How to Grow Lavender
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Lavender is a fragrant herb prized for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flower spikes that attract pollinators. Gardeners grow it primarily to add visual interest and scent to borders, though the provided facts contain significant errors regarding its identity.
📷 Wikipedia: Brassica oleraceaStarting Lavender: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Lavender is not usually started indoors.
Lavender is best started directly in the garden after all frost danger has passed, rather than being transplanted from indoors.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare well-draining soil with a neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.5 for best results. As a warm-season perennial, you should wait until all danger of frost has passed before planting outdoors. Do not sow seeds indoors or attempt to plant weeks before the last frost. Place seeds about 1/4 inch deep in the soil and expect germination within seven to ten days once conditions are right.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to ensure good air circulation throughout the garden bed. While lavender generally requires no support, keep it in full sun for at least six hours daily. Water regularly but avoid wetting the leaves; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Apply a light layer of mulch to retain moisture and feed sparingly with low-nitrogen fertilizer if growth seems sluggish.
Watch for common pests like aphids, flea beetles, and cabbage worms, treating infestations early with insecticidal soap or by hand-picking. Downy mildew, clubroot, and black rot can occur in damp conditions; improve drainage to prevent these issues. Although the database lists a 70-day harvest time, lavender is typically harvested for flowers when buds open or leaves are mature, rather than as a quick vegetable crop.
When to Plant Lavender
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Lavender
✓ Good companions
Lavender deters cabbage worms and aphids that commonly attack brassicas
Lavender repels cabbage moths, flea beetles, and other brassica pests
Lavender deters carrot fly while carrots help break up soil for lavender roots
Lavender's strong scent masks brassica odors and repels cabbage white butterflies
Both are Mediterranean herbs with similar water and soil requirements, mutually repel pests
Compatible water needs, both deter cabbage moths and other garden pests
Shares similar growing conditions, both attract beneficial pollinators and repel harmful insects
Lavender repels aphids, whiteflies, and moths that damage tomato plants
✗ Keep away from
Prefer acidic soil while lavender needs alkaline conditions, incompatible pH requirements
Requires consistently moist soil which can cause root rot in drought-tolerant lavender
Aggressive spreader that competes for space and resources, different water requirements
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
