Lavandula Lavender from the family Lamiacea Jekka's Herb of the month, August
" Lavender's soothing and calming properties are well known; a tea made from lavender flowers can help you sleep. But when the Romans introduced it to Britain, it was added to their bathwater to promote the healing of cuts and wounds, and as a flea and nit repellant. " Jekka McVicar
The word 'Lavender' derives from the Latin lava, 'to wash'.
Lavandula angustifolia 'Twickel Purple'
Lavandula x intermedia Old English Group
Lavender is native of the Mediterranean region,
Canary Isles and India. Now cultivated in different regions of the world, Lavender grows in well drained soil and a sunny position.
After the Romans introduced Lavender to Britain, Monks cultivated it in their monastic gardens. Little more was recorded until Tudor times, when people noted its fragrance and peculiar power to ease joints and relieve tiredness. It was transported in hige quantities from herb farms to the London Herb Market at Bucklesbury. 'Who will buy my lavender' became perhaps the most famous of all London street cries.
Lavender was used as a strewing herb for its insect repellant properties, and for masking household and street smells.
Lavender was also carried in nosegays to ward off the plague and pestilence. In France, in the 17th century, vast fields of lavender were grown for the perfume, and this continues to the present day.
Propagation
Seed: Lavender seed should be sown fresh in the autumn on the surface of a seed or plug tray and covered with perlite. It germinates quite readily with a bottom heat of 4-10°C (40-50 °F). Winter the seedlings in a cold greenhouse or cold conservatory with plenty of ventilation.
In spring, prick out and pot on using a standard seed compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark. Let the young plant establish a good-size root ball before planting out in a perpared site in the early summer.
Cuttings: Lavender cuttings are a more reliable method of propagation. Take softwood cuttings from non-flowering stems in spring. Root in a standard seed compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark. Take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer or early autumn from the strong new growth. Once the cuttings have rooted well, it is better to pot them up and winter the young lavenders in a cold greenhouse or conservatory rather than plant them out in the first winter. In the spring, plant them out in well drained, fertile soil at a distance of 45-60cm apart, or 30cm apart for an average hedge.
Layering: This is easily done in the autumn. Most hardy lavenders respond well to this form of propagation.
Garden Cultivation: Lavender is one of the most popular plants in today's herb garden, and is particularly useful in borders, edges, as internal hedges and on top of dry walls.
All the species require an open, sunny position, and a well-drained, fertile soil. But lavender will adapt to semi-shade as long as the soil conditions are met, otherwise it will die in winter. If you have very cold winter temperatures, it is worth growing lavenders in containers to move inside in the winter.
Lavandula 'Fathead
Lavandula 'Helmsdale' PBR
Maintain your lavender bush by trimming it into shape every year in the spring, remembering not to cut into the old wood as this will not re-shoot.
After flowering, trim back to the leaves. In the early autumn, trim again, making sure this is well before the first autumn frosts, otherwise the new growth will be too soft and be damaged. By trimming this way, you will keep the bush neat and encourage it to make new growth, so stopping it becoming woody.
If you have inherited a straggly mature plant then give it a good cut back in autumn, followed by a second cut in the spring and then adopt the above routine. If the plant is aged, it is advisable to propagate some of the autumn cuts, so preserving the plant if all else fails.
Container Growing: Lavender grows well in containers, and can be protected from low winter temperatures by moving it inside. Use a soil based compost mixed in equal parts with composted fine bark. The ideal position is sun, but lavenders will cope with partial shade, though the aroma can be impaired. Feed regularly through the flowering season with liquid fertiliser. Allow the compost to dry out in winter (not totally but nearly) and slowly reintroduce watering in spring.
Harvesting: Gather lavender flowers as they open and dry on open trays or by hanging in small bunches. Pick the leaves any time for use fresh, or before flowering if drying.
Lavendula viridis
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Folgate’
Lavandula 'Willow Vale' AGM
Uses:
Culinary: Lavender has not been used much in cooking in the past, but is being used increasingly today. Use the flowers to flavour a herb jelly, or a vinegar, or the flowers can be crystallized. Use both the lavender leaf and flower to make lavender biscuits. A few leaves can add flavour to roast lamb.
Medicinal:Throughout history, lavender has been used medicinally to soothe, sedate and suppress. Nowadays it is the essential oil that is in great demand for its many beneficial effects.
The oil was traditionally inhaled to prevent vertigo and fainting. It is an excellent remedy for burns and stings, and its strong antibacterial action helps to heal cuts. The oil also kills diphtheria and typhoid bacilli as well as streptococcus and pneumococcus.
Add 6 drops of oil to bath water to calm irritable children and help them sleep. Place 1 drop on the temple for headache relief. Blend for use as a massage oil in aromatherapy, for throat infections, skin sores, inflammation, rheumatic aches, anxiety, insomnia, depression.
Other Uses : Rub fresh flowers onto skin or pin a sprig onto clothes to discourage flies. Use flowers in pot pourri, herb pillows and linen sachets - they make a good moth repellant.
How to Order: we currently grow over 25 varieties
of Lavender. Jekka and the team's favourites are listed below, or use our Search page to see all of the varities grown organically here on the farm.
