Lavender Research at Bob Korver's

Bob Korver of Palisade Colorado irrigates this field by running water down the furrows on either side of the lavender beds. The furrows are about six inches deep. The field was planted this spring and has only been watered 4 times. This field contains 10 cultivars in a completely randomized block design. Each block consists of 10 plants of one cultivar. Each block is replicated 6 times. The flower stalks are being cut off five of the plants in each block with the other five being allowed to develop and mature their flowers.
This research project will provide the data necessary to compare the production of Bob’s 10 cultivars and determine if there is a significant difference in production when the flower stalks are removed vs. when they are left to develop. At this time there does not seem to be a difference in plant size between those plants that have had the flower stalks removed and those plants where the flower stalks were left on. A difference in yield however, may appear sometime over the next two years.


Shawn Douglas and Kay Stucker-Shilts cut off flowers and
collect data


Data will be collected through 2013 on growth rate and yield. The results of this research will be posted on my blog and web site. If funds are available the quality of the oil of the various cultivars will be determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after the 2012 harvest.

This project is a cooperative venture of Bob and Elaine Korver, the Lavender Association of Western Colorado, and Colorado State University Extension. If you are interested in learning more get in touch with me at Curtis.Swift@colostate.edu.