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Growing Lavender
in Storage Boxes

A storage boxes growing guide for lavender — container size, soil mix, watering, and the mistakes that quietly kill your yields.

🌱Medium difficulty
🪣2 gal min
📅90-100 days
☀Full Sun
⏱Low maintenance
Published

Quick answer: Lavender grows well in storage boxes. Use a 2-gallon, 12"-deep bag with sandy; gritty; lean; well-drained; alkaline tolerant, pH 6.5-7.5. Deep soak every 3-5 days in summer, weekly otherwise; the large soil mass holds moisture much longer than standard pots. Feed weekly with 5-10-10. Expect harvest in 90-100 days, yielding Continuous flowers and oil.

Storage Boxes and lavender: a working match

Like plastic boxes but typically larger and stronger, with locking lids that can be cut down or removed to create a deep, durable raised bed at a fraction of the cost of dedicated planters.

For lavender specifically (Lavandula angustifolia, Lamiaceae family, Perennial edible), this matters because lavender are heavy-rooted, high-water plants that need fast drainage. The controlled root environment lets you dial water and nutrients in tighter than open-ground growing allows.

"Get the storage boxes substrate and water rhythm right and the rest is variety choice. Get either wrong and no cultivar saves you."

Sizing the pot and setting it up right

Soil recipe

From the storage boxes specialist playbook: 45% topsoil, 35% compost, 20% perlite - the large volume works with heavier soil mixes than smaller containers.

Lavender-specific tweak: lavender prefer pH 6.5–7.5, soil type sandy; gritty; lean; well-drained; alkaline tolerant. Most quality potting mixes land in that range out of the bag — test before adjusting.

Lavender in storage boxes: the setup walkthrough

  1. Choose your storage boxes. 2-gallon minimum, 12" deep. Black is fine indoors; choose tan or grey for outdoor desert/hot-summer settings.
  2. Mix the soil. 45% topsoil, 35% compost, 20% perlite - the large volume works with heavier soil mixes than smaller containers. Mix in a wheelbarrow or tarp before filling.
  3. Fill and transplant. Fill to 2 inches below the rim. Transplant.
  4. Water in. Soak until water drains through the fabric walls (yes, the sides will weep — that's normal).
  5. Position in sun. 6–10 hours direct Full Sun. Elevate dark-colored pots off hot concrete on a plant caddy.
  6. Mark feeding schedule. Begin weekly feeding 2 weeks after transplant with 5-10-10 fertilizer.

Best lavender varieties for storage boxes

Storage Boxes work for any lavender type, but the fast root-zone drying favors plants that handle steady deep watering. Top picks from breeders' lists (varieties verified via All-America Selections and university extension trials):

Watering lavender in storage boxes

Method baseline: Deep soak every 3-5 days in summer, weekly otherwise; the large soil mass holds moisture much longer than standard pots.

Lavender-specific: the baseline holds for lavender (water_category: Low, baseline 7 days), with adjustments:

Feeding lavender in storage boxes

Method baseline: Slow-release granules at planting plus monthly liquid feed; the large soil volume buffers against over- or under-feeding.

Lavender-specific: lavender are a light feeder. Use 5-10-10 (low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus/potassium) once flowers appear. High-nitrogen fertilizer in storage boxes gives you a beautiful leafy plant with zero fruit. Start feeding 2 weeks after transplant, then weekly through the harvest window.

Where to put your storage boxes so lavender thrives

Method baseline: 6-8 hours direct sun for most edibles; the large soil mass tolerates partial shade better than smaller containers.

Lavender-specific: lavender want 6–10 hours of Full Sun. South or west exposure is ideal. If you're growing on a balcony with only morning sun, choose compact varieties (more forgiving with less light) and skip the long-season heirlooms.

Pollination notes for lavender growers

Lavenders are self-pollinating — a single plant will set fruit on its own through wind or gentle shaking. First flowers typically appear 90 days after transplant. In storage boxes, the air-pruned root system actually produces flowers a few days earlier than in rigid containers — a nice side bonus.

Pollination tip for indoor storage boxes: hand-pollinate by tapping the cage gently once flowers open, or use an electric toothbrush against the stem for 1 second per cluster. Vibration shakes pollen loose like a bee would.

The slip-ups we see most often

Storage Boxes mistakes (top 3)

  1. Insufficient drainage for the large soil volume.
  2. Placing directly on grass that traps moisture against the base.
  3. Using a lid as the base without flipping it over for drainage.

