide a microclimate for the transition to a state of rest.

Where to plant lavender on the site?

Lavender loves warmth and light. To get beautiful bushes, you need to choose the right place where to plant and the soil. Likes alkaline environment. If there is no elevated area on the territory, it must be artificially raised for landing.

Tips for choosing a landing site:

• Cannot be planted in acidic soil. Sandy, loamy soils are ideal.
• Does not tolerate places with surface groundwater.
• Lavender needs a sunny, windless place. In such a place, it blooms profusely.
• The acidity of the soil should be in the range of pH 6.5 - 7.5.
• We need fertile land.
• It is better to choose an elevated site.
• Looks great near curbs, walls of houses, paths.
• Does not tolerate swampy, waterlogged areas.
• It coexists well with cleoma, helichrysum, Spanish gorse.

The roots reach 2 - 3 meters in depth, so the surface occurrence of groundwater is detrimental to them. In heavy peat soils, lavender blooms.

Stories from our readers!
“I am a summer resident with many years of experience, and I started using this fertilizer only last year. I tested it on the most capricious vegetable in my garden - on tomatoes. The bushes grew and bloomed together, the harvest was more than usual. And they didn’t get sick with late blight, this is the main thing.

Fertilizer really gives more intensive growth garden plants, and they bear fruit much better. Now you can’t grow a normal crop without fertilizer, and this top dressing increases the number of vegetables, so I am very pleased with the result."

Methods of cultivation and reproduction

There are 4 ways to propagate lavender:

• stem layers;
• dividing the bush;
• growing from cuttings;
• seed.

The first 3 methods are vegetative. The seed method is rarely resorted to, since this is a long process, the first flowers can only be seen the next season. It will be of interest to those who do not yet have adult bushes.

Propagation by stem cuttings

• To do this, select a branch from the bottom.
• A small hole should be dug. Place the middle part of the branch in it. Put a stone on it or fix it with a bracket. Cover with earth. The top and bottom remain above the ground.
• It is required to water the branch as needed. It's not worth pouring.
• It should grow in this state for at least 3 months.
• You can transplant it in the fall. The layer must have roots.
• A seedling is transplanted with a clod of earth.
• Until the plant gets stronger, it needs to be sheltered from the wind.

The division of the bush

This method is used as a last resort. Lavender does not tolerate the division process well. To do this, it must have sections of stems that form a separate group. Optimal time division - early spring.

Instructions for dividing the bush:

1. Choose 3 - 5 stems that are nearby.
2. Dig out this section of the stems.
3. Make a hole for planting.
4. Fertilizer is placed at the bottom.
5. Roots are placed in the hole and covered with earth.
6. Watered. Cared for as usual.

Growing by cuttings

It happens in 2 ways: green cuttings and lignified cuttings:

1. The right time for cuttings is spring-summer, but no later than mid-July.
2. The roots should get stronger before winter. This takes 1.5 months.
3. It is necessary to choose a branch with at least 2 growth nodes (the place where the leaves begin to grow).
4. Green cuttings that have not had time to woody grow faster. Roots are better.
5. Prepare the pot for planting. It is better if it is clay - it passes air well.

Landing sequence:

1. Cut a cutting 13 cm long, obliquely. Under the node of growth.
2. All leaves must be removed. Leave only at the top.
3. When planting lignified cuttings, they should be placed in a root stimulator.
4. Plant at a shallow depth. Water.
5. At first, you need to keep in the shade. Subsequently take out in the sun.

Reproduction by seeds

Before sowing, hardening is carried out - stratification, for this:

1. seeds are mixed with sand;
2. the mixture is poured into a closed container, wrapped with polyethylene;
3. put in the refrigerator for 1.5 months.

Hardened seeds are sown in pots at the end of winter, beginning of spring. In the spring - in a greenhouse, a greenhouse. Depth - 3 mm. The sand does not need to be separated. Transplanted outdoors if there is no risk of frost.

