What Season Does Lavender Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods
Lavender is a purple-blue ornamental flower, suitable both for growing as a flower field and for container planting, and it looks beautiful either way. Lavender originated in regions such as France and Italy. In China, through careful cultivation by the people of Yili, Xinjiang, it has developed into large-scale planting. Lavender is also a highly prized fragrance material, with a fresh, rich scent, making it a great choice for sachets, perfumes and more.What season does lavender bloom in? What are the planting methods?
1. What season does lavender bloom in?
The blooming time of lavender mainly depends on when it was planted; lavender planted in different seasons blooms at different times. In China, lavender has two main flowering seasons: one in spring, in April and May, and one in autumn, in September and October. During these two seasons you can go and admire the lavender flower fields, which are extremely beautiful.
2. What are the lavender planting methods?
1. Lavender propagation methods
Lavender can be grown either by sowing seeds to raise seedlings or by cuttings, and the specific requirements differ.
Seed selection is crucial when growing lavender from seed. Be sure to choose varieties with plump grains, uniform size and a brown glossy sheen. Before sowing, dry the lavender seeds in the sun, then soak them in 30-degree warm water for half a day to a full day, then soak them in concentrated sulfuric acid for five minutes, rinse them clean with fresh water and let them dry before sowing.
For cutting propagation, it can generally be done in spring, summer and autumn. After cutting, place the lavender seedlings in a cool, well-ventilated spot; just keep the soil moist for the first three days, and afterwards decide the watering amount based on the climate. Lavender cuttings need no additional fertilizing at any stage, so they are much easier to manage than seed-grown seedlings.
2. Watering
In the first three years after planting, lavender should be watered adequately to promote bushiness. Every April, during lavender's greening-up period, water it well with greening-up water, with the specific amount depending on soil moisture and climate. Watering is especially important during the flowering and bud stages, when the water requirement is relatively large.
3. Topdressing
Although lavender does not need much fertilizer to grow, additional topdressing can be applied to promote bushiness and improve quality.
4. Wintering period management
Winter temperatures are very low, so pay attention to wintering management. In November, water well with wintering water and mound up soil around the plants to ensure the base is not damaged by freezing when it sprouts. Before watering with greening-up water the following spring, promptly uncover the soil to release the seedlings, so that lavender's branches and leaves do not mold or rot in the soil.
5. Pest and disease control
Common lavender diseases include root rot, leaf spot and Fusarium, and common pests include red spider mites and flea beetles. Always observe lavender's growth, and when symptoms appear, promptly apply the right treatment to prevent poor growth or death of the plants.