ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Aug 2, 2021 6:24:03 GMT -5
I'm looking for tips on how to look after lavender grosso plug plants (3cm x 3cm x 3cm) transplanted into 9cm Diameter Pots a very hot arid climate. We're hoping to plant these little lavender plants out into a field in the autumn when it's a bit cooler, and we're in a Mediterranean climate, so it's very hot summer right now (i.e. 30-40 degrees Celcius, 85-1005F, in the middle of the day). Humidity around 30%. What should we do with these plug plants once we have transplanted them into the 9cm pot? Should we put the pots in the sun? Or in the sun during the morning, shade in the afternoon? Or in a greenhouse? We're thinking it's better not to put them in the soil immediately, as we've read it's better for them to become established more in a pot first... We could create some shade outside, by putting a sheet up high over the top of them, maybe a white sheet to help get reflected light? And do we feed them? I'm reading conflicting things on the internet! Some say don't feed, as you'll get lots of leaves but less flowers. Some say feed - we could do with manure for example? Maybe we should feed at first to get them established with lots of leaves, and then cut the feeding once we plant them out to encourage flowering?
And for watering, I've read they don't need a lot of water and only water once a week or so, but if they're in little plastic pots in very hot conditions surely they would need watering every day? Any tips would be gratefully appreciated!
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 2, 2021 9:46:21 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! ruth , My first advice is: don't over think it! Lavender loves hot arid conditions and is quite hearty. They need little care. You don't mention what your winters are like (could you give us your general location?) I grow a lot of lavender here at 7000ft high desert plateau... cold winters with snow (when we do get precipitation) and hot summers (upper 80sF to upper 90s) with typical 15-20% humidity). Where are your plugs now? If they have been indoors take a few days acclimating them outdoors, a couple of hours in some direct morning sun then shade, protected from strong winds. Over a week or two gradually leave them in the sun longer and expose them to the reality of life on their own (no protection). A green house will probably be too hot with your 90ºF + days. Fall planting sounds like an excellent idea. I don't think about feeding the plants. I think about the soil. So make sure their permanent home is ready for them. They like well drained and low- moderate fertility definitely not too rich soil. Think Mediterranean soil- lean and dry. I never feed my lavender plants and they are 10-18 years old! And I rarely water them now- every couple of weeks, at most, if it has been extremely hot and dry. (and maybe once a month in the winter if we have not had any snow) Your babies- what are they growing in now? Manure is over kill. Same with leaves. They are probably fine just as they are. But you are correct- little pots in very hot conditions will probably need a once a day watering. And they will need frequent watering when first planted in the ground. Any new planting will need more water as they root in. The once a week water suggestion is for established plants. In my experience here, the first year will require more water. But you have to intuit just how much is needed... not too much...not too little... just right! So depending on what your temps are like in the Fall you might need to water daily-or every other day- for a few days after first planted and then water maybe 2 times a week for a while before getting to once a week.
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Aug 4, 2021 5:48:12 GMT -5
Hi Desert Woman!, Thank you so much!! This is really helpful. I am in the Middle East. Winters are cool, occasionally it might snow, but often years go by without any settled snow. About 500m above sea level. Honestly, we're buying our plugs from abroad... so they're not here yet! I'm just thinking about trying to look after them well. I like the idea of getting them gradually acclimatised to the real life weather. When we bring them over, I was asked what sort of temperature the delivery company should try and keep them at. I hadn't really got a clue? I said around 18 degrees Celcius during the travel, which might be a day or two, in which they won't get water. Do you think that sounds sensible? I was planning to just put the plugs into our soil, it's sandy loamy-ish soil. I'm a bit of a novice gardener, but I'll upload a photo of what our soil looks like. Then other people said we should use 50% compost and 50% sand/grit in the 9cm diametre pots. Sounds like you think our own soil might be OK for the plugs? Thanks so much for the detailed tips, particularly on watering... so helpful!!
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 4, 2021 11:35:20 GMT -5
Your plugs should be fine in the delivery vehicle- a couple of days without water in an air-condition shouldn't hurt them.
It's hard to tell from your photo but to my eye it looks like that soil could drain pretty quickly- (more sandy than loamy?). If that's the case adding a thin layer of organic matter to your planting area might be good and I'd add a handful of compost to each planting hosle when putting the plugs in. For the temporary pots that 50/50 seems too rich to me-those are small pots. You could probably use garden soil with a pinch of OM mixed in if it.
