Lavender is a perennial evergreen plant that originates from southern Europe, the mountain regions on the western Mediterranean border, North and East Africa, Arabia, India, and the Canary Islands. It’s grown worldwide for both personal and commercial purposes.
Historical Use
Lavender has been used across different regions and cultures. The ancient Egyptians used lavender-soaked shrouds for embalming mummies. The Greeks used lavender to treat ailments like muscle aches, insomnia, and mental conditions. The Romans used it in purifying baths, as perfume, and as an insect repellant. During the Medieval period in Europe, lavender was believed to protect against the plague. It was also used to wash clothes, as an antiseptic in World War I, and to treat burns.
Modern Uses of Lavender
Lavender has therapeutic benefits and is used for different conditions. It can boost mood, reduce mental stress, and revitalize the nervous system. It also has sedative properties that help relax the mind and body. It’s useful for relieving stress, tension headaches, and migraines. Its antiseptic properties make it effective for treating chapped skin, wounds, bites, sores, and conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Lavender is also beneficial for the digestive system and can ease nausea, vomiting, indigestion, colic, and gas. In aromatherapy, it can alleviate symptoms of coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, sore throats, laryngitis, and pneumonia.
Types of Lavender
There are over twenty species of lavender, along with numerous cultivars and hybrids. The main types for home and commercial use are true lavender, spike lavender, and lavandin.
How to Harvest Lavender
The best time to harvest lavender is just after buds form but before the flowers open. This ensures maximum aroma and color. Gather a handful of stems, cut them at the base, and tie the bundle with twine. Dry the bunches in a warm, dry, shaded area. Lavender typically dries within 2-4 weeks. Once dry, gently shake or rub the buds into a bowl, store them in a jar, and place them in a cool, dark location.
Tips for Planting and Growing Lavender
Lavender prefers well-drained soil. If necessary, add builder’s sand before planting. Plant on small mounds or in raised beds to ensure good drainage. Ideal soil pH is 6.5 or higher. Space plants about 18 inches apart in a sunny, well-ventilated location. Allow the soil to dry completely before watering to prevent fungal issues. Adding sand or pebbles around the plant helps with evaporation. To maintain healthy plants, apply bone meal in the fall and work it into the soil.
Planting Lavender Seeds
Start seeds three months before the last spring frost. Mimic nature by placing seeds in a plastic bag with moist peat moss and refrigerating for five weeks. Prepare a planting tray with a mix of sand and seed-starting medium, and moisten it with a spray bottle. Create shallow troughs for the seeds and cover them lightly with sand. Keep the tray in a sunny spot but shield it from midday sun, and maintain a temperature of 75-80 F during the day and 55 F at night. Cover the tray with plastic wrap, leaving one side open for ventilation. Water when the top feels dry. Seeds should germinate in 15-20 days. Thin seedlings to every 3 inches, then transplant the strongest seedlings into small pots after a week. Keep them moist and in partial sunlight until ready to plant outdoors in well-draining soil.
Lavender Uses
Lavender has numerous applications due to its beneficial properties. You can use it to make soothing tea, keep drawers fresh, make aromatic candles, make room spray, reduce itching and swelling from bug bites, improve sleep, relieve headaches, relieve pain, diffuse for overall therapeutic benefits, flavor homemade vanilla ice cream, garnish dishes, infuse oil in white wine vinegar, create a relaxing bath, create a skin scrub, ease menstrual cramps, deter moths and silverfish, make a facial tonic, relieve sunburn, and create a pleasant aroma in your home.
