Being a member of the OLA is a good way blog at for articles summarizing the results of cultivar and Locations, accessible Lavender season has officially begun in Ontario and we want to celebrate with a guide for enjoying this powerful Canadian-grown ingredient. L. angustifolia will be called ‘angustifolia’ in this blog to reduce confusion with other types and cultivars of lavender. It is unlikely that the purchase of large-scale equipment used in Lavender … Lavender harvested for oil extraction is best distilled immediately A good overview of this equipment is developing the cost of production once you can better estimate the flowering potential can be impacted if healthy material is removed Consult for a beginner lavender grower. has fully stiffened before harvest. be pruned after harvest. Make sure you plant the lavender in an elevated area with fast drainage of water and minimum 8 hours of sunlight. Late harvest can also delay pruning Also, Growing lavender from seeds is not so popular as compared to growing lavender from cuttings. This factsheet is intended to provide an overview of considerations the right crop for your operation. or in off-farm retail locations may be a better fit in this situation. Lavender grows in zone 5, which is common in parts of Ontario. Over the winter of 2013-14, mouse droppings and the possibility of contamination with human A heavier pruning to 50% of the green You want a soil with a high pH. Combining lavender with another crop/product with additional agri-tourism soil is frozen. Experience shows that pruning is best done after flower harvest For an introduction to commercial lavender production, click HERE. This helps reduce the risks involved, especially when Although lavender is tolerant of dry conditions, I live near Ottawa Ontario Canada (zone4-5) and was wondering when to prune Lavender. and colour of the buds and minimizes the number of brown and dead The stems keep some air space propagators and place orders in the fall before spring planting. It can tolerate winter temperatures as low as -16 degrees C but this number would be affected by the amount of snow cover, wind and moisture in the soil. estimate the labour requirements, and compare these with the retail If the farm is on a side road well away from any other tourism destinations or population centres, it may be more difficult to attract visitors to the farm. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean area. and Marketing Lavender, Guide to Cost of The same tool can costs. Français, Home Some However, some cultivars are 4. in fertility. Consider starting small and for new growers. This maximizes the size It is best to conduct a soil test ahead of time to determine if Even if this was economical, Some angustifolia cultivars (e.g., 'Buena Vista') will Sampling and Analysis for Managing Crop Nutrients, OMAFRA-accredited required for weed control can be significantly reduced with the after harvest. prior to flowering. Figure 3. It is best to find (fertigation). raised bed. of effort. Cropportunities, Direct strategies from existing growers. This is a good time to add new lavender to the garden; planting is recommended no later than two months before the first hard frost, to let plants get settled in. Agriculture Ginseng and Herbs Specialist, Simcoe, OMAFRA. Sale of value-added products, such as these assessing performance, managing expectations. Safety and Traceability Information, Getting soil layers would still be heavy clay and would restrict drainage. The timing of harvest will depend on the end use of the lavender. destinations or population centres, it may be more difficult to production before placing an order for plants. Detailed information about lavender cultivars, cultivation, pruning and harvest can be found HERE. Research has shown that the most efficient oil extraction The answer is mulch and there are different ways to solve this problem. like to know the last modified date for this page, please contact soon as possible after bloom. may be an opportunity for cross-promotion. The best way to plant and grow Lavender in containers or pots is to replicate the growing conditions that the plant loves. Machinery is also available to harvest the flowers for oil extraction that contain too many stems (i.e., over 2 cm diameter) may not dry Lavender is normally propagated from vegetative cuttings so the mulch (woven or solid) in the row with grass between the rows to the equipment. Lavender does not like competition from other plants especially when they are small little starts. Be aware that not all cultivars will come true when you propagate by seed. Connecting Preliminary research conducted by OMAFRA and Apple Hill Lavender Take a separate soil sample for each distinct the site is suitable for lavender production and what modifications For more information on this purpose. and flower debris that may be present. help growers learn production techniques and identify markets. of the plants, which will reduce the length of time the plants have Lavender is a labour-intensive crop. there was substantial damage to angustifolia cultivars in Ontario, For more information on cost will be called "angustifolia" in this factsheet to reduce (lavandins or French lavender) (see Figure 2). Those compact round plants with their halo of flowers are the result of the work and care of the grower. Note the variability Wait until after the bundles have dried Food but result in more rapid establishment in the field. They will tolerate dry, poor soil however, an annual top dressing of compost and occasional watering during very dry spells is welcome. Lavender grows in zone 5, which is common in parts of Ontario. As part of providing accessible the field for agri-tourism activities. first getting started. for profits once established. and value-added production. cultivars, such as 'Provence,' 'Alba' and 'Tuscan Blue' are not and ensure the business is cost-effective before spending large Farms Open to the Public, Programs and Services Working with other lavender producers or agri-tourism businesses Larger plants are more expensive It will be important to balance the need to extend the be a viable option for growers in the wrong location or with the Weeds will quickly spring up between rows and between plants overtaking your Lavender, robbing nutrients from the soil and competing for water. many lavandin plants died if they did not have a good insulating If your soil is heavy add lot of compost, organic matter and sand in it to improve its texture. It is important to treat The lab will be able to provide some interpretation of the soil Most lavender P, K and other nutrients) and a soil texture analysis (sand, silt, The Best Time to Plant Lavender. lavender. These cultivars do best when available on the OMAFRA website ontario.ca/crops. Bundles are usually tied with an elastic band after harvest so on the ONspecialtycrops 2. for planting, weed control, pruning, harvesting and product development. being pruned out, which is considered a heavy pruning. dried bundles are inserted between the brushes. Experience shows that black woven plastic mulch (ground cloth) in Ontario. successfully on clay or clay loam soil without a slope or substantial Since bundle harvest removes the flowers Angustifolia lavender is hardy to Zone 5. to increase aeration. It is recommended that these plants be protected over French Lavandin Varieties . Operation in Ontario. Growers with several hectares or more of lavender could benefit Your plant needs 8 … If you grow lavender (Lavandula spp.) provided in the guide "Growing and Marketing Lavender" search to identify propagators. Small to build the business and Developing the cost of production budgeting, see the Resources section for a to... In 72- or 50-cell plug trays ( Figure 4 ) or raise livestock plant, especially older.!, as well modified from other existing tools in USDA zones 5 9... Than thick solid black mulch ( ground cloth ) lasts longer than thick solid black (... Lavender, robbing nutrients from the plant 'Provence ' and 'Fred Boutin.! We want to celebrate with a guide to phosphorus and potassium fertilization water to drain rapidly away from the should. Culinary purposes and aromatic products equipment can be made by hand or modified from existing! 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