An herb garden without the strongly scented and versatile lavender is unthinkable - especially in a Mediterranean bed together with rosemary, thyme, oregano & Co. The pretty, lush blue to violet flowers are an eye-catcher in every garden. In this article we will tell you the best tips and tricks on how you can grow lavender in your garden - or on the balcony.
How do I plant lavender correctly?
To plant lavender successfully, you should choose a sunny location, use permeable and slightly calcareous soil and plant young plants about 30 centimeters apart. Lavender is also suitable for pot cultivation.
Where does lavender come from?
Lavender, which comes from the mint family, originally comes from the Mediterranean region, where it still grows wild today. In the High Middle Ages, traveling monks of the Benedictine Order brought the medicinal herb across the Alps, where it quickly found a new home in many monastery and farm gardens. The sun-hungry lavender is now widespread in almost all climatic areas of the world.
What does lavender look like?
Lavender is botanically a subshrub. The shoots, which grow up to 60 centimeters long, become woody at the base. The leaves are grey-green, tomentose and curled outwards at the edge to reduce evaporation. The flowers are usually purple, some varieties also white, pink or dark blue. They stand at the top of the shoot in so-called false spikes. First you see the colored calyx, from which the intensely fragrant flowers then unfold.
What can I use lavender for?
The flowers in particular contain essential oils - which are responsible for the plant's intoxicating scent - coumarins and flavonoids. There are also tannins and bitter substances. Young shoot tips and leaves flavor herb sauces, fish soups, stews and lamb dishes. They are similar in taste to rosemary. When used internally, lavender has a calming effect and helps with flatulence. A tea made from the flowers is therefore ideal for stressful conditions, but is also said to be helpful for cardiovascular problems. You can also use lavender as a bath additive or relieve headaches with the intoxicating scent of lavender oil. Moths are also not very enthusiastic about this smell. Scented sachets with dried lavender flowers help keep pests out of wardrobes. Lavender also plays a major role as a scent in perfumes and soaps.
Where do I get plants?
Young plants are available in every garden center or in many nurseries. However, you can also buy seeds and grow your own lavender plants. But remember that lavender grows very slowly.
Is lavender perennial or annual?
Lavender is a perennial plant that, however, needs to be pruned vigorously and is also quite sensitive to cold. Especially in colder regions, lavender needs winter protection made from brushwood; some varieties can even only be kept in pots. These include the particularly aromatic crested lavender, which tolerates cold very poorly and should therefore be kept frost-free, but cool and as brightly as possible over the winter.
What location does lavender need?
A sunny spot protected from wind is ideal. If possible, the sun should shine here from morning to evening. This is not only important so that the lavender grows lushly - you will clearly be able to taste and smell the difference. It's not for nothing that Mediterranean herbs like lavender have such a particularly intense taste and aroma. A partially shaded location is rather suboptimal, as the herb cannot then develop its full intensity. Be careful with depressions in the ground: cold night air collects in them, which the heat-loving lavender doesn't appreciate at all.
Does lavender fit in a herb spiral?
The herb spiral is ideal for growing herbs - especially in a small garden. This is simply a mound of earth built in a spiral or snail shape and surrounded by stones. Plan the spiral as generously as possible, because if it is too small, the plants will crowd each other and suffer from a lack of light. A possible planting could look something like this: You can plant moisture-loving herbs such as chives and parsley at the foot of the spiral wall, and drought-loving herbs such as savory, marjoram, hyssop, pimpinelle or sage further up. The south and west sides, on the other hand, offer ideal conditions for thyme, rosemary and lavender. Chives, mint, cress, lemon balm and sorrel are particularly popular on the north and east sides.
Which soil does the herb prefer?
Lavender, as a typical Mediterranean plant, has only a low need for moisture and nutrients. Therefore, you should keep the small shrub, which comes 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.
What distance does lavender need?
Lavender requires a lot of space because the plant grows bushy. Therefore, you should plant the individual young plants about 30 centimeters apart.
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 take between two to three weeks to sprout. Lavender is a light germinator, i.e. H. Under no circumstances should you cover the seeds with soil. From May you can plant the young plants in the garden.
How can I propagate lavender?
Lavender is usually propagated by division or cuttings. To propagate from cuttings, cut off a few shoot tips in spring - before the flowering period - and place them in a sandy substrate. Beforehand, you can dip the interface in rooting powder. Keep the substrate slightly moist, but not wet. Don't be surprised if the cuttings don't seem to grow - it takes a long time for the young plants to take root.
Can I also grow lavender in a pot?
Lavender is ideal for growing in pots, but needs sufficiently deep and large pots. The plant develops a very deep taproot, which is why shallow containers - such as bowls or balcony boxes - are unsuitable. The Schopf lavender in particular is perfect for keeping in a pot on a balcony or terrace.
When do I have to repot lavender?
Lavender, however, needs a lot of space, so it is better to repot the plant once too often than once too little. Spring is best suited for such an action, before the first new shoots begin to sprout.
Can lavender also be added to the garden bed?
Yes, lavender feels very comfortable in the company of other (Mediterranean) herbs, but also in the vegetable or flower bed. However, not all varieties are suitable for planting outdoors; for this purpose it is best to choose real lavender.
When does lavender bloom?
Depending on the variety, lavender blooms throughout the summer: flowering time is between June and September. It is best to cut away wilted flower spikes straight away.
Is lavender poisonous?
No, lavender is not poisonous. Quite the opposite: the herb has been known for centuries as a scent, spice and medicinal herb.
Which plant parts can I use and how?
Lavender flowers in particular are used, mostly dried, but also freshly picked. When dosed sparingly, the young leaves can also be used as a spice.
When and how can I harvest?
You can cut young leaves and twigs as needed at any time. To dry, cut the flower shoots as soon as the small flowers have opened. To do this, the flower stalks are cut off in the midday sun and dried over moderate heat. Then remove the flowers and store them in a dark container.
Can you plant lavender as a hedge?
You can also plant low hedges with lavender bushes. This is a wonderful way to border herb and rose beds in particular.
Good neighbors / Bad neighbors
Lavender harmonizes particularly well with other Mediterranean herbs, but also with fragrant roses.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to plant lavender in pots, they should have a diameter of at least 20 centimeters. In addition, a drainage hole in the floor ensures that no waterlogging occurs. To grow lavender, pots made of clay or wood are recommended, as these can store moisture and prevent the plant from drying out.