In 2014, the Japanese company Takii seed introduced a petunia with a striking salmon-orange petal color. By association with bright colors southern sunset sky, the unique hybrid was named African Sunset (“African Sunset”). Needless to say, this petunia instantly won the hearts of gardeners and was in great demand. But in the last two years, the curiosity has suddenly disappeared from shop windows. Where did the orange petunia go?
Our family loves sweet pepper, so we plant it every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season, I cultivate them all the time. And every year I try to try something new. Pepper is a heat-loving and rather whimsical plant. About varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and productive sweet pepper, which grows well with me, and will be discussed further. I live in middle lane Russia.
Meat cutlets with broccoli in bechamel sauce - great idea for a quick lunch or dinner. Start by cooking the minced meat, while bringing 2 liters of water to a boil to blanch the broccoli. By the time the cutlets are fried, the cabbage will be ready. It remains to collect the products in the pan, season with sauce and bring to readiness. Broccoli needs to be cooked quickly to keep its bright green color, which either fades or turns brown when cooked for a long time.
Home floriculture - not only fascinating process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. And what about those who do not have experience, but want to have a home houseplants- not stretched stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy, not evocative guilt by their extinction? For beginners and flower growers who are not burdened with a long experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.
Lush cheesecakes in a pan with banana-apple confiture is another recipe for everyone's favorite dish. So that cheesecakes do not fall off after cooking, remember a few simple rules. Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder and soda, and thirdly, the density of the dough - you can sculpt from it, it is not tight, but pliable. A good dough with a small amount of flour will come out only from good cottage cheese, and here again, see the “firstly” item.
It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies migrated to summer cottages. Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived almost with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic, which is used both in medicine and in veterinary medicine. In crop production, a solution of potassium permanganate is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden and vegetable garden.
Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on the festive table in the village. This recipe is with champignons, but if possible, use Forest mushrooms, then be sure to cook it like this, it will be even tastier. You don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing this salad - put the meat in a saucepan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens almost without the participation of the cook - meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, marinated.
Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or conservatory, but also in open ground. Cucumbers are usually sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to the end of summer. Cucumbers do not tolerate frost. That's why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste juicy handsome men from your garden at the beginning of summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some features of this plant.
Polissias is a great alternative to classic variegated shrubs and woody ones. The ornate round or feathery leaves of this plant create a strikingly festive curly crown, while the elegant silhouettes and rather unassuming nature make it an excellent candidate for being the largest plant in the house. More large leaves do not prevent him from successfully replacing the Benjamin and Co. ficuses. Moreover, poliscias offers much more variety.
Pumpkin cinnamon casserole is juicy and incredibly tasty, a bit like pumpkin pie, but, unlike pie, it is more tender and just melts in your mouth! it perfect recipe sweet pastries for a family with children. As a rule, kids do not like pumpkin very much, but they never mind eating sweets. Sweet pumpkin casserole is a delicious and healthy dessert, which, moreover, is prepared very simply and quickly. Try it! You'll like it!
A hedge is not only one of the most important elements of landscape design. It also performs various protective functions. If, for example, the garden borders on a road, or a highway passes nearby, then hedge just needed. "Green walls" will protect the garden from dust, noise, wind and create a special comfort and microclimate. In this article, we will consider the optimal plants for creating a hedge that can reliably protect the site from dust.
In the first weeks of development, many cultures need a pick (and not even one), while others need a transplant “contraindicated”. To "please" both of them, you can use not quite standard containers for seedlings. Another good reason to try them is to save money. In this article we will tell you how to do without the usual boxes, pots, cassettes and tablets. And let's pay attention to non-traditional, but very effective and interesting containers for seedlings.
Healthy Red Cabbage Vegetable Soup with Celery, Red Onion and Beetroot - A vegetarian soup recipe that can also be cooked in fast days. For those who decide to lose a few extra pounds, I advise you not to add potatoes, and slightly reduce the amount of olive oil (1 tablespoon is enough). The soup turns out to be very fragrant and thick, and in fasting you can serve a portion of soup with lean bread - then it will turn out satisfying and healthy.
Surely everyone has already heard about the popular term “hygge”, which came to us from Denmark. This word is not translated into other languages of the world. Because it means a lot of things at once: comfort, happiness, harmony, spiritual atmosphere ... In this northern country, by the way, most of the time in the year - overcast weather and little sun. The summer is also short. And the level of happiness at the same time is one of the highest (the country regularly ranks first in the UN global ranking).
Lavender is a perennial evergreen semi-shrub plant of the Lamiaceae family. The height is 60-90 cm. The root is woody. The lower shoots branch well. The leaves are small: 1 cm wide and 2.5-6 cm long, arranged oppositely. Lavender is notable for spike-shaped inflorescences of white, pink, blue, lilac, lilac-violet color. Blooms all summer, exuding pleasant aroma. By September, fruits ripen - small brown nuts.
