Growing Lavender

STUDY LAVENDER -ONLINE OURSE -DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE 

• Learn how to Grow and Use Lavender Plants
• Correspondence course for the enthusiast or commercial grower
• Start a Business, Work in a Nursery or Lavender Farm, or persue a passion

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Classification and identification of lavender
   • general characteristics of Lanendula
   • resources, contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.)
2. Soils, Fertilisers and Nutrition for Lavender
   • Soil structure
   • pH
   • organic matter
   • ameliorants
   • organic growing.
3. Cultural Techniques for Lavender Growing
   • Pruning
   • water management (mulching, irrigation, drainage, etc.)
   • planting and establishment methods
   • crop scheduling
   • no dig gardening.
4. Lavender Propagation
   • Propagation from cuttings
   • propagation growth media
   • other propagation methods,
5. Commercial Alternatives
   • Managing a Market Garden
   • standards
   • mulches
   • problems and their control
   • weed control without chemicals
   • economic outlook for herbs.
6. Plant Variety Selection and Breeding
   • Breeding and selecting new varieties
   • lavender clone selection for essential oils in Tasmania.
7. Building Plant Knowledge
   • Lavender types and other varieties
   • advantages and disadvantages of different varieties.
8. Harvesting, Postharvest Treatment and Storage
   • Harvesting
   • distillation and oils
   • post harvest preservation of fresh product
   • drying lavender.
9. Processing and Making Lavender Products
   • Lavender crafts
   • using herbs in cooking
   • selling herb products.
10. Marketing Lavender Produce
    • how to market your produce
    • considering your market
    • market research
    • selling successfully.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Describe the plant naming system and classification of plants
• Discuss the nature and scope of the Lavender genus.
• Describe the nutritional requirements of the lavender species.
• Explain the cultural requirements of the lavender species.
• Explain propagating techniques specific to lavender
• Describe commercial lavender growing operations.
• Select species appropriate to the climatic and soil conditions of a chosen locality.
• Describe of a variety of lavender species and cultivars.
• Describe the production processes on a lavender farm.
• Describe various lavender products and discuss the way in which they are processed.
• Explain the processes used in the marketing of lavender products.

What You Will Do

• Prepare a collection of 20 different types of lavender in the form of pressed, dried, labelled specimens
• Compile a resource file of contacts relevant to lavender and lavender growing
• Contact a number of lavender related organisations for information on their activities in the industry
• Collect and test at least three different soil samples
• Identify and (optional) manufacture a potting mix suitable for lavender growing
• Collect information on organic and inorganic fertilisers from fertiliser companies
• Research information on machinery used in horticulture by contacting the companies that produce it
• Produce a no dig garden or an organic garden
• Manufacture a propagating mix for lavender cuttings
• Take lavender cuttings for propagation
• Contact a herb nursery to observe their operation
• Research irrigation equipment by contacting irrigation suppliers
• Cross pollinate lavender and grow the resulting seed
• Compare various types of lavender
• Harvest a number of different types of lavender
• Produce a small quantity of lavender oil
• Produce two non edible and one edible product containing lavender
• Visit a shop selling lavender products to observe marketing procedures

Lavender Can Be Grown and Used in Many Different Ways

Tips For Using Lavender

• A bag made from an open weave cloth and filled with lavender seeds will deter moths and other insects from your clothing and linen.
• In cooking, use the flowers to flavour bread, cheese, honey, and mustards.
• In the past, lavender oil was used as an antiseptic. Nowadays, it’s favoured medicinal use is to treat insomnia and relieve headaches and nervous tension, and also to soothe tired or strained muscles. While some herbs can cause allergic reactions in some people and can even be dangerous, most health professionals argue that lavender is safe to use, even during pregnancy. However, always seek professional advice before use.
• Sprinkle a few drops of oil over the pillow to promote sleep, or rub the oil directly onto the skin to soothe muscular tension.
• Lavender essential oil can be added to the bath or used in oil burners.
• Lavender water is made by adding lavender to alcohol. The mixture is then distilled and the preparation used for hair and scalp problems and as a treatment for rheumatism.
• Make Lavender a feature plant -as a topiary or standard

Growing Lavender as a Standard
If you like the idea of standard lavender plants (lavenders trained to grow as a ball on a stick), but you don’t want to buy an expensive one at the nursery, you can grow one yourself.
• Buy a small plant at the nursery, preferably in a 5 cm (tube) or 7.5 cm pot. Make sure the main growing tip is undamaged.
• Plant it in a larger pot and tie it to a strong cane to keep the stem straight.
• Pinch back the side-shoots as they appear, to encourage a single strong shoot.
• Repot, fertilise, etc. until the plant has reached the desired height. This may take a couple of years.
• Allow the leading shoot to produce several pairs of leaves, then pinch out the growing tip.
• Pinch out the tips of the new shoots that grow when they reach about 15 cm in length to encourage a bushy head to form.
• Keep pinching out the tips to maintain a dense, well-shaped ball, and rub out any shoots that appear lower down on the main stem.

