How to Grow Lavender: Expert Tips from John Rinaldi

By Caryn Gehlmann

I’m so pleased to interview John Rinaldi this month, because he’s a fountain of information on how to grow and care for lavender. I’ve known John and his wife Bonnie for a couple of years, ever since Bonnie took one of my aromatherapy classes and then asked for my help teaching lavender distillation classes. In 2017, we bought their farm, Lavender Fields Forever. We’ve become good friends and we’ve relied on their advice when it comes to anything related to lavender. In fact, they’ll both be teaching classes at our farm this summer.

John is horticulturist and lavender expert, so if you’re interested in growing, harvesting, or drying your own lavender, you’ll enjoy this interview.

Tell us about your background in this field.

I am a lifelong plant lover. I have a degree in Horticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and have been a landscape designer, nurseryman, plant collector in Mexico, and way, way back I was the manager of an herb store in the Whole Earth Marketplace in Los Angeles. Growing things and learning how they are appreciated and used by peoples around the world has always fascinated me. I guess at heart I am an ethno-horticulturist. When my wife and I had an opportunity to start a farm, it wasn’t a hard decision to grow an herb known and appreciated throughout the world that provides so much while requiring so little: lavender.

Why is Southern Oregon an ideal place to grow lavender?

Although lavender is not native to Oregon, with our sunny dry summers and relatively mild winters, lavender is easy to grow here in Southern Oregon. Since it’s easy to maintain and is one of the few plants our thriving deer population doesn’t relish, it’s a landscape favorite. Lavender is native to the hills surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, thriving in the rocky sun-drenched soils of Greece, Italy, southern France and northern Africa.

Which varieties do well in Southern Oregon?

There are a few hundred different varieties of lavender. The best varieties for our area are those that grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 & 8. A good resource for which varieties those might be is the “Lavender Lover’s Handbook”. At Lavender Fields Forever Farm, you can get a close look (and smell) of a few of the popular varieties that grow well in our region.

What tips do you have for growing lavender?

Most varieties of lavender grow easily in our climate. However, there are a few important requirements, as follows:

Full Sun – Lavender grows best in full sun but will tolerate less. A rule of thumb is no less than six hours of sun per day.
Well-drained Soil – Lavender doesn’t need nutrient-rich soil, but it does require good drainage. If necessary, you can improve drainage by amending the soil or planting on mounds.
Irrigation – Lavender will not tolerate “wet feet” during the growing season. Only irrigate during dry summer months and avoid overhead watering — drip is best.
Trimming & Pruning – Lavender can get “leggy” so pruning is needed to keep the plant compact, full and healthy. Once the plant is well-established, prune in the fall, leaving approximately 2 inches of greenwood.

If you want to learn more, Caryn and I will be teaching Lavender Propagation Classes this summer to teach home gardeners simple techniques for propagating and growing bountiful lavender. You’ll get your own lavender starter plants that you cut and pot up in a mini greenhouse during class to take home!

What tips do you have for harvesting and drying lavender?
First, you want to harvest at the right time. If you’re using lavender for crafting or for culinary purposes, harvest when only a few of the individual flowers have opened. If the lavender will be used for distillation or for sachets, wait until at least one-third to one-half of the flowers have opened for maximum fragrance. It’s best to cut the entire flower spike, without going into the woody portion of the stem. Hang your bundles of lavender upside down in a dry, sunny location. Drying time ranges from one to two weeks. If you’re using the lavender for sachets, potpourri, or recipes the buds need to be stripped from the stems. You can do this by rolling the bundle briskly between your hands over a bucket or cloth.

How can I enjoy lavender if I can’t grow my own?

Lavender Fields Forever opens June 15th so you can pick lavender to take home and enjoy. We are also fortunate to have lavender farms in the area that are open to the public. The Southern Oregon Lavender Trail was created in 2012 by farms to attract lavender-loving visitors to the area. This year’s Southern Oregon Lavender Festival is on June 22-24. There will be crafts, music, food and drink and some of the finest lavender anywhere! You can stay up-to-date by visiting: Southern Oregon Lavender Trail on Facebook.

Thanks John for a great interview!

We hope you can visit our lavender farm this summer! If you have any questions on how to grow lavender, feel free to ask us. We love talking lavender. You can harvest your own lavender bundles, shop at the farm store for handcrafted lavender products, or join us for one of our classes. We’re opening on June 15th. Click here for our hours, driving directions and class schedule.