Are you interested to know how to sell lavender in the UK? Turn your passion for gardening into a profitable business by selling lavender plants and products, such as dried flower arrangements, aromatherapy products, soap, sachets, and more.
There are several products you can make that derive from lavender plants. But before you start thinking about selling your lavender plants, it’s essential to know how to which species to grow and how to grow them correctly.
The Best Types of Lavender Species to Grow
Did you know that there are more than 30 types of lavender with hundreds of varieties? But even though there are hundreds of lavenders to choose from, most commercial growers grow two species: English lavender or true lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) and lavandins or hybrids (Lavendula x intermedia).
There are several other varieties under these two species. Each type has unique qualities that add a beautiful touch to bouquets, the scent for essential oils and soap, and the taste for culinary spices.
Can You Grow Lavender in Your Area in the UK?
Even though lavender is easy to grow, it doesn’t grow anywhere. Your plants should be grown in the suitable climate and soil type of the UK. Here are some of the things you need to know about growing lavender for profit.
Lavender plants originate in the Mediterranean, so they need to grow in a similar climate to produce the best results. These plants need well-drained soil with an acidity level of 6 to 8. To know the pH level of your soil, you can use a simple pH tester which you’ll most likely find in your local garden centre.
Lavender can grow in most areas in the UK, but some fare better in some regions (like Devon, Kent, and the Isle of Wight), especially those near large water bodies. These plants thrive best when planted in sandy loam soil as it provides the most drainage.
You don’t have to add fertilizer once your lavenders are established. But when you first planted them, you can feed them nitrogen fertiliser to accelerate growth.
You’ll also need to prune your lavenders before it grows to maturity. If you don’t prune them within the first two years, this can result in woody stems and fewer flowers.
4 Types of Lavender Products You Can Sell
You can probably think of several lavender products right off the bat. But here are four types of lavender products you can consider growing:
Lavender soap
The sweet-smelling scent of lavender is the perfect ingredient for making soap. With several moulds and ways to make soap, you can create several types of soap, such as liquid handwash soap, body soap, and facial bar soap. You can quickly start production for new soap makers by using the “melt and pour” soap base.
Live plants
Aside from their scent, lavender plants mature into beautiful and unique flowers. Many commercial growers grow lavenders and sell them as mature, live plants with huge profits. To ensure that your plants will look exactly like their parent plants, it’s better to grow them from cuttings rather than from seed. In this way, your only expense would be for pots and potting soil. You can also wholesale your plants to local UK gardens and nurseries.
Fresh bouquets
Selling lavender as fresh bouquets is an excellent way for small-time plant growers to earn money. You can sell directly to consumers from a UK garden stall or the farmer’s market in your UK area. Lavender bouquets usually sell for £5 each. If you have a 20’ x 20’ growing area, you can produce about 300-350 lavender bunches every year. If you can sell them all, you’ll earn £1,500 to £1,750. Larger plots of land are even more profitable. For instance, a quarter of an acre can typically produce 3,000 bunches, and if you can sell them all, you can earn £15,000.
Sachets
You can use lavender sachets to freshen or deodorize the nooks and crannies in your home, like closets, drawers, and even in shoes. You can sell them directly to consumers or local retailers in your UK area.
Why Grow Your Lavender in a Mini Greenhouse?
Selling lavender for profit means that there should be little room for error as you’re growing them to maximize profit. Growing them inside a polytunnel protects them from pests, diseases, and bad weather. It also allows you to control the climate inside the greenhouse.
Protect your lavender plants from pests and diseases
Garden flea hoppers, Septoria leaf spot, and four-lined plant bug are the primary pests that attack lavender plants. For infections, lavenders are susceptible to catching root rot, Alfa Mosaic Virus, and Shab. Growing your lavender plants inside an enclosed space lowers the risk of catching diseases and attracting pests.
Protect your lavender plants from bad weather
Heavy rain, high winds, and excessive heat can damage your lavender plants. Keeping them inside a polytunnel shields them from harsh weather conditions that can affect the growth of your plants.
Final Thoughts on How to Sell Lavender for Profit
Before you start selling lavender for profit, it’s essential to know the ins and outs of how to sell lavender in the UK. You can visit a local commercial grower to learn more about growing plants and selling them. Ask them how they make money, track their finances, and more.