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean. The plant is thermophilic. Lavender is able to winter in open ground only in regions with a warm climate. In gardens, it becomes an adornment of alpine slides, rockeries, borders. In cold climates, they are grown in flowerpots - at the first hint of cold, transfer to the room. Suitable for growing as a pot culture.
Lavender from seeds at home
Growing lavender from seeds is a longer process.
In a warm climate, seeds can be sown before winter - they will undergo natural stratification and sprout in the spring. In the first year, the plant will grow root mass, and flowering will come in the next season.
When to plant lavender seeds for seedlings
Lavender is still preferable to plant seeds for seedlings: sow at the end of winter (February) in boxes or at the beginning of spring (March) for germination in a greenhouse on the street. Pre-stratify the seeds: mix the seeds with sand, pour into a container, cover with plastic wrap and keep in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for a couple of months until sowing.
- The soil needs to be loose.
- Deepen the seeds a few millimeters, keeping a distance of 1.5-2.5 cm.
- Moisten the crops with a spray bottle.
- Germinate at 15-21°C. Maintain moderate soil moisture.
- Shoots will appear in 2-4 weeks.
- Young plants will need 8 hours of daylight.
- With the advent of 2 true leaves, transplant into separate containers with a mixture of peat and perlite.
Grown plants along with an earthy clod. Fertilize the soil with granules of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Carry out the next transplant with a height of about 7.5 cm. Start hardening the seedlings - take them out into the fresh air for several hours.
Planting lavender seedlings in open ground
Landing in open ground spend with the establishment of real heat without night frosts.
Location selection
For good growth and flowering should be selected right place. An open area with bright sunlight is ideal. It will take root in the shade, but do not expect lush flowering. The root system of lavender reacts painfully to high humidity soil - avoid wetlands, with a close occurrence of groundwater, an elevated flower bed should be built.
How to plant
- Dig up the area by adding compost. If the soil is acidic, be sure to add agricultural lime or ash.
- Make holes with a depth corresponding to the size of the root system.
- Transfer the lavender with full preservation of the earthy coma.
- Between the bushes, keep a distance equal to maximum height bush (80-120 cm depending on the type, variety).
- To look monolithic in the future, cut this distance in half.
- Deepen the root neck by 5-7 cm. Water abundantly.
Reproduction of lavender cuttings and layering
Most Popular vegetative reproduction(cuttings, layering).
- Cuttings root quickly and easily. Do this in early spring or in the middle of summer.
- You can root green and woody cuttings with at least 2 internodes.
- Cut the leaves from the bottom, treat with a root stimulator and plant the stalk in loose soil, deepening a couple of centimeters, cover with a jar cut plastic bottle or film.
- Ventilate regularly, moisten the soil.
Start in the spring. Bend one of the lower shoots to the ground, fix it at the place of contact with the soil and sprinkle it with earth, the top should remain on the surface. Water. After about 3 months of active growth, the new plant is ready to be separated from the mother plant.
How to care for lavender in the garden
Watering and loosening the soil
Lavender as the top layer of soil dries. Waterlogging leads to yellowing of the shoots and rotting of the root system. The lavender will not die from drought, but the flowering will not be so luxurious.
For supporting optimal level humidity, mulch the soil around the bush with rotted foliage, compost, leave the base of the trunk uncovered.
It is important to regularly loosen the soil, remove weeds.
top dressing
In the presence of mulch, top dressing can be omitted - the compost and leaves will gradually decompose, nourishing the plant.
At the beginning of the growing season, fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers: dissolve 2 tablespoons of fertilizer in 1 bucket of water and pour around the perimeter of the bushes.
When flowering begins, complex mineral fertilizer. Also 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.
pruning
Pruning is optional. After flowering, shorten the shoots by a couple of centimeters. Be careful in your actions: shortening the shoots to the level of the lignified part can lead to the death of the bush.
Wintering
Lavender bushes wintering in open ground are able to tolerate temperatures as low as -25°C. A shelter should be built, but do not cover with leaves, otherwise the bushes will begin to rot. Better cover with spruce branches.
Diseases and pests
The plant is rarely exposed to diseases and pests.
From an excess of moisture, gray rot may appear - remove the damaged areas, treat with a fungicide. Be sure to adjust your watering.
The aroma of the plant protects it from pests. Such a nuisance as pennits is possible - they lay their larvae, covering them with a substance similar to foam. It does not harm, but spoils the decorative effect. Just rinse them off with water.
Types of lavender with photos and names
There are 45 species. They are classified into 2 groups:
English lavender
It has narrow leaf plates, elongated spicate inflorescences. Hardy winter in open ground.
french lavender
It has wider leaves and shortened inflorescences. Most often grown as a pot culture. Withstands temperatures down to -15°C.
