Have you purchased a small farm, or are you interested in lavender and thinking of starting a lavender farm? Many people do, some as a paying hobby and others that go on to make a successful business from it. Show Background to lavender farming Keys to growing lavender successfully If you are a person who likes to keep to themselves or your property is not on a main road or near a tourist precinct then agri-tourism will be difficult to achieve.If the idea of growing lavender is still of interest then you are best to develop a sales channel through a network of tourism outlets, not necessarily lavender. Site Selection and set up In selecting your site there are a number of important considerations. First, lavender must have plenty of direct sunlight (at least 5 hours per day), very good drainage and lots of air movement. Secondly, although lavender survives under dry weather conditions a commercial crop responds well to irrigation and regular autumn watering. Fertiliser is not critical however lavender does require high levels of Calcium and a pH of 6.8 to 7.3. Finally, depending on what type of business you intend to run there may be a need for shedding, retail area, car and bus parking and gardens. Setting up a lavender farm does not necessarily need to be a large capital expense. Purchasing lavender plants is the most expensive part of the set up. Approximately 10,000 plants are required per hectare, with lavender plants ranging in price from $1.20 to $3.00 each, depending on the variety. The next largest set up cost is the purchase and installation of irrigation equipment and the preparation of the soil. High capital costs are required when distillation equipment or more advanced tourism is desired. The cost of these items ranges from a few thousand dollars for a small still and packaging area to several hundred thousand dollars for a large still, retail area and cafe. Lavender products Lavender species Some varieties are unsuitable for commercial production and others have very low yields and are not economical. It can be difficult to differentiate some of these attributes by their external morphology. Hence, it is important that plants are purchased from a recognised propagator who can give assurance on the source of their stock plants. Lavender plants for oil production should not be grown from seed. Where to from here?
Larkam Nurseries also produces a booklet for $100 that gives the basics to prospective lavender growers. The $100 is then rebated off lavender plant purchases. Once this has been completed, visit a number of lavender farms and if you are planning to farm lavender on a commercial scale engage a l lavender professional who has experience in the industry. What is the market for lavender?Direct Marketing
At the farmers market, lavender can sell for between $3 and $6 per bunch, depending on the area. There are also other lavender products farmers can sell at the market, including dried lavender bunches, lav- ender plants, lavender sachets, lavender soap, and other value-added lavender products.
Is lavender worth growing?A one-acre planting can produce about 12,000 bouquets per year, which are worth $10 each or more on the retail market. Lavender grows in a wide variety of climates, but requires well-drained soil.
What state is best for growing lavender?Lavender is a drought tolerant plant and thrives in dryer conditions other than high humidity. Ideal places to grow lavender would be Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and other states.
What is the most valuable type of lavender?The Most Profitable Lavender Varieties. 1 – Lavendula augustifolia or English Lavender.. Buena Vista.. Folgate.. Hidcote.. 2 – Lavender X intermedia. This species is actually a cross between Lavendula augustifolia and Lavendula latifolia and are referred to by the name lavandins. ... . Gros Blue.. Grosso.. Super.. |