If you ’ve ever been bewitch by the scent and quite a little of afield of lavenderin full blooming in mid - summer and thought , “ I desire to bulge a lavender farm , ” you are n’t alone . In the same family as plenty , this herb is not as easy to grow as its cousin . Lavender is peculiar about its growing prerequisite and has specific harvest and saving motivation , produce growing lavender commercially a focused — yet rewarding — endeavor .
Choose Your Lavender Species
As you get into lilac farming , you might be surprised at the number of varieties of lavender . There are more than 20 species , each with multiple change . Most have the signature purple bud , but there ’s also pinkish lavender , red lavender and white lavender , adding diversity to a small - shell lavender James Leonard Farmer ’ options . sizable lavender plants of all varieties can farm for 10 to 20 years .
Here are some varieties you may require to consider as you commence farming lavender :
Lavender Cultivation
Climate
As a Mediterranean herb , lavender likes hot , dry , sunny climes . In the U.S. , many successful lavender farms are located along large body of piddle , such as lakes , that have their own quick microclimates .
Propagation
Lavender is difficult to grow from seed , require five weeks of cold social stratification before imbed and , according to North Carolina State University , six month before the seedling rise to transplant size .
Purchasing lavender seedling ortaking cuttingsfrom existing works is an easier way to spring up lavender . Colorado State University Extension suggests take carving from stems with no flower buds on them just after the lavender plant life has bloomed . Remove leaves from the bottom one-half , and put the lavender dilute into well - draining aseptic pot soil or vermiculite . Keep the cuttings watered , and they should root in about three weeks . transplantation these rooted lavender slip into 2- to 4 - inch pots . Once they have evolve strong base , imbed the lilac-colored seedlings in the garden . The University of Vermont also propose dividing lilac root clumps in the crepuscle .
Planting
Lavender likes elbow room to grow , so depending on the size of the lavender variety , space them 2 to 3 feet apart within the wrangle with 3 to 6 foot between the rows . Put lavender plants in full Lord’s Day .
grime Needs
One affair every lavender grower will accord on is that lavender does n’t like wet foot . This statement has more to do with the ground type than the amount of water it ’s given . Loose , well - enfeeble , alkaline filth that ’s not too rich is key to lilac - farm success .
Mulching
Typicalorganic mulchesare not good for lavender because of the plant life ’s susceptibility to mold and fungus . contraband landscape fabric is a overbold grass roadblock for growing lavender works . Mulching lavender with livid sand or white stones may increase the plant life ’s production of oils and flowers while keep down weeds and reduce fungus infections .
Irrigation
The Colorado State University Extension commend watering lavender once or double per week until plants are established . Water mature lavender plants every two to three weeks until buds form , and then once or doubly hebdomadal until harvest . With unconstipated rainfall throughout the grow time of year , you may not need to water your established lavender works at all .
Overwintering
Having been developed along the Mediterranean Sea , lavender is not accustomed to cold atmospheric condition and snow . If you have difficult wintertime , protect your lavender flora with heavy mulch , cloth row covers and wind block .
Harvesting Lavender
Use scissor grip to reap lavender by the stem — just under the first hardening of leafage — in the morning , when the oils are the most concentrated . Lavender is well harvested when approximately half of the blossom buds have opened .
Preserving, Storing and Drying Lavender
There are several ways you may opt to box or preserver your lavender if you ’re planning to sell it at the farmers market or via wholesale . Perhaps the easiest method acting is dry out lavender . Lavender dries well in bundles of 50 to 100 stem secured with gum elastic band . Hang the lavender package in a nerveless , sinister place with good air circulation for seven to 14 days .
Lavender Oil: To Make Or Not?
Lavender is said to have been used as a perfume by ancient Greeks and Romans and as a germicide and insect repellent since the Middle Ages . Even today , the majority of lavender is bring on for its essential oils and fragrance production , says the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension .
There is no promiscuous answer to how to make lilac-colored oil . accord the Department of Agriculture , Food and Rural Development in Alberta , Canada , there are several mean of distilling lavender all important vegetable oil :
Hydrosols are well-off to produce for home - scale lavender farmers and require a less expensive equipment investing . Ben Alkire , a consultant in the essential - crude industry , hint not trying to turn lavender all-important - vegetable oil production into a full - time income , rather buy essential oil colour to turn into value - tot merchandise to deal at your lavender farm and through other direct - marketing outlets .
How To Make Money Growing Lavender
Turning your lilac farm into an agritourism destination is one way to profit from growing this herb — mass love to inspect beautiful farms ! However , there are multiple other money - making methods you could incorporate into your lavender - farm business design .
Lavender is highly sought after for culinary and medicinal uses . Today’sculinary usesfor lavender include as season for everything from vinegars to baked good . Herbal - medicinal uses of lavender include remedies for headaches , toothaches , cheek and digestive issues . economic value - add lavender products to take let in dried lilac buds , lilac-colored bathing tub products , lavender sugar , lilac acetum , lavender wands , lavender sachets and dried - lilac-colored flush arrangement .
You might find a grocery for sassy or dried lavender among local chefs , bakehouse and high - goal mixologist ; florists ; and max , app and cd makers . you could also peddle your lavender ware for sale right away from your farm and through farmers ’ market and on handmade - goods websites , such as Etsy.com .
Growing lavender for profit is a challenging venture with a beautiful result — a field full of lavender . jump a lavender farm opens many alternative for small - scale farmers , from lilac-colored agritourism to value - tot lavender product . start up growing today and see where your imagery takes you .
