How to grow lavender in pots: sun, little water, prune after flowering

Pot and soil

A terracotta pot at least 30 cm (12 in) wide, with big holes and a drainage layer. Lean, very free-draining mix with grit; it likes a little lime.

Full sun, at least 6-8 hours. In shade it flowers poorly and stretches.

Sparingly: about every 6 days in summer, only when the soil is dry; almost nothing in winter. Overwatering is the top killer of potted lavender.

Hardly any: a low-nitrogen feed once a month in spring. Too much feed means leaves, not flowers.

When it's ready

Coloured spikes with about half of the florets open.

How to harvest

Cut the flower stems at the base on a dry morning; dry in bunches in the shade.

Grey, dry stems from the base

Root rot from too much water or a full saucer. Let it dry and always empty the saucer.

Few flowers

Too little sun, too much feed or no pruning.

Woody plant, open in the middle

Prune every year after flowering, cutting back by a third but never into bare wood.

When should I prune lavender?

Right after flowering, in late summer: cut back by about a third, always staying in the leafy part.

When do I harvest lavender flowers?

When half the florets on a spike are open, in the morning: that's when they're most fragrant.

Does potted lavender survive winter?

Yes, it handles cold if the soil is dry; in cold areas shelter it from rain and wind.