Can I Grow Lavender on My Apartment Deck?

History

• It is believed lavender originated in Mesopotamia, which is the modern country of Iraq. It was mainly prized for its medicinal uses. Lavender was believed to ward off a number of ailments and was used by the Egyptians and Phoenicians in the mummification process by preserving internal organs and masking the scent of decay. The use of lavender expanded to the West through ancient Greece and Rome, where it was also used to scent baths and enhance food.

Planting

• Start your lavender containers with plants instead of seeds. Lavender seeds are difficult to propagate and most nurseries are well-stocked with several cultivars suitable for containers. Lavender roots prefer tight spaces, so the container should not be more than an inch or two larger in diameter than the root ball. Place the container in a sunny location. Lavender requires at least 8 hours of full sun.

Care

• The lavender plant needs adequate water, but since it is fairly drought tolerant, it will not need daily watering unless the soil is drying out. Make sure the container has sufficient drainage holes to reduce the chance that standing water will cause the roots to rot. Repot lavender once a year to replenish the soil and add a balanced fertilizer for bloom each time. Pruning should be done in the spring before the plant blooms. Some light clipping and a general sprucing up may be necessary in the summer to keep lavender from becoming leggy.

Container Varieties

• Smaller lavender varieties L. augustifolia 'Nana Alba', 'Jean Davis', 'Munstead' and 'Irene Doyle' are compact enough to thrive in containers. Slightly larger varieties of English and Spanish lavenders will do fine in containers for a few years before needing to be transplanted to a garden bed.

Uses

• Lavender has been used extensively throughout history in medicine, fragrances and culinary arts. Today, lavender is used in soaps, candles, potpourri and lotions. Its culinary usage is extensive, blending well with other herbs in meat, fish, cheese and pasta dishes as well as an herbal flavoring in oils and teas.