Lavendula

We are very excited to see 2024 bring forth a bumper crop of Lavender at Pipe Creek Farm!

This year we will be planting Lavandula x intermedia, which is a hybrid cross between English Lavender and Portuguese Lavender. It is somewhat less hardy, but grows larger and will produce more flower spikes. It should be a late bloomer, blooming from July to September. It will go to seed from August to October. You can find this under its popular name Phenominal.

We already grow Lavandula angustifolia, also known as English lavender, which is a woody herb that produces small, fragrant flowers in the summer. It’s a member of the Lamiaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean. Also known as Hidcote, we have had good luck with it but a lot of die back in the early years. It is now at home on our lower hills, somewhat protected by the nursery garden above- in clay soil.

We will also be introducing Lavandula x intermedia Provence. Not as easy to grow and will not tolerate temperatures under 15 degrees. But it is an especially aromatic lavender- great for sachets- so lets give it a shot in the nursery garden for 2 years- somewhat protected. We can place a few in pots around the farm as well and over winter the first year in the greenhouse.

Provence will replace the Lavandula angustifolia – Super Blue that was our last year’s favorite. It just loved the farm and tolerated some drought and rain pours that we get ocassionally. We mostly had them in pots and they thrived- making lovey mounds in the pots. We have not experienced a winter with these beauties yet but we are hopeful. If all goes well, they will move next to the Hidcote and its companion Sage plants in the Sage garden.

HOW TO PLANT LAVENDER:

Lavender appreciates an open sunny location. It grows well in poor alkaline soil. It can be drought tolerant and should only be irrigated rarely – over watered plants get floppy. It is hardy to below 15 degrees F. Lavender can be long lived if pruned hard after flowering in late summer –We do this after 4 years of growth at Pipe Creek. When you prune cut back deep into the leafy stems above the hard wood – do not prune in late fall or winter.

Lavender needs to be in full sun at least 6 hours per day. Find a spot that will allow it to spread and plant each plant with 24 inches between so that the air and soil stay dry. You can mulch which helps in the winter but do not let the mulch touch the actual stems as it will retain too much water and the plant will not thrive. Professional growers plant in raised rows or mounds to keep the soil well drained. We use hillsides.

Lavender is attractive to bees but not particularly to browsing animals – deer tend to leave alone but rabbits sometimes nibble it. Lavender is great in the garden and useful for fresh sachets, dried for potpourri and the edible flowers for salads or cooking.

What to make once you have a crop:

Sachets, soap, candles, flavored salts and peppers, lotions, Essential Oils, Bouquets, Honey, Syrup and infused drinks (tea, gin, wine)

Check out our Instagram LIVE show on Lavender on @thedistillerycollective. And visit us to purchase fabulous lavender products from Star Bright Farm at the Distillery Wed-Sun.