Consider in more detail the popular types:
Lavender real or English, spikelet, narrow-leaved Lavandula angustifolia ‘Elizabeth’ photo
The bush is 1 m high and wide. There are subspecies 30 cm high. Spike-shaped inflorescences. The most common type.
Lavender broadleaf Lavandula latifolia
There are 3 inflorescences on one stem, it has the brightest aroma.
Lavender dutch hybrid or lavandin Lavandula intermedia
The result of crossing the two previous species. The bush can reach dimensions of 2 m (height and width). Inflorescences curved.
Petiolate lavender Lavandula pedunculata
It has an unusual flowering of bright purple color.
Lavender dentate Lavandula dentate
It has soft green-silvery leaves. Features larger flowers.
The benefits of lavender
In addition to decorating gardens, lavender is used for medicinal, perfumery, and culinary purposes.
Lavender water is included in many cosmetic products.
Lavender oil has an antiseptic effect, it can lubricate burns. Lavender syrup is used in the treatment of migraine. Infusions are used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Brew lavender tea or take a bath with dried buds - it's soothing, helps to cope with insomnia.
Lavender can cause allergic reactions.
In cooking, lavender is used as a spice for fish, meat, dry petals are added to sauces, salads, confectionery is decorated with flowers. In European countries, lavender flavored sugar is popular.
Very useful lavender honey.
Lavender - bright plant unusual shape, which is most often associated with the endless fields of Provence. It is planted as a border decoration and in the form of beautiful partitions, combined with others. flower crops and leave the basis for creating rockeries. adorns many albums of travelers in France.
In addition to aesthetic pleasure, the owner of the “lavender color” will also receive enormous benefits. The fact is that flowers contain substances that can calm the nervous system and normalize sleep. In fact, by planting lavender next to the gazebo where you like to spend the evening or near the tea table on the terrace, you will be provided with an evening exercise against depression and despondency). This flower is very popular not only among healers, but also among perfumers. Even the ancients used ethereal to give them silkiness and shine.
This flower has long been popular with gardeners, however, you need to know all the subtleties of caring for it in order to achieve maximum and long flowering.
lavender care
The list of activities that need to be done to ensure the growth of lavender is, on the one hand, voluminous, and on the other hand, simple. It includes:
- loosening the soil. it required condition for lavender growth. It is ideal to mulch the earth,
- elimination of weeds,
- plant pruning. Lavender loves pruning! It should also be carried out regularly to give lavender plantings a neat and decorative look regular pruning of flower bushes is required. Lavender pruning is carried out in autumn and spring. How to make spring and autumn pruning- see saw at the end of the article.
- proper watering of the flower. Lavender is a rather capricious plant, so it should be watered very carefully. It does not tolerate drying out of the soil, but excessive moisture on the surface will also adversely affect the development of the plant. To be more precise: for lavender, it is better to dry out a little than to over-moisten)
- fertilization. During the period of abundant flowering, lavender must be fed with various mineral fertilizers. First of all, this is the introduction of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Fresh manure is completely unsuitable for fertilizing flowering plants.
- obligatory preparation of lavender for the winter period.
This is about care. But how much more important is it to plant lavender correctly! Keep in mind that mature plants do not tolerate transplanting quite well (lavender has a large root system and is always damaged during transfer), so it is better to choose a planting site in advance.
How to choose a place to land
The key to a successful lavender color is the right place to plant.
Temperature regime
Lavender feels great in regions with a southern climate, where it is provided with optimal conditions for development and long-term flowering. In regions where climatic conditions are less favorable, it is more convenient to plant lavender in small outdoor boxes or flowerpots, which can be easily brought indoors with a sharp change in temperature. Lavender does not survive the winter season well, and for the safety of the bushes, shelter must be provided in advance (with dried flowers or coniferous branches or agrofibre). Foliage is not suitable for sheltering lavender, as it can rot under them in winter. At very low temperatures(more than -20 degrees), the plant also needs to be insulated.
soil type
Lavender does not tolerate acidic soil. Therefore, to reduce acidity, add ash to the soil or eggshell. Lavender also does not like dense soils. Therefore, stock up on mulch in advance, you can use rotted leaves.
Sunny open space
For him, suitable areas with open areas, which are well exposed to the sun's rays. In the shade, the already small bushes will grow dwarfed, and may also not bloom. It would be more correct to say this: if there is little sun, lavender simply will not bloom.
Not very wet soil
You should not plant sprouts in a wetland - the roots will immediately react to the amount of moisture. Even high groundwater can be detrimental to lavender. Lavender is very, very sensitive to dampness and suffers greatly from fungal diseases. Although lavender also does not tolerate overdrying of the earth.
