When to Plant Lavender
Set out young lavender plants from your last frost to 3 weeks after it.
Lavender at a glance
- Plant out
- from your last frost to 3 weeks after it
- Time to harvest
- 60 to 90 days from planting out
- Harvest lasts
- about 8 weeks
- Spacing
- 1 plant per square foot
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
- Comes back
- Every year, as a perennial
Growing lavender
Lavender needs full sun, poor to average soil and excellent drainage. English lavender is the hardiest; other kinds suit milder winters. Plant young plants in spring, water them until they settle in, then water little.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Plant out | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | May 28 – Jun 18 | Jul 27 – Sep 21 |
| Zone 3b | May 17 – Jun 7 | Jul 16 – Sep 10 |
| Zone 4a | May 12 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 4b | May 8–29 | Jul 7 – Sep 1 |
| Zone 5a | May 3–24 | Jul 2 – Aug 27 |
| Zone 5b | May 1–22 | Jun 30 – Aug 25 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jun 28 – Aug 23 |
| Zone 6b | Apr 23 – May 14 | Jun 22 – Aug 17 |
| Zone 7a | Apr 16 – May 7 | Jun 15 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 7b | Apr 5–26 | Jun 4 – Jul 30 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | May 28 – Jul 23 |
| Zone 8b | Mar 17 – Apr 7 | May 16 – Jul 11 |
| Zone 9a | Mar 2–23 | May 1 – Jun 26 |
| Zone 9b | Feb 1–22 | Apr 2 – May 28 |
| Zone 10a | Jan 24 – Feb 14 | Mar 25 – May 20 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so plant lavender in the cooler months and let the roots settle before summer heat. | |
Questions about lavender
Can I grow lavender in a pot?
Yes. Use a gritty, fast-draining mix and a pot with holes, and keep it in full sun. Potted lavender is also easier to shelter in wet winters.
When do I cut lavender?
Cut stems for drying when the first flowers on the spike open. Trim the plant after flowering, but not back into the old bare wood.
