Where Does Lavender Grow Best In South Africa?

Lavender likes to stay dry with very little compost and prefers full sun. In South Africa they also thrive when planted alongside a north facing wall.

Can you grow lavender in South Africa?

Lavender is suited to any style of gardening. It is easy to grow as a water wise plant for South Africa. They are well suited to full sun areas, as hedges alongside fences and garden paths, as well as container growing.

When can you plant lavender South Africa?

The best planting time for lavender is autumn, therefore, in South Africa late March or early April to ensure that the seedlings develop well before the winter and that by spring they are strong and well established.

Where is the best place for a lavender plant?

A sun-drenched spot with free-draining soil is ideal. However, if grown in wet or heavy soil, lavender can suffer root rots, leading to its premature demise. To prevent this, grow in a raised bed or container if you have these conditions.

Is lavender native to South Africa?

Lavender is native to Western and Central Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa. In this guide we will deal with the two main types used in the production of essential oil for medicinal and flavouring uses.

Is lavender farming profitable in South Africa?

A 20′ x 20′ growing area can produce around 300 bunches each year, worth $1,800. Larger plots are even more profitable. A quarter-acre can produce about 3,000 bunches, worth $18,000. Unsold lavender bunches can be dried and sold to crafters and florists, who use the bunches for dried floral arrangements.

Is lavender an easy plant to grow?

Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.

How do I prepare my soil for lavender?

Plant lavender in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3. You can add builder’s sand to the soil before planting to increase drainage, which is vital because lavender will not tolerate excessive soil moisture or humidity.

How often should lavender be watered?

How to Care for Lavender. Water once or twice a week after planting until plants are established. Water mature plants every two to three weeks until buds form, then once or twice weekly until harvest. (Yellowing leaves are often a sign of overwatering.)

How can I make lavender grow faster?

Lavender grows fastest in heat, so as temperatures drop in autumn, growth slows down dramatically. Fall-planted lavender needs ample time to develop a sturdy root system to survive winter. In Zones 8 and warmer, planting lavender can be done in spring or fall.

Does lavender need a lot of water?

Lavender is drought-tolerant, which means mature plants don’t need to be watered all the time like your other garden plants. Too much water can leave them susceptible to root rot and fungal disease. Young, newly planted lavender does need regular watering until established (either by irrigation or adequate rainfall).

How long does it take for lavender to grow?

If starting new plants from seed, it will take 90 to 200 days to reach maturity. English lavender is considered fully mature when it reaches between 1 and 2 feet in height with an equal spread. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a semi-evergreen, perennial herb that belongs to the mint family.

How quickly does lavender grow?

How Long Does It Take Lavender To Fully Grow?

Lavender Age (Weeks)	Growth
8 weeks	Pot and place in direct sunlight.
10-16 weeks	Some varieties of lavender will bloom in their first year, during summertime.
2 – 5 years	Lavender plant reaches full maturity. Repot every year and prune accordingly.

Is there a demand for lavender?

There’s Demand for It
Absolutely! In fact, the demand for lavender currently outpaces the supply. That means you should have no problem selling as much lavender as you can grow.

How do you prune lavender in South Africa?

Pruning

1. Cut back by a third after flowering.
2. Lavenders that flower continuously can be lightly trimmed when bushes start looking untidy.
3. Deadheading keeps plants looking neat.

Is there a market for lavender?

At the farmers market, lavender can sell for between $3 and $6 per bunch, depending on the area. There are also other lavender products farmers can sell at the market, including dried lavender bunches, lav- ender plants, lavender sachets, lavender soap, and other value-added lavender products.

How much money can you make growing lavender?

Profitableplantsdigest.com reports that one eight-acre lavender farm in the Northwest grosses more than $1 million per year from it’s various lavender products. But the simplest way to sell lavender, which requires minimal investment in time and equipment to produce, is as dried flower bouquets.

How much is lavender worth per acre?

Per the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) common lavender can yield 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of buds per acre. When sold to consumers or businesses, that equates to anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000 in revenue.

How many lavender plants can you plant per acre?

She knows from experience that this useful plant offers distinct advantages from a farming perspective. “One acre of lavender will yield well for 8 to 10 years. An acre supports 34 rows of 80 plants,” Byrne explains. “It takes three years from when 4-in.

Is lavender toxic to dogs?

The lavender plant contains a compound called linalool, which can be toxic to animals like dogs and cats. However, the plant has such small concentrations of linalool that toxicity is not a common issue. The problem happens when dogs ingest an enormous amount of lavender.

How long do lavender plants live?

When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.