Growth distance
The distance between seedlings should be equal to the estimated height of the bush. It is in this case that each bush will become lush and rounded. However, if it is necessary to achieve just a green fence around, then it is enough to halve the distance and the lavender will no longer bloom.
For those who are going to grow and care for lavender in the country, you should pay attention to 3 points:
- the soil in which you will plant (not acidic and not wet);
- sunny open place, without shade;
- fertilizer during flowering.
When you grow this beauty in your country house, you can still cook, which will make you younger and more beautiful and happier.
Most often, lavender is bred in two ways - cuttings and seeds.
Reproduction of lavender cuttings or layering
Of course, it is better to buy lavender seeds and seedlings in specialized outlets, additionally consulting with experienced specialists in choosing the right plant variety and the rules for caring for it. But if on suburban area there are already lavender plantations and there is still little experience in growing this plant, then it is quite possible to try to carry out the procedure for obtaining young lavender seedlings on your own.
The first method is quite simple to perform - cutting you need to plant two to three centimeters in the ground, and then cover with a film (or a cut plastic bottle). The soil should be constantly moistened, and after the roots appear, land on permanent place growth. Rule for the cutting:
- cut off the stiffened process;
Can be bred layering(dividing the bush). It is necessary to choose the lavender bush you like, pin one of the branches (a small shoot) to the ground and dig in a little earth, which must be covered with a film until the roots appear. Then, when the root system is more developed (it will be next year), the young plant is separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a new territory.
Rule for withdrawal:
- choose a lignified branch, but at the same time soft, so that the root system develops faster;
- cut off the top with flowers so that it does not draw life-giving forces.
Can be bred through undergrowth, which lavender gives abundantly in summer. To do this, the bush is cut, separating the shoots and spudding with earth. By autumn, you already have a new young bush ready to be dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.
How the growth of lavender looks like can be clearly seen in the video from 1:35 minutes.
Propagation of lavender seeds
Lavender planting seeds cultivation and care. Propagation of lavender seeds is a troublesome process. Although in relaxed conditions, the seeds germinate and give good shoots.
Growing lavender from seeds at home
Seeds need to be cooled (stratified):
- according to the first option, planted in the soil in late autumn, when the air temperature has already dropped steadily to a maximum of +5 degrees;
- according to the second, the mass of seeds mixed with sand must be refrigerated for at least 1-1.5 months. Optimum temperature+5 degrees. This method is much more reliable and productive.
Stratifications seeds are subjected to due to the fact that lavender contains a large amount of esters, and over a period of sufficiently long cooling, the “dense shell” is destroyed. Therefore, when the seeds are removed and placed in heat, an intensive formation of growth hormone begins. The process is so intense that the seeds germinate. Without stratification (cooling), the seeds will simply rot.
After the seeds have been stratified, we sow them in the ground. Sowing can be carried out when the air temperature in the place where the lavender will germinate was at least 15 degrees, and preferably +20. It is better to do this in a separate flowerpot and plant in a greenhouse or on a glazed loggia (this is ideal).
The soil needs to be light, and lavender seeds need to be sown very superficially, as they germinate in the sun. After sowing, cover the soil with a film. Be sure to carry out ventilation to remove the condensate that forms on the film.
It is possible to plant shoots grown from seeds when 1-2 leaves have formed. After the sprout is strengthened and there is a suitable temperature outside, it can be planted in open ground in a pre-selected place.
So, once again, the stages and nuances (planting lavender seeds, growing and care):
- seeds are stratified;
- we sow the seeds in a separate flowerpot with light loosened soil;
- seeds are sown superficially;
- the flowerpot should stand in the sun and in a room with a temperature of at least +15 degrees;
- after the appearance of 1-2 leaves, we plant the sprouts;
- after rooting, we transplant into open ground in a selected place.
Please note that when lavender is propagated by seeds, the bushes will not begin to bloom during the first 1-2 seasons - the root system will actively develop and it will be on this plant that it will let its forces go.
autumn pruning lavender
spring pruning lavender
Lavender is a beautiful plant that captivates with its elegant, delicate aroma. It has gained wide popularity among gardeners for a very long time. Fluffy lavender bushes, full of bright spikelet inflorescences - a great plant for borders, alpine slides and rockeries.
Of course, to get a luxurious flower bed, you have to try. Lavender requires regular maintenance.
The set of activities should include:
- loosening the soil;
- elimination of weeds;
- watering;
- pruning;
- fertilization;
— preparation for winter.
Lavender is a thermophilic plant. Therefore, it is far from possible to grow this perennial in open ground in any climatic zone. In a cold climate, bushes should be planted in flowerpots and, at the first hint of a cold snap, promptly transfer them to a warm place. As a pot culture, you can grow any variety of lavender.
