"Growing Lavender - Everywhere!"
Growing lavender from established greenhouse plants is much quicker than starting from seed. It's possible, but the seeds are often very slow to germinate - up to 3 months sometimes, and they need a constant temperature - around 15 degress C. Lavender can be propagated from cuttings or, as in most woody plants, will produce roots when branches are 'layered': Stretch out a lower branch and fix to the soil with a V shaped peg until roots have developed. This needs to be done from a healthy established plant. Lavender seed can be bought here (Thompson & Morgan UK):
Choose a sunny position, away from cold air currents. Lavender will grow in most soils, as long as it's well-drained and not too acid. However, the more neutral the soil, the more essential oils the plant will produce. Plant out in late spring, after any threat of frost. Dig a large enough hole for the small plant, fill in, firm down and water well.
Lavender has been grown by home-gardeners for thousands of years. It can be trained to grow as a hedgerow, and growing cabbages along it's length will produce a great crop of each! Use sparingly in cooking - lavender is VERY strong in taste, and just a tiny flower chopped into the salad bowl will be enough to give your salad an exotic edge! Infuse as a tea, and either drink or use to dab the forehead when suffering from headaches.   Harvest long flowering stalks. Hang to dry and then make pot pourri sachets for your clothes drawers or cupboards.Give them away as gifts to friends at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Growing lavender to make organic gifts gives you lots of environment-friendly brownie points! Infusions of lavender flowers have been used to soothe insect bites and for many years, the flowers and seeds have been made into 'lavender bags'. These are placed under the pillow to induce a restful night's sleep. The flowers are also used in bags for freshening clothes and lavender bags placed between clothes in a drawer or hanging in a wardrobe will ensure your clothes smell fresh and clean.Lavender oil has been proved scientifically to have healing properties but care should be taken in it's use as it can be an irritant to those with flower allergies. Lavender flowers can be candied and used for decorating cakes. The flowers are not only very attractive and used in floral arrangements, but they are also much favoured by honey producers. The nectar collected from lavender produces some of the best tasting honey in the world! Dry lavender flowers and use in lavender bags or pot pourri for the smell of summer all year round! Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Garden Herbs Page Back To Flower And Garden Tips Homepage Click Here To Subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growinglavender.html |
