Lavender (English)
Lavandula angustifolia
Also known asEnglish lavender · True lavender · Common lavender · Lavandula
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5–9 (winter low around -29°C)
- Frost
- frost hardy
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
A drought-tolerant Mediterranean herb that needs well-drained conditions, making it somewhat contrary to typical hydroponic culture. Container growing (15 L) with very well-drained media (perlite, pumice, or expanded clay; avoid water-retentive mixes). EC 1.0-1.5 mS/cm (light feeder; rich conditions produce lush but weakly aromatic growth). pH 6.5-7.5 (tolerates slightly alkaline). Temperature: 10–30°C (Mediterranean climate; cold-hardy to zone 5 once established). Full sun (DLI 18-28 mol/m2/day). The plant is a long-lived perennial (10-20 years) that produces harvestable flower stems starting in the second year. Harvest flower stems when the bottom third of the flower spike has opened; this is peak essential oil content. Dry flowers by hanging bundles upside down in a warm, dry, dark room for 1-2 weeks. Strip dried flowers from stems for culinary use. Prune annually in spring (cut back to just above the woody base) to prevent the plant from becoming leggy. Lavender does not tolerate wet feet; overwatering is the primary cause of failure. For aquaponics growers, lavender works best in a separate container with its own drainage, irrigated sparingly with system water.