Place to land
The key to success growing lavender - right choice landing sites. Most of all, the plant will like open areas well lit by sunlight. The bushes will take root in the shade, but it will not be possible to achieve abundant and long flowering.
The roots of the plant are sensitive to high levels of soil moisture. Therefore, it is worth refraining from planting lavender in wetlands and areas where groundwater is too high. If there is no other option, you can try to build a hill and plant bushes on it. Excess moisture near the roots is easily eliminated with a drainage layer.
Lavender is demanding in terms of acidity and soil structure. Therefore, if in doubt, it is better to play it safe - before planting, add a little to the soil wood ash or notice. These are effective soil deoxidizers. And to ensure the porous structure of the soil, it is enough to regularly add compost to the bed. It will not only loosen the soil, but also supplement it with nutrients.
Features of planting lavender
planting lavender - responsible process. Adult bushes do not tolerate transplanting well, if you have to do it, then carefully and only with a voluminous clod of earth. It is better to immediately determine where the bushes grown from seeds, cuttings or layering will be located.
The distance between adjacent instances should be approximately equal to their maximum height. Then the bushes will be lush. And to get a slender green hedge, you can cut this parameter in half. This way you can achieve maximum solidity of the block of plantations.
Lavender cuttings take root fairly quickly. The planting algorithm is simple: deepen a couple of centimeters into a loose soil mixture, cover with a film and regularly moisten the soil. Rooted cuttings are carefully dug up and transplanted to the chosen place.
Layers are rooted branches of a plant. For getting planting material one of the lower shoots should be bent to the side in the spring. Fix the place of contact with the ground level and sprinkle with soil. When a lump of roots forms, carefully cut off the layer sharp knife. Sprinkle the cut with crushed coal to protect it from decay processes. Everything - layering is ready for landing.
Sowing lavender seeds
Lavender is difficult to propagate from seeds. But if you can't get mature plant or twigs, you can try and sowing seeds.
A very important step is stratification. Lavender seeds need to be kept at low temperatures for some time. Here you can go in two ways: plant them at the end of autumn immediately in the ground or carry out artificial stratification. The first method is only suitable for warm climates. In severe frosts, the seeds may die. Therefore, it is better to opt for the second option.
For artificial stratification, the seeds must be mixed with a small amount of sand, poured into a container, wrapped in polyethylene and refrigerated. Keep them there for at least a month and a half. Better - longer. In this case, seedlings will appear faster. Then you can sow the seeds in boxes (at the end of winter) or in greenhouses outside (at the end of spring).
When sown with seeds, it will take a whole year to bloom. In the first seasons, seedlings will only develop, increasing root system. And only in a year, and maybe even in two, they will please the gardener with pretty spikelets-inflorescences.
Soil treatment near the bushes
Lavender does not like dense soils. Its roots really need good air circulation. In addition, of course, you need to get rid of weed pests near lavender. Therefore, loosening the earth and weeding should become a regular procedure.
You can do it easier - organize a good mulch layer on the bed with lavender. As mulch, you can use rotted foliage or decorative multi-colored substrates. But in any case, near the base of the trunk, the soil should remain uncovered. This will keep the plant from rotting.
Lavender should be watered very carefully. Abundant irrigation can lead to root rot and yellowing of the above-ground part of the plant. Drought also has a bad effect on the plant - lavender will not die, but flowering will not be as luxurious as we would like. The ideal watering regime is as the soil dries out.
Pruning lavender bushes
This stage of lavender care cannot be called mandatory. But only pruning can achieve the formation of beautiful lush bushes. Therefore, do not give up a useful procedure.
The first pruning must be carried out immediately after the spikelets-inflorescences wither. You need to shorten the shoots by literally a couple of centimeters. At the end of the warm season, more cardinal pruning is carried out. But here, too, do not show excessive enthusiasm. If you shorten all the branches to the level of the lignified part, the bush may die.
Fertilization
As fertilizers for lavender, mineral complexes are excellent, which are sold in all garden and flower shops. They should be applied during the flowering period. Concentration - 2 tablespoons per bucket of water. The resulting solution needs to spill the soil around the perimeter of the bushes.
Nitrogen fertilizers are responsible for the development of green mass (2 tablespoons per bucket). Therefore, they are indispensable at the beginning of the growing season (growth). But in the second half of the summer they are forbidden to use. Under the influence of nitrogen, the growing season is significantly extended. As a result, the plant does not have time to prepare for wintering.
The use of fertilizers can be completely abandoned if there is a thick layer of compost mulch under the bushes. Decomposing under the influence of external factors, it will supply the plant with nutrients throughout the season.
Preparing for winter
For lavender bushes that will winter in the open field, you can organize a reliable shelter. Indeed, in warm climatic zones you can do without it - according to experts, lavender will survive the winter well, even if the temperature drops to -25 ° C. If frosts are expected stronger than this mark, insulation is necessary. In addition, it will not be superfluous to play it safe in cases where the winter may turn out to be little snowy.