For planting seedlings, seeds are sown in a wide, but shallow box. The maximum depth of the container is 7 cm. Cassettes are not suitable.

Seeding scheme:

1. The box is filled with earth. Level out.
2. From above, water is sprayed onto the soil with a spray gun.
3. Planted rarely, one at a time. Distance - 1.5 - 2 cm.
4. Sprinkle 2-3 mm of earth.
5. Close the top with glass, film.

Seeds need 2 conditions to germinate:

• sufficient lighting;
• room temperature - 15 - 21 o C.

Seedling care rules:

1. should be slightly damp.
2. The film, glass is sometimes opened for ventilation.
3. The first shoots - after 2 weeks. After their appearance, the glass, the film is removed.
4. The earth is kept slightly moist.
5. Put on a bright window sill.
6. Dive - after the appearance of 2 true sheets. Transplant with a clod of earth around the root.

Before being taken out to the street, to a permanent place, seedlings are hardened in advance on the balcony. To do this, they take it out for a short period of time to a new place. Starting at one o'clock. Further, the residence time is doubled. The first year of life, roots develop. Doesn't bloom.

Planting lavender in open ground

First you need to choose a landing site. She has a strong root system. Therefore, do not plant in waterlogged parts of the garden. Shade-tolerant, but prefers bright places. It is better to plant on elevated parts of the garden.

Planting instructions for lavender:

The first flowers can be seen at 2-3 years of planting. Flowering from June to August. Before planting, sand, humus, compost are added to the soil. . Adult bushes should not be transplanted . Seeds are sown in open ground in mid-May. Seedlings are transplanted in June.

When is the best time to plant: spring or autumn?

• Spring is considered the best time for planting.. This should be done when the danger of frost has passed.
• Acceptable in warm regions autumn planting but 2 months before frost.

Landing before winter

• Sowing is carried out in October.
• Planted in rows. The distance between the bushes is 20 cm.
• Transplant - in the spring. Plants should reach 10 cm in height.
• They are transplanted to a permanent place with a distance of 50 - 60 cm.

Caring for lavender bushes in the garden

All types of lavender need the same care.

Watering:

• Does not need frequent watering. Drought resistant.
• Water when the soil under the plant is dry.
• Yellow leaves are a sign of excess water, rotting roots.
• Slow growth can be the cause of excess moisture.

Loosening and mulching:

• Loosening is done after each heavy rain, watering.
• The earth under lavender should not harden. The plant will not have enough oxygen.
• - through humus, peat.

Pruning:

Top dressing and fertilizer:

• Nitrogen is added at the beginning of the season. They are needed for the growth of green mass. In the second half of the summer they are forbidden to use. The bush will not have time to prepare for the winter;
• Then during the flowering period - complex (mineral).
• Not demanding. Can be content with what is in the soil.
• If there is a layer of mulch, top dressing is not needed.

Diseases and pests

Lavender is resistant to diseases and pests.

With improper fit, care may cause problems:

1. Decay is the result improper watering. In this case, the plant is not amenable to treatment. It needs to be cut as soon as possible. Burn all parts.
2. The rainbow beetle is rare. It can be assembled by hand.
3. Drooling penny.
4. Cicada.

In the fight against insects, insecticides will come to the rescue.

Preparing for winter in the suburbs

Lavender bushes can grow in one place up to 20 years.

Growing lavender at home

Lavender is also grown at home.

To do this, follow the technology of planting and subsequent care:

1. Choose a pot of the right size. At least 2 liters in volume. Diameter - not less than 30 cm.
2. Drainage: nutshells, small stones, gravel.
3. Do not cover the hole at the bottom of the pot.
4. Soil acidity - from pH 6.5 to pH 7.5.

