How many lavender plants per acre

In Massachusetts spring planting is recommended. Flower buds should be trimmed off during the first year, and sometimes the second to speed up establishment. Irrigation Drip tape recommended. Needed primarily in the first year, sometimes second. Some irrigation may increase production in mature plantings. Overhead irrigation may increase disease problems. Overhead irrigation may cause older plants to break open in the middle.

Fertilization Composted manure and bone meal used at planting. Up through year three, around lb. N per acre can encourage vegetative growth. Mature plants need no more than 50 lb. N per acre. Excessive applications of N can decrease oil quality, and make plants unhealthy also leads to increase weed competition. Phosphorus and Potassium requirements are also very low. Periodic liming may be necessary to keep pH at 6. Weed Control Probably biggest production issue - critical for good yield and high quality.

Mulches - with young plants can help - organic mulches can trap moisture against plants. Sand, gravel, oyster shells, etc. It is used as the aromatic base for thousands of cosmetic products, such as lotions, massage oils, perfumes and soaps. When lavender oil is extracted from the plant using distillation, the process produces both the essential oil and a lavender hydrosol.

The lavender hydrosol has a tiny amount of lavender oil as well as the water-soluble parts of the lavender plant, and it is often used to make spritzers and room fresheners. Several manufacturers make small, affordable tabletop distillers used to extract the lavender oil from flowers.

Click here to read more. Growing trees for profit is an ideal part-time or full-time business for anyone … Read more Growing lavender for profit can be a great way to turn your love of herbs and … Read more Lavender can be one of the most profitable cash crops for small growers.

Even a … Read more The popularity of heirloom tomatoes just keeps growing every year, as more and … Read more The popularity of gourmet mushrooms is growing fast, as more and more folks … Read more Gourmet mushrooms, such as oyster and shiitake, are one of the best cash crops … Read more Consumers nationwide are voting for local foods with their wallets, … Read more Farming garlic is a booming business that continues to grow at a steady pace, as … Read more Growing woody ornamentals is one of the best ways to turn your backyard or small … Read more The traditional family farm is changing, as more people move to … Read more Gourmet mushrooms, like oyster and shiitake, are a perfect year-round cash crop … Read more Gourmet garlic is becoming more popular and profitable every year.

To … Read more Lavender growers have dozens of ways to boost their income from … Read more If you own a few acre, consider becoming a tree farmer. It's … Read more Gourmet mushroom growers, large and small, always end up with harvested … Read more Will lavender grow in my area? Lavender prefers a soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.

Avoid using organic mulch since lavender is susceptible to fungus and mold. Black landscape fabric is the weed barrier of choice. Lavender is difficult to grow from seed. For that reason, nearly all commercial lavender producers buy seedlings or grow cuttings from their existing plants. Cuttings are normally taken at harvest time when plants are already being trimmed back. Lavender plants grow into large bushes. You may need between two and four feet between plants and three to six feet between rows.

Some varieties grow larger than others, so there is some variation. That means you should never harvest after rain or even a heavy dew. For either fresh or dried flowers, you want to harvest just as the first flower blooms begin to open up. For all other purposes, lavender is typically harvested in mid-June to late July in most locations.

Oil can be collected for up to a month after bloom. Harvesting lavender is one of the most labor-intensive parts of the growing process aside from weeding.

Most harvesting is done by hand using pruning equipment. After harvest, lavender is grouped into bunches and the stems are bound together with rubber bands. Aim for bunches of stems around two centimeters in diameter for optimal drying. These bunches are then hung upside down to dry. They should be kept in a dry, dark area with good ventilation to minimize the risk of mold growth. That way you can cut out wholesalers or other retailers and get the best price for your lavender.

Bring a mixture of fresh cut lavender, dried bouquets, lavender oil and other products. If your farm is in a location that gets a fair amount of traffic, you can also set up your own roadside farm stand. Operating on an honor system where people help themselves to your product and leave money in a lockbox minimizes the amount of labor required. Lavender farms with a strong agrotourism aspect to their business may even want to set up a dedicated shop. For more information on growing and selling plants, check out our guide: Starting a Market Garden.

Raw lavender is a profitable crop to grow all on its own. But it bears repeating that creating your own line of lavender products can really take your income to the next level.

There are dozens of different lavender products to consider. Lavender soap is always a favorite of customers. Peak harvest is at about five years. Preliminary harvests may happen as soon as one year. Byrne's daughter, granddaughter, and 11 seasonal employees complete the successful operation that has been called "a mixture of farming, marketing and artistry.

We use it all! A "lab" in the basement of her home serves as her production center for a wide variety of lavender products.