At the end of the season, lavender bushes are pruned. Branches are laid on top of the bed (best from coniferous trees). But the usual insulation in the form of a layer of foliage is not suitable. Lavender can rot under it.
All in all, lavender care not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Using compost mulch will save you from weeding, loosening and fertilizing. Therefore, the gardener will only have to cut the bushes in a timely manner so that they grow strong and bloom profusely.
Types of lavender
Many associate lavender bushes with a permanent purple color. In fact, shades of different varieties conquer diversity. There are specimens with blue, white, pink and even greenish colors. And that's just the main palette. And there are even more shades of inflorescences-spikelets. But color is not the only difference between different varieties lavender.
According to the generally accepted classification, there are two broad groups: English and French.
English lavender is the owner of narrow leaves and elongated spikelets-inflorescences. It is worth noting that it is this type that has received the most widespread use. Such varieties winter quietly in the middle lane, without needing to be dug up in late autumn. 
French lavender is a more capricious plant. Outwardly, it is similar to the previous species, but its leaves are wider and the inflorescences are shorter. Traditionally used as a pot culture. After all, even slight frosts down to -15 ° C can instantly destroy the plant.
Lavender is one of the most famous aromatic plants. There is probably no person who, hearing this name, would not remember the lavender scent. Not everyone loves this smell, but few will be left indifferent by the sight of a blooming lavender field- a purple sea of flowers swaying in the wind.
Lavender has been popular since Ancient Egypt, it was grown in the sacred garden of the city of Thebes. The ancient Romans used lavender flowers for bathing, washing hands, dishes, and laundry. Hence the name of the flower: in Latin lavare- wash.
In Soviet times, lavender was grown in the Crimea for oil production. Over the past 25 years, its plantings have greatly decreased, many essential oil farms have collapsed. But in 2016, lavender plantations were updated with 2 million new seedlings. This gives reason to hope for the revival of the industry.
For thousands of years people have used lavender as an aromatic, essential oil, melliferous, medicinal, disinfectant plant. But it is no less valuable as a decorative culture, which, when proper care can be grown even in the suburbs.
Lavender is a genus of evergreen semi-shrub from 30 to 100 cm high with narrow green or gray-green leaves and spike-shaped inflorescences. Flowers are most often lilac or lilac-blue in color. All parts of the plant contain essential oil, the highest concentration of which is in the flowers. In nature, lavender is found in the Canary Islands, Arabia, East and North Africa, India and southern Europe. At favorable conditions lavender bushes live up to 25 years.
The genus includes 47 species and 7 hybrids.
by the most famous representative kind is lavender angustifolia, or real, or English (Lavandula angustifolia, L. officinalis) . Leaves from 2 to 6 cm long, narrow, with curled edges, gray-green due to pubescence. The flowers are bluish-purple. This is the only type of lavender that winters in open ground in central Russia. In culture, various varieties of this species are grown, differing in flower color, for example:
Munstead- lilac-blue,
A lba- white,
Rosea- pink,
Gem- dark purple.
Lavender jagged (Lavandula dentata) differs from other species in soft gray-green or silvery leaves with serrated edges and large flowers purple color. It is widely grown as an ornamental and essential oil plant. Most popular variety jagged lavender - Royal Crown, with purple flowers.
Lavender stahadskaya, or French (Lavandula stoechas) It has narrow leaves 1-4 cm long and pinkish-purple flowers. Distributed in southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia.
For lavender broadleaf (Lavandula latifolia), characterized by lanceolate leaves 3-6 cm long and 5-8 mm wide, wider than most lavender species. Flowers are light blue. Its aroma differs from the smell of narrow-leaved lavender due to the presence of cineole, camphor and borneol in the composition. It is less refined, but the content essential oil higher in plants of this species. The most popular varieties:
Papillon- mauve flowers resembling butterflies,
Tiara- large blue flowers
Regal Splendour- dark purple flowers.
lavender petiolate (Lavandula pedunculata) contains essential oils, the composition of which is close to the oils of broad-leaved lavender. It has decorative value due to large inflorescences, consisting of scaly bracts and long purple flowers at the top.
Woolly lavender (Lavandula lanata) got its name from the thick layer of hairs on the leaves. Long spike-shaped inflorescences are purple in color.
Lavender multicut (Lavandula multifida) in appearance is very different from other varieties. The leaves are dissected, reminiscent of fern leaves, and bluish-purple inflorescences are arranged in threes together at the end of a long peduncle. It grows in northern Africa and southern Europe. In central Russia, it does not hibernate in open ground, it is grown as an annual or houseplant.
