How to Grow Lavender in the South
Today is a big day for me! I have officially entered my 30’s, which has been a bit weird for me to wrap my mind around. So many major life decisions where made in my 20’s: got married, lived in three states, bought two homes, and had two amazing children! As I look forward to the next ten years, I am looking at a more settled life here in Nolensville with our growing flower farm! I am thinking a lot about what I want for my family and envisioning how the farm will evolve with us in the coming years. Looking ahead, one of my goals for the farm is to start providing resources for others to use as more people explore the world of growing cut flowers. Because of this, I think it’s only fitting that we launch our first educational offering on my 30th birthday!
Lavender Field at Menkveld Farm, June 2019
We started our farm in 2017 with a single lavender field, and our most frequently asked questions are about how to grow lavender in Tennessee. So, we thought a book detailing how we grow lavender in our hot and humid climate would be a great first step into educating others. This will be the first of several courses we are planning to publish over the next year. We are also planning some in-person, educational tours and classes too!
“How to Grow Lavender in the South” is a digital book detailing what we do to grow lavender on our farm in Middle Tennessee. The book includes information on:
different varieties to grow,
why lavender is difficult to grow here,
things that can help your lavender grow better,
field preparation and maintenance,
harvesting and drying techniques,
disease management, and more.
Freshly harvested lavender bunches
The information in this books comes from hundreds of hours of research and from trial and error with our own experiences growing lavender in Tennessee. Lavender is a challenging plant to grow successfully in our climate, and while not well-suited to the Southern climate, with the correct preparations and management, lavender can be grown in this part of the world. Its many qualities and uses make it highly desirable, and it is hard to beat the beauty of a lavender field in full bloom!
