Lavender Seeds Latest Prices and Detailed Planting Methods
Lavender is also known as lingxiangcao, xiangcao, huangxiangcao, etc. It is a semi-shrub or low shrub of the Lavandula genus in the Lamiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean coast, various parts of Europe, and the islands of Oceania, and was later widely cultivated in the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. Its leaf shapes and flower colors are elegant and refined, and its blue-purple inflorescences are slender and beautiful. It is suitable for clump planting or row planting along flower borders, and can also be grown in pots for ornamental purposes. Now let us take a look at lavender seed prices and planting methods!
How much is a jin of lavender seeds?
The price of lavender seeds is about 500-800 yuan per jin, but the price varies depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, and market conditions. Lavender can be propagated by seeds and by cuttings. Seed sowing and seedling raising reproduce quickly, have well-developed root systems, and produce robust seedlings, but variation is relatively great and seeds are more expensive. Cutting propagation can maintain the superior qualities of the mother plant and has strong adaptability. It can be carried out in both spring and autumn, and management is relatively convenient. No fertilization is needed throughout the seedling stage, so it is used more often in production.
Lavender sowing methods
1. Time: Lavender should not be sown out of season as much as possible, because lavender is not heat-tolerant. The best sowing season is mainly spring, though autumn sowing is also possible. The best germination temperature for seeds is 15-20°C.
2. Container: For home sowing of lavender seeds, relatively short small flower pots can be used, or other containers can be substituted, such as yogurt cups, disposable plastic cups, etc.
3. Soil: The soil used for sowing lavender needs to be loose, breathable, high in water-holding capacity, and thoroughly sterilized. A mixed soil of vermiculite, peat, sphagnum moss, perlite, osmund fiber, etc. can be used.
4. Seed soaking: Before sowing, lavender seeds should be sun-dried, soaked in 30°C warm water for 12-24 hours, soaked in concentrated sulfuric acid for 5 minutes, and finally rinsed with water and dried before sowing.
5. Sowing: When sowing lavender in April, 2-3 seeds can be dibbled into each container. After germination, keep one stronger seedling according to the growth condition of the young seedlings. The minimum germination temperature for seeds is 8-12°C, and the optimum temperature is 20-25°C.
6. Watering: After sowing lavender seeds, soak the flower pot in water (the water level only needs to reach the middle of the pot) so that the pot absorbs water from the bottom. It can be taken out after a few minutes of soaking.
7. Management: Before lavender seeds germinate, it is best to place them in a cool place. Generally, they will germinate in about 5-10 days. After germination, move the lavender to a bright place for care.
Lavender planting methods
1. Soil: Lavender is suitable for slightly alkaline or neutral sandy soil. A mix of 1/3 perlite, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat moss can be used. If cultivating in open ground, pay attention to soil drainage, and the soil can be piled up into raised beds before planting.
2. Watering: Lavender does not like water remaining around its roots for long periods. After one thorough watering, water again only when the soil is dry. Watering should be done in the morning, avoiding sunlight, and water should not splash on the leaves and flowers, otherwise they are prone to rot and pests and diseases.
3. Light: Lavender needs sufficient sunlight and a moderately humid environment. In summer, at least 50% of sunlight should be shaded, and ventilation should be increased to lower the ambient temperature. In winter, lavender can grow well on flat ground and should be cultivated under full sun.
4. Temperature: Lavender is semi-heat-tolerant, prefers coolness, and likes warm winters and cool summers. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C, and it can grow at 5-30°C. If it is above 38-40°C for a long time, the top stems and leaves turn yellow and dry. In northern winters, it begins to go dormant when it is below 0°C for a long time.
5. Fertilization: For fertilizing lavender, bone meal can be placed in the pot soil as a base fertilizer (once every three months). Young seedlings can be given Hyponex No. 2, and after they become mature plants, fertilizers higher in phosphorus such as Hyponex No. 3 can be applied.
6. Pests and diseases: Lavender rarely suffers from insect pests. The main disease is root rot, with the highest incidence under high temperature and waterlogged conditions. It can be controlled by drenching the roots with an 800-fold solution of carbendazim or chlorothalonil once a month. Especially from June to October, pay attention to preventing waterlogging and keep the air dry.
7. Shaping: After lavender blooms, cut it at the first node below the flower, and at the same time prune the plant into a hemispherical shape. At ordinary times, cut off dried and withered branches at any time. In order to control plant height or obtain a better plant shape, prune back appropriately in late summer and early autumn to promote new branches.