Lavender Harvest

My favorite use for lavender is making jelly. Intensely aromatic and mildly flavored it graces biscuits, scones and shortbread elegantly. Nothing can compare!

"Hanged up in houses,

it doth very well attemper the aire,

coole and make the place to delight

and comfort of such as are within."

~John Gerard, 1597~

Lavender has been used for centuries for it's aromatic and culinary benefits so it makes sense to include this herb in your urban homestead plan. Not only is it useful to humans but the bees love it too. This is why I decided to install 25 plants (three different varieties) near my hives. I chose the English Lavender 'Sachet' for it's excellent oil quality to use in sachets for the dryer and potpourri. It was developed in Oregon so it is a good choice for my growing zone. 

I also planted the French lavender 'Provence'. It will tolerate damp soil well and will be used for making Herbs de Provence, jelly, cookies and other sweets as it is not as spicy as other lavenders. Also, with it's extremely long stems it is ideal for cutting.

The third variety I chose was Lavandula x intermedia 'Fred Boutin' for it's lovely grey green foliage and because it flowers late in the summer and into fall giving my bees a little snack before settling into the hive for winter. It also keeps it's color well when dried and has long, slender stems for crafting.

Lavender needs sun and sandy well drained soil. Humidity and wet soils rather than cold will be the death of it. Do plenty of research before choosing a variety and planting area to insure a long lived, thriving plant. The larger varieties can be pruned by as much as one-third in springtime and the smaller varieties only a few inches. Shape into mounds keeping pruning methods in mind as you harvest. Lavenders that flower in the early spring and are harvested may have a bonus rebloom in late summer. 

When choosing varieties for your landscape consider site, bloom time (aiming for successive bloom times), and intended uses. Following these guidelines will help you have a successful lavender garden!