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Garden Gate:  Lavender query  |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 26 2006 : 8:50:25 PM
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I love lavender and have a few plants, but they seem to be growing slowly. Three of them are 4 year old plants, and I would think they would be bigger and producing more than they are. I want to put more lavender in the garden but need to know what am I doing wrong?
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 26 2006 : 10:02:50 PM
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| It is hard to tell unless you tell us what you are doing. :) How often are you watering, how big are they, how much do they produce, when they are growing how often do you harvest, what varieties do you have, how do you fertilize etc... |
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junebug
True Blue Farmgirl
2421 Posts
Sue
West Plains,
Mo.
USA
2421 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 04:41:43 AM
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Julia, the best thing to do is research what varieties grow best for your zone, and are you cutting them back often enough? Lavender is my favorite but not all grow well here in zone 6 so I have to be careful there.
" Aspire to Inspire before you Expire"
www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com
www.countrypleasures.motime.com |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 05:40:20 AM
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Julia, that really is the best advice, research what plants you have. Mine grows like crazy & needs to be cut often. I've got what they call Fat Spike, it grows well in my zone(7) Different plants will do different things. It took 2 yrs, before I saw purple flowers. Michele
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 10:27:29 AM
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| My plants in Wyoming grew to be about 3 feet tall the first year and I had to cut them back about once a month or so. It just depends :) The ones I have here in idaho are being stubborn and staying itsy bitsy. We shall see how they do this year :) |
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pollyesther
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Karen
FL
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2006 : 9:36:45 PM
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| I have read that many lavender varieties prefer sandy soil and that French lavender grows better stateside than English varieties generally. |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2006 : 09:03:39 AM
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Good advice girls. I have done my reading on Lavender to help them do better, but they are pokey. I had three of the plants when we lived in the Cascade MTs. and they did great. Now I live on the coast and they aren't doing as well. They have been in the ground for 3 years. I water the garden twice a week unless it is extra hot. I use manure tea as fertilizer. I guess it is the cutting back part that maybe is awry. I do cut off the spent flowers as the seeason goes. Not to mention the blooms for vases. I don't cut back(by half) the bush till fall when the bushes stop producing. so I guess I will have to see what this year brings. Thanks girls!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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manda
Farmgirl in Training
49 Posts
amanda
corralitos
cA
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2006 : 9:28:23 PM
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I have tons of lavender growing on my property and I've found lavender doesn't like to be fussed at. It does well with little water and no fertilizer and needs great drainage -it does not like it's feet wet. Plus I am in California and they love full sun which we get plenty of. I've found the Spanish varieties aren't as hearty as the English or French. I do give them a haircut late fall and they are gorgeous by spring. I have about 15 varieties including a white and pink.
Manda |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 10:01:26 AM
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Thanks Manda. I think that maybe my problem has been that I have been giving them manure tea with the rest of my plants and light the soil for them.. I won't fertilize them this year and see what happens. My dream is to some day have a lavender farm.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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realme52
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
Klara
Gatesville
Texas
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 10:25:54 AM
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I had the same experience with my lavender: put them in full sun and leave them alone. They don't like to get a lot of attention, seems to me.
How nice of a dream you have, to have a Lavender farm! It has so many great properties that will transfer to what you are doing... Good luck with it!
From this hour I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 10:31:06 AM
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Thanks Klara! Whenever I see pictures of lavender fields, it just does something to my soul.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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realme52
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
Klara
Gatesville
Texas
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 10:35:50 AM
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If it touches your soul, it is the right thing for you!
Did you ever get a chance to go to Southern France? To me, that is the "birthplace" of all lavender fields! If you haven't been there, you should make it a birthday wish or somethibng, and see it. The air, the food, the landscape, everything is full of lavender... heavenly!
From this hour I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 9:54:04 PM
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Oooh! How I would love that! Hopfully someday! Till then I will have to make my own little france in the backyard! 
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
Edited by - Julia on Mar 06 2006 9:55:00 PM |
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sugarsfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Leah
Woodward
Iowa
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2006 : 10:25:05 PM
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All this talk about lavender is making me want plant a whole bunch! Can I plant lavender in the spring?
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi |
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junebug
True Blue Farmgirl
2421 Posts
Sue
West Plains,
Mo.
USA
2421 Posts |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2006 : 10:34:47 AM
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Ain't that the truth!!!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Garden Gate: Lavender query |
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Lavender query
