Growing Lavender

Learn to Grow and Use Lavender

Lavender has been a popular cultivated plant for many centuries and is perhaps the most common, and certainly one of the most versatile herbs you could ever consider growing. It can be grown as a shrub, a tub plant or a hedge; you can keep it cut low or let it grow to over a metre tall, depending on the species. The flowers and leaves can be used for medicinal, craft, cosmetic and even culinary purposes. It is sold as ‘bunched lavender’, stripped flowers for crafts and distilled for its essential oil – making it a profitable commodity world-wide

Lavender can be grown in most temperate and sub tropical climates; but you so need the right species for the right place; and if you want plants to live long; they need to be treated a particular way.

For the best commercial results, it may be better to have a temperate climate, relatively low humidity, and well drained alkaline soils.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Classification and identification of lavender.
   • General characteristics of Lanendula.
   • Resources, contacts (i.e. nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.).
2. Soils, Fertilisers and Nutrition for Lavender
   • Soil structure.
   • pH.
   • Organic matter.
   • Ameliorants.
   • Organic growing.
3. Cultural Techniques for Lavender Growing
   • Pruning.
   • Water management (mulching, irrigation, drainage, etc.).
   • Planting and establishment methods.
   • Crop scheduling.
   • No dig gardening.
4. Lavender Propagation
   • Propagation from cuttings.
   • Propagation growth media.
   • Other propagation methods.
5. Commercial Alternatives
   • Managing a Market Garden.
   • Standards.
   • Mulches.
   • Problems and their control.
   • Weed control without chemicals.
   • Economic outlook for herbs.
6. Plant Variety Selection and Breeding
   • Breeding and selecting new varieties.
   • Lavender clone selection for essential oils in Tasmania.
7. Building Plant Knowledge
   • Lavender types and other varieties.
   • Advantages and disadvantages of different varieties.
8. Harvesting, Postharvest Treatment and Storage
   • Harvesting.
   • Distillation and oils.
   • Post harvest preservation of fresh product.
   • Drying lavender.
9. Processing and Making Lavender Products
   • Lavender crafts.
   • Using herbs in cooking.
   • Selling herb products.
10. Marketing Lavender Produce
    • How to market your produce.
    • Considering your market.
    • Market research.
    • Selling successfully.

Aims

• Describe the plant naming system and classification of plants.
• Discuss the nature and scope of the Lavender genus.
• Describe the nutritional requirements of the lavender species.
• Explain the cultural requirements of the lavender species.
• Explain propagating techniques specific to lavender
• Describe commercial lavender growing operations.
• Select species appropriate to the climatic and soil conditions of a chosen locality.
• Describe of a variety of lavender species and cultivars.
• Describe the production processes on a lavender farm.
• Describe various lavender products and discuss the way in which they are processed.
• Explain the processes used in the marketing of lavender products.

What You Will Do

• Prepare a collection of 20 different types of lavender in the form of pressed, dried, labelled specimens.
• Compile a resource file of contacts relevant to lavender and lavender growing.
• Contact a number of lavender related organisations for information on their activities in the industry.
• Collect and test at least three different soil samples.
• Identify and (optional) manufacture a potting mix suitable for lavender growing.
• Collect information on organic and inorganic fertilisers from fertiliser companies.
• Research information on machinery used in horticulture by contacting the companies that produce it.
• Produce a no dig garden or an organic garden.
• Manufacture a propagating mix for lavender cuttings.
• Take lavender cuttings for propagation.
• Contact a herb nursery to observe their operation.
• Research irrigation equipment by contacting irrigation suppliers.
• Cross pollinate lavender and grow the resulting seed.
• Compare various types of lavender.
• Harvest a number of different types of lavender.
• Produce a small quantity of lavender oil.
• Produce two non edible and one edible product containing lavender.
• Visit a shop selling lavender products to observe marketing procedures.

Lavender Types and Classification

Lavender is perhaps one of the most popular herbs grown worldwide. Thousands of acres of lavender are grown commercially, particularly in Europe, for lavender oil which is mainly used in cosmetics and soaps. The plants are ideal for hedges, garden shrubs and topiary. Dried flowers are used in potpourri, sachets, and other crafts. Dried flowers are also, sometimes used in cooking (eg. to flavour bread or biscuits).

Lavenders are in the genus Lavandula - there are approximately 30 species of lavender, many subspecies and numerous cultivars.

How Can You Benefit From This Course?

• Follow a passion, develop horticultural and manufacturing skills.
• Start a lavender farm.
• Produce lavender products.
• Start a business or build a career with lavender.

HOW TO ENROL

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