Some of our Horticulture Tutors

Maggi Brown Cert.Ed.(Environment)
Maggi is regarded as an expert in Organic Growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic). She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more them three decades.

Yvonne Sharpe RHS Cert.Hort, Dip.Hort, M.Hort, Cert.Ed., Dip.Mgt.
Over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne hastravelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades. Yvonne is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG).

John L. Mason Dip.Hort.Sc., Sup'n Cert., FIOH, FPLA, FAIH, MACHPER, MASA
Mr Mason has had over 40 years experience in the fields of Horticulture, Business, Education and Journalism. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner. He has held positions ranging from Nurseryman and Landscape Designer to Director of Parks and Recreation (City of Essendon) and magazine editor.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over forty books and of over two thousand magazine articles. Even today, John has written a number of best selling reference texts used by horticultural courses at universities and colleges internationally. His publishers include Simon and Shuster, and Landlinks Press (CSIRO Publishing

Dr. Lynette Morgan B. Hort. Tech., Ph.D. in Horticultural Science   Dr Morgan has a broad expertise in horticulture and crop production, and a keen appreciation of the global scene. She travels widely as a partner in Suntec Horticultural Consultants, and has clients in central America, the USA, Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA
Gavin has over 20 years of industry experience in  Landscaping, Publishing, Business and Psychology. He was operations manager for a highly reputable British Landscape firm (The Chelsea Gardener) before starting up his own firm. He has exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show, and designed gardens across England and Australia.  He spent the best part of three years working in our Gold Coast office, partly as a writer for Your Backyard (gardening magazine), and partly as a tutor in both psychology and horticulture.

Martin Powdrill, Bsc (Hons) Applied Science (Resources Option), MSc Computer Studies, Permaculture Design Certificate. Martin’s goal as a catalyst for sustainable change brings together his strengths and experience in his environmental, project management, and business backgrounds. For 25 years, Martin has been involved in Telecommunications, IT, Organisational Development, and Energy Conservation & Efficiency, prior to setting up his own Permaculture consulting business. He wishes to make a real difference to people and the planet, by actively bringing new perspectives to current challenges and exciting opportunities. To realise this, he enables diverse groups of people to flourish and release their untapped potential, by re-igniting their passion and creativity. Additionally, Martin volunteers with many local environmental and community groups, and facilitates discussions on climate change, peak oil, and transition towns. Martin has an allotment, and is currently enrolled in the Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Award programme.

Rosemary Davies Dip Hort Sc.    Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Burnley, a campus of Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Department of Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer (Garden Advisory Service), taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer. She is author of several booka and hundreds of articles.

Diana Cole B.A. (Hons), Higher Dip. (Garden Design), RHS Advanced Cert. Horticulture, Cert Admin.Mgt., Dip. Inst. Personnel Management In addition to her RHS horticulture, garden design, City & Guild construction, NPTC pesticide/legislation and business/management qualifications, Diana has a variety of skills drawn from setting up Arbella Gardens, a landscape gardening business. She also has administrative, management and training delivery experience drawn from her employment in other organisations such as the NHS and other educational institutions such as schools & universities. She has augmented her training expertise having gained the Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualification. She also has experience gained through working as a volunteer in a number of different roles including amenity style gardening in parks and practical conservation work. Diana is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited (NSALG).

FAQ's

Why study here? ....ACS is different in many ways

• Established since 1979, Internationally recognised (IARC)
• Support from an international team of highly qualified herb experts
• Courses are continually reviewed and revisions are happening every month of the year
• Courses are "experiential" based learning (This is different to many other schools)

What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.


Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “About Us” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.

What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Learning” box above, then “Learning Methods.”

How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”

What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “About Us” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.

I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk

Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.

Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
We also offer a Herbs ebook. Click here for more information.