Lavender green (Lavandula viridis) has an unusual color, its leaves and flowers are greenish-yellow. A particularly drought-resistant species, it grows in Portugal and Madera.
Lavender hybrid, or Dutch, or lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) is a natural sterile hybrid of English lavender with broadleaf. Differs in large inflorescences and narrow silvery leaves. It grows up to 2 m high. It is used for making essential oils. The most famous varieties:
Arabian night- dark violet,
Grosso- violet,
Seal- blue-lilac,
Olympia- dark violet.
Growing lavender
What wisdom do you need to know in order to grow lavender in open ground? Planting and care, pruning, site selection ... Let's consider everything in order.
Selecting a landing site
Wild lavender grows in mountainous and hilly areas, and prefers those areas where there is a large amount of rainfall. Industrial cultivation of lavender geographically coincides with viticulture zones: France, Italy, Moldova, Crimea, North Caucasus. The soils on which this shrub grows are infertile, slate or carbonate.
Important: lavender does not tolerate close groundwater or stagnant water during heavy rains or snow melt in the spring. Therefore, when landing, you need to choose a high place and provide good drainage.
To do this, add washed river sand or fine gravel to the soil. On heavy loam, lavender may not survive the winter.
Before planting, a bucket of rotted manure or compost, 35-50 g of superphosphate and 20-25 g of potassium salt per 1 m² of area are added. This plant loves alkaline soils, acidic soils must be limed until a pH of 6.5-7.5 is reached.
The place where lavender will grow should be as sunny and open as possible.
Care
The plant is undemanding to moisture, but does not tolerate prolonged droughts. On light sandy or peaty soils in dry summers, it needs regular watering; on loamy soils, there is usually enough rain. In hot summers, mulching the soil around the bushes will retain moisture and prevent the formation of a crust on the soil surface. If you leave the soil bare, then you need to loosen it periodically to ensure air access to the roots. But in heavy rains, it is better to rake the mulch from the bushes so that the plants do not rot.
In early summer, lavender can be fed with nitrogen fertilizers if the soil is very poor. In the second half of summer, excessive nitrogen can interfere with flowering, but potassium supplements will come in handy.
Wintering
In a temperate climate, only narrow-leaved lavender winters in the open gunt, other types of lavender cannot endure the harsh Russian winters. But for the successful wintering of this single species, certain conditions are needed:
- Bushes are loosely covered with spruce branches (coniferous tree branches), especially in areas open to the wind. It is better not to cover with foliage, the plants can rot.
- In harsh winters with little snow, snow is raked around the bushes to save them from freezing.
- In the spring, the snow is raked away, accelerating the warming up of the frozen soil and creating conditions for the inclusion of the roots in the work.
- Cut bushes to reduce the area of evaporation, otherwise the plants may dry out in the bright spring sun, when the roots are not yet able to draw water from the frozen ground.
pruning
Some gardeners mistakenly believe that it is enough to remove only faded flower stalks from lavender. But then the plant will stretch out a lot, the branches will be bare from below and the bush will not look very decorative.
Important: lavender pruning is necessary. When pruning, the shoots are shortened by one third of the length.
In the south, this procedure is carried out in the fall, in the middle lane and Siberia it is better to postpone pruning until spring so that the plant is less affected in winter.
Bushes older than 10 years must be rejuvenated. They are cut almost to the root, leaving only 5 cm above the ground from the shoots. An old bush with a height of more than 1.5 m grew on my site. It is already over 20 years old, the previous owners launched it, the old branches were very bare and gradually died off. But after a strong pruning on lifeless-looking branches, new strong shoots began to grow as if from nothing. So even in the case of a neglected bush, do not be afraid to carry out anti-aging pruning, the appearance of the plant will only benefit from this.
growing at home
Lavender can be successfully grown not only in open ground, but also in room conditions. To do this, you must follow the following rules:
- From the end of October to February, organize additional lighting so that the daylight hours are at least 10 hours.
- The room must be ventilated, but the plant must not be exposed to cold air, it is dangerous to leave it under an open window in winter.
- The main danger for lavender growing in an apartment is dry hot air coming from central heating batteries. Therefore, in winter, lavender pots should be taken out to a cool room, where the temperature will not exceed 15 degrees and not fall below 5 degrees. If this is not possible, it is recommended to install a humidifier in the room and spray the plants daily with water from a spray bottle.
- In summer, lavender pots are best taken out onto a balcony or loggia.
reproduction
Most often, lavender is propagated green cuttings. For beginners, such methods as dividing the bush and propagating by layering are more suitable. But if there are no cuttings or bushes at hand, then it is quite possible to grow it fragrant plant from seeds.
Reproduction by seeds
In the southern regions, lavender seeds can be sown directly in open ground before winter. But in most of our country, winters are too severe for this method of planting, and plants are grown through seedlings.