Rules for the care of lavender in the apartment:

1. Watering carry out at the same time. Water - settled, room temperature.
2. Fertilizer- the first 2 months.
3. The pot is placed on the south side. On the balcony, windowsill. If there is not enough light, you can use a fluorescent lamp.
4. After flowering- in the summer, should be cut off.
5. Wintering takes place in a cool place, at this time they often do not water.

The house does not put a flower near heating appliances. In the summer, the plant is taken out to the balcony. A small pot is not suitable for lavender, as it has powerful roots. As it grows, the capacity where it grows changes. A suitable variety for an apartment is a southerner.

Ways to grow lavender at home:

1. An annual shoot is cut from an adult bush and cuttings are cut, 10 cm long. They are planted in a box and covered with plastic wrap.
2. You can divide the existing bush. This happens by separately hilling each stem.
3. If a mature plant planted in big pot, propagated by cuttings. To do this, they choose to escape. Bend to the ground. Bury a part of 3 cm into the soil. Replant when the shoot takes root.
4. Seed propagation requires stratification, so it takes a lot of time. Seeds are planted at a depth of 3 mm.

Secrets of growing indoor lavender

It is more difficult to grow lavender at home than on the street. It is considered a capricious houseplant.

Features of home growing lavender:

• A special temperature regime is required. More frequent maintenance required.
• Takes up a lot of space. Maximum size reaches 3-5 years.
• A lot of light is needed. The best place- South side. If there is a shortage, artificial lighting will come to the rescue.
• During the summer, her permanent place must have a balcony. But it should be protected from the wind. It is necessary to accustom to the conditions of the balcony gradually. She loves warmth.
• It is necessary to observe the wintering regime. The temperature at this time of the year should be 10 -12 o C.
• Dislikes dry air. Humidifiers can be used.
• The soil must always be moist. The leaves also need to be watered.
• Do not fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. Potassium supplements are best. The first 2-2.5 months after sowing, it is required to water them with liquid fertilizer - 2 g per 1 liter of water.
• The ideal soil is a mixture of sand, peat with the addition of eggshells.
• Replanted every year. During the dormant period.
• Large pots are needed for good growth. There must be drainage at the bottom.

What mistakes are made when growing lavender?

1. Water frequently. Many gardeners are unaware that this is a drought tolerant plant.
2. Cut short. This can kill the bush.
3. Planted in heavy peat, clay soil.
4. They don’t know that lavender loses some of its foliage during wintering.. This is an evergreen shrub. But by spring, she may lose her attractiveness. Do not rush to remove it from the site.
5. Buy annual varieties. She shows all her beauty closer to 3 years. Therefore it is meaningless.
6. Lavender is thought to have a wonderful fragrance. The same variety can smell in different places differently. There are varieties that are odorless.

A novice gardener can also handle planting and caring for lavender. Therefore, it is increasingly used for landscaping areas. In Russia, narrow-leaved lavender is grown for these purposes. It perfectly tolerates the climatic conditions of the Moscow region.

Lavender is planted for the following purposes:

• design of alpine slides, hedges;
• drawing up flower arrangements;
• decoration of paths, sidewalks, flower beds, fences, buildings.

To plant lavender beautifully, you need to know the rules of sowing and care. An important role in the design of the site is played by the color of flowers, leaves, the height of the bush. Its flowers, which range from soft pink to deep purple, and its evergreen leaves will brighten up any garden.

Conclusion

Lavender is used in design suburban area, a private house in the suburbs (Moscow and the Moscow region). Lavender is not suitable for industrial cultivation in the Moscow region. The southern regions of the country (Crimea) are more suitable for this.

Among the variety of varieties there are those that can winter in these natural conditions. The positives don't end with the decorativeness. it treatment plant widely used in folk medicine.

Benefits of planting lavender:

• unpretentiousness;
• frost resistance;
• beautiful appearance during the whole year;
• pleasant aroma.

Landing in the country is not a difficult process. Care includes the same items as for other plants: watering, fertilizing, pruning, shelter for the winter.

Video: detailed agricultural technology growing lavender