Keep remembering that there is not a "one size fits all" when gardening (which feeds into why you see conflicting information). So much depends on the soil and climate variables of any one area. Even in the same town one property can have its own micro climate from another. Take any advice (even mine!) as a guidepost but pay attention to your specifics. Keep us posted on your new adventure! It sounds like you may be starting a lavender farm? Do you grow other things?
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Aug 4, 2021 12:31:40 GMT -5
Thanks so much Desert woman!! My husband's family grow olive trees, and harvest the olives and make oil, and he says they used to grow loads of different vegetables when he was younger. This is our first experience with lavender though. I grow other flowers, but only in pots!, hence I consider myself a novice, especially on a forum like this!! This photo is not our land, it's an iStock photo that looks like it. But yes, it is very sandy ish... quite rocky really.
I will definitely keep you posted and might ask for a few more tips if that's ok? We hope to get the plugs in a few weeks time so I will let you know how it's going! :-)
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Aug 4, 2021 12:53:13 GMT -5
Welcome ruth, It will be interesting to hear how you will succeed with that and if you grow other vegetables as well.
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Oct 12, 2021 7:30:27 GMT -5
Hello Everyone, I need help again! Would you believe it, we still haven't managed to get these little lavender plug plants .... bit of a long story/saga, but we had trouble with our suppliers, and so now we have been looking at some alternatives but it hasn't been easy to find what we wanted exactly. I was wondering if anyone has experience with planting bare roots plants? We have found someone who will sell us bare roots lavender, about 12-15cm tall, so well rooted, but we really don't know how hard this is to transport. I had read that the roots can get dessicated and die very easily. These are relatively cheap, cheaper than the 3cm plug plants, so they could be a good option if we can transplant them well. We also found some larger plug plants... in trays, more expensive than the bare roots plants (twice as expensive and will be more at least twice as expensive to transport as they are heavier), about the same size 12-15cm tall. Any tips anyone? Is it worth paying double or triple for little plants which arrive already in soil? They would be travelling about 2 days. Just don't want them all to die on the way! :-
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 13, 2021 21:00:28 GMT -5
I've never planted a bare root lavender but I know it is done. I just don't have first hand experience/knowledge. I would think if they are shipped in a moist medium (without a pot or soil) -and the shipper knows what they are doing in packing the plants- they would be OK for 2-3 days. but with the pandemic induced delays in shipping it could be a gamble to get them in the 2 days they claim it will take for yours. It's a hard decision, isn't it? Wishing you the best in your decision!
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Oct 13, 2021 21:34:11 GMT -5
Thanks Desert Woman! Yes, it's all a bit of an unknown adventure.... I'm thinking maybe we buy half bare root and half as the bigger plants, and then if one fails we hopefully have the other! Will keep you posted :-)
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 13, 2021 22:24:38 GMT -5
Sounds like a plan! I'm sure you will have success and maybe both will do well!!
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Dec 5, 2021 13:03:51 GMT -5
Hi Desert Woman and Others!,
So we did get both some bare root, and some more established plug plants. We have planted them. The plug plants seem to be doing well. The bare root looks very dry, not sure if they will make it! Apparently it's normal for them to look dry, but still, we don't know if they will get there. The plug plants have been established for a week now, the bare roots we just planted yesterday. They were actually one week in travel but it was refrigerated and we were told that would be ok. We shall see! Will keep you posted :-)
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Post by desertwoman on Dec 6, 2021 0:01:15 GMT -5
ruth, Sounds like you will soon be the expert on, growing lavender in your area! That's how we learn... experiment, take risks, pay attention to failures, celebrate successes.
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Jan 4, 2022 12:55:10 GMT -5
Yes desert woman!! The plug plants are growing well, and the bare root, is still alive..... we will know about it in March when we see if it sprouts new growth. Thanks for your advice!
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Post by ahntjudy on Jan 14, 2022 15:42:17 GMT -5
ruth... I have been successfully growing lavender from seed using the winter sowing method... Maybe look into that as an alternative to buying plants from afar... Good luck!
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ruth
Sprout
Posts: 21
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Post by ruth on Jan 31, 2022 13:54:02 GMT -5
Thanks ahntjudy! Might get back to you on that. :-) Which types of lavender have you grown from seed?
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