Lavender mistakes

  1. Overwatering causing root rot.
  2. Heavy soils retaining moisture.
  3. Planting in shade.
  4. Over-fertilizing reducing oil.
  5. Pruning into old wood (will not regrow).
  6. High humidity without airflow leading to fungal issues.

Pest & disease pressure for lavender in storage boxes

Common pests: aphids; spittlebugs; whiteflies.

Common diseases: root rot (Phytophthora); fungal leaf spot; shab disease; botrytis.

Storage Boxes keeps soil-borne disease pressure low when the substrate is fresh and clean. Spider mites still come for dry-summer plants; mist the underside of leaves weekly if you see stippling.

Keeping lavender tidy in storage boxes

Method routine: Drill additional drainage holes if water pools, inspect plastic for UV stress cracks each season, and elevate slightly on bricks or wood to keep the base dry.

Lavender-specific: Prune by one-third after flowering; never cut into old woody growth; shape in early spring; harvest just before full bloom Growth rate: Slow.

Bringing the lavender in from storage boxes

Expect Continuous flowers and oil in storage boxes (roughly 70-80% of ground-grown yield). Harvest window: 30 days from first ripe fruit. Standard harvest months: Jun; Jul; Aug; year-round indoors with grow lights.

What you harvest: flowers; leaves. Culinary uses: Culinary lavender in baking; sugars; lemonade; herbes de Provence; tea; ice cream; essential oil; sachets; potpourri

Pets, kids, and lavender: what to know

Wildlife value: bees; butterflies; hummingbirds; pollinator magnet; deer and rabbit resistant. Originally from Mediterranean region (France; Spain; Italy).

Deer resistant: Yes · Rabbit resistant: Yes. Elevated containers on a balcony or fenced patio solve deer/rabbit pressure naturally.
Pet safety: Toxic to cats: No · Toxic to dogs: No. Non-toxic per ASPCA in normal amounts; essential oil concentrated form may cause GI upset in pets; flowers safe in culinary use; per ASPCA

Pro tip from the storage boxes playbook

Cut the lid into a planting tray for seedlings - same material, free, and the matching dimensions make it easy to swap into the main box when seedlings are ready to transplant.

Grower's tip for Lavender

Excellent drainage essential; add perlite or grit to potting mix; terracotta containers preferred for moisture wicking; full sun mandatory; do not over-fertilize; zones 3-4 overwinter indoors; SE USA humidity is challenging; harvest just before flowers fully open for best oil

Lavender grower questions about storage boxes

Can I use storage boxes for lavender indoors?

Yes, with a saucer. Storage Boxes weep water through the sides for the first few days after watering — protect indoor floors with a tray or saucer that catches sideways drips, not just bottom drainage. Light requirement: 6–10 hours of Full Sun, so plan supplemental grow lights for low-light rooms.

What size storage boxes do I need for lavender?

2 gallons absolute minimum, 12" deep. The practical sweet spot is 4 gallons for steady production. Larger is better for indeterminate or high-yield growing.

How often should I water lavender in storage boxes?

Deep soak every 3-5 days in summer, weekly otherwise; the large soil mass holds moisture much longer than standard pots.

Will lavender grow as well in storage boxes as in the ground?

Yield is roughly 70-80% of ground-grown for the same variety, but plant health is often better — fewer soil-borne disease problems and no competition from other roots. For most home growers, storage boxes are a net win.

How long do storage boxes last?

2-4 years outdoors before UV degrades the fabric. Up to 6 years if stored indoors during winter and dried completely before folding.

What soil mix works best for lavender in storage boxes?

45% topsoil, 35% compost, 20% perlite - the large volume works with heavier soil mixes than smaller containers. The extra perlite compensates for fabric's fast moisture loss while keeping the root zone aerated.

Do storage boxes get too hot in summer?

Dark-colored storage boxes can heat the soil 10-15°F above ambient in direct afternoon sun. Use tan or light grey fabric for hot climates, mulch the soil surface 3-4 inches deep with straw, and elevate pots off concrete or pavers on a plant caddy or wood block.

Can storage boxes be reused across seasons?

Yes — rinse inside and out at season's end, dry completely before folding, store flat indoors. Expect 2-4 years of outdoor use before UV degrades the fabric. Replacements run $5-12 per pot in 3-packs.

What to buy for lavender in storage boxes

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Data sources

Climate, geographic, and toxicity data on this page come from public datasets. Cultivar profiles and growing recommendations draw on land-grant university extension research.