Vera Lavender

Vera Lavender is the quintessential lavender variety, cherished for its intoxicatingly sweet aroma and timeless beauty. This hardy perennial boasts tall, slender stems topped with vibrant purple flower spikes that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, creating a lively, buzzing garden. Known for its exceptional oil content, Vera Lavender is a favorite among herbalists, gardeners, and craftspeople alike. With its silvery-green foliage, upright flower spikes and compact shrub-like form, lavender is ideal for creating unique hedges. Vera Lavender is an herb with many culinary uses, great for savory roasted meat and vegetables, and sophisticated floral desserts. It can be harvested for fragrant floral arrangements, sachets, and potpourri for aromatherapy and nerve relaxation, or clean scents for the home and lavatory. It’s a natural deterrent, helping to keep unwanted insects away from your garden. As a bonus, Vera Lavender is a symbol of tranquility and relaxation, turning any garden into a serene retreat.

Also Known As: English Lavender, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, Hidcote Lavender, Munstead Lavender, Grosso Lavender, Provence Lavender, Garden Lavender, Old English Lavender, Royal Lavender.

Plant Name:	Lavender, Vera
Latin Name:	Lavandula angustifolia
Days to Germinate:	14-28
Days to Bloom:	730
Plant Height:	18 - 24 Inches
Spread:	1 - 3 Feet
Bloom Diameter:	2 - 4 Inches
Growth Habit:	Bush
USDA Zones:	5-9
Lifespan:	Perennial
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 2 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Planting:

Starting Indoors: For earlier blooms, you may optionally cold-stratify Lavender seeds for at least 30 days then start planting indoors in containers 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 65F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 60F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant after the first hard frost in early Spring to cold-stratify seeds. Plants will germinate in late Spring when the soil warms to at least 60F. Fall planting is not recommended unless planting outdoors in environments with mild, frost-free winters, or planting indoors with supplemental grow lights. For blooms in late Spring of the following year, sow outdoors after the first hard frost in Fall to cold-stratify seeds.

To plant, make holes 1/8 inch deep and spaced 18-24 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole, then cover thinly with soil. In small plots, flower seeds may be scattered and gently watered in. Once seedlings emerge, plants can be separated and spaced 12 inches apart to allow room for mature plants to spread and prevent overcrowding. Water after planting.

Planting Depth:	1/8 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	18-24 inches
Between-Row Spacing:	2-3 feet

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2-3 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-4 weeks after planting, you may optionally add fertilizer. Read and follow fertilizer instructions for best application. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Harvest Lavender when the buds have formed but before they fully open, typically around mid to late summer. To harvest, cut the stems just above the leaves, using sharp shears or scissors. It's best to harvest in the morning after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in, as this preserves the essential oils in the flowers. If you're harvesting for dried lavender, cut several stems at once and bundle them together. Hang them upside down in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. This timing ensures the best fragrance and quality for both fresh use and drying.