In January, the seeds are mixed with sterilized wet sand and placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. After one or two months, in February-March, the seeds are planted in prepared soil. To prepare the soil, 3 parts of garden soil, 2 parts of humus and 1 part of washed river sand are mixed. It is also good to add perlite.
When two true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. In May-June, seedlings are planted in a permanent place, keeping a distance of 50-100 cm between the bushes. The further south the growing region, the more magnificent the bushes will be and the more space should be left for the development of plants.
Lavender starts to bloom on the second abundant flowering from the third year.
Reproduction by cuttings
For breeding lavender at the end of June, young, slightly lignified cuttings 10 cm long are cut off. lower leaves, powder the cut with root and plant it in a mini-greenhouse, maintaining a distance of 6 cm between rows and 4 cm in a row. The substrate for planting needs a light one: a mixture of sand, perlite, peat, turf land.
After 4-5 weeks, the branches will grow roots. If the cuttings grow in the ground, then transplanting them to a permanent place is left in the spring. Young plants in pots should be transplanted no later than mid-August, so that they have time to take root in a new place before the onset of cold weather. Therefore, cuttings should not be late. If, nevertheless, it did not work out in time to plant the shoots in a permanent place, you can arrange for them to winter in a cool room with a temperature of 5-15 degrees.
Reproduction by layering
This is the easiest way to propagate lavender, available even to novice gardeners. In the spring, the lower shoots are bent to the ground and laid on the bottom of the groove 3-5 cm deep. Then they are fixed, for example, with a thick wire hairpin and sprinkled with earth. At the end of summer, roots form on the buried area of the stem, as evidenced by the appearance of new leaves. If the roots have not grown enough for independent existence, then leave layering until next summer. A year later, the shoot with roots is carefully cut off, the place of cut is sprinkled with coal and the new plant is transplanted to a permanent place.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
An overgrown lavender bush over 3 years old can be divided into several separate plants. In autumn, the bush must be cut off strongly, to a height of 8-10 cm from the ground, and it is good to spud with earth, so that there is no void between the stems. In the spring, pour the earth again, as the soil will settle over the winter. In autumn, the bush can be dug up and divided into individual plants.
Diseases and pests
Lavender is a fairly trouble-free plant in terms of disease and pest damage. But occasionally he gets in trouble.
Gray rot
Due to waterlogging in cool weather, lavender bushes can get gray rot. This happens quite rarely when there are problems with drainage. Decayed parts of the plant should be cut off and burned so as not to spread the fungus.
Pennitsa (slobber)
This insect from the category of cicadas is distributed throughout Russia. The length of the penny is 5-8 mm, it can have a different color, from solid black to light brown with various patterns. They can live in both very wet and very dry places.
Pennitsa lays eggs at the base of lavender shoots. The larvae that hatch from them produce a foamy liquid similar to saliva. It is necessary for protection from enemies and from drying out. The larvae feed on the juices of the host plant, which greatly weakens it and reduces its decorative effect.
To remove the slobber larvae, you need to wash them off with a stream of water from a hose. Insecticide treatment also helps.
Rainbow beetle (rosemary beetle)
This leaf beetle 5-8 mm long has a very beautiful color - longitudinal stripes of green and purple cast metal. It feeds on leaves of lavender, rosemary, less often thyme, sage and perovskaya. You can only fight it mechanically.
Agalmatium biloba
Agalmatium is distributed in the south of Russia and specializes in essential oil crops. This insect, up to 6 mm long, lays pale yellow eggs in groups of 2-22 on lavender stems from the shady side. Sticky eggs are covered with dust, masquerading as lumps of earth. The larvae that hatch from the eggs feed on lavender leaves, forming dots and spots on them.
To protect against agalmatiums, plants are treated with insecticides.
Harvesting lavender
Collecting lavender begins when half of the flower stalks have blossomed. At this time, the aroma is the strongest, and the color of the flowers is especially bright. Usually it is the end of June.
Collection is carried out late in the morning, in dry weather. It is better if the day is cool, then more essential oil will remain. Use pruners or scissors to collect. The collected inflorescences are laid out on paper or tied in small bouquets and hung on a rope with flowers down. The drying room should be protected from direct sunlight and well ventilated.
Lavender in landscape design
Lavender is an essential element of a Mediterranean style garden. Alpine slides, rockeries, apothecary gardens, tubs on the patio, pots on the balcony - this elegant plant will be appropriate everywhere. Often, lavender bushes line paths in gardens and parks, allowing you to immerse yourself in a cloud of their aroma while walking.
Classic is the combination of lavender with rose bushes. Very effective joint landings with plants that have yellow flowers. An ideal companion for young lavender bushes is the escholzia with its large bright carrot flowers. In a spice garden, lavender would be appropriate next to rosemary, catnip, oregano, and sage.
Video