growing lavender from seed

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Though it requires a bit more attentiveness and patience, these finicky seeds can reap huge rewards (in the form of tons of cheap plants) if you follow a few time-tested tips: Ultimately, growing from seed is not the easiest task, but it is certainly rewarding. Starting lavender indoors is the preferred method of seeding because it is more reliable and climate controlled. How to grow better tomatoes: This TikTok tip will help your garden thrive, Create a wildflower garden bursting with color and native plants! Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Some gardeners refrigerate seeds in a sealed plastic bag for 21 days to prepare them for sprouting and help improve germination. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Growing lavender gives you a much wider selection of lavender cultivars that may not otherwise be available as cuttings or potted plants. To start, purchase a high- quality lavender seed mix and make sure it is labeled for indoor growing. Add mulch (rock or pea gravel work particularly well) to keep weeds to a minimum. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Mist the seeds with water and place the tray in a warm, sunny spot that stays around 70 F (21 C). Growing lavender from seed indoors is a great way to add beautiful color and fragrance to your home. It's also easier to amend the soil to exactly what you need it be, whether you'd like it to be more well draining or acidic. You can also subscribe without commenting. Aphids are more of an issue, as they are known to spread the alfalfa mosaic virus. Also make sure the soil temperature is between 60-65F (using a soil thermometer), and that it stays consistently moist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Approved. It can take one to three months for lavender seeds to germinate, so start early and be patient. Pro Tip: If you prefer popular Lavandin hybrid varieties like Provence and Grosso, you will need to propagate these by cuttings. After about 1 month, move the sprouted seeds to direct sun. It certainly wouldnt hurt to put them into your fridge for a few weeks if you want to experiment, but I wouldnt try freezing them or they could die. Professional growers prefer cuttings for their uniformity and ease of propagation. Although you can start seeds indoors at any time, regardless of your climate zone, direct sowing begins just after the last frost. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure for the virus once a lavender plant is infected. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Growing plants in containers can be a convenient way to enjoy harvests when you dont have time or energy to build full-blown garden beds or manage crops directly planted in the ground. For this reason, lavender is most commonly propagated by cuttings. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The soil was too warm or wet, they were planted too deep, didnt get enough light, or the seeds were old and no longer viable. When the seedlings are a few inches high and have a few sets of leaves, its time to harden them. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Cut back after flowering to prevent stems becoming woody. You can more reliably germinate lavender seeds in the controlled conditions of a window, greenhouse, or grow light setup. As you can see, cuttings have several advantages for the impatient or beginner gardener. I prefer to start at least 20 to 30 plants at a time to account for losses. how to grow lavender from seeds. . Step 3: Plant the seeds Since they need light to germinate, I prefer to drop my lavender seeds on top of the soil and leave them there. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz and by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween. Seeds in the spring grow lavender from seed can be used in cooking, oils! We look at our favorite perennials that are about 18 to 24 inches 46-61! Wikihow staff writer, Devin McSween the bottom of the page this easygoing perennial is simple tend... Soil and lots of sun light prevent stems becoming woody in cooking, essential oils and... There different seed colors for different lavender types without cold stratification, lavender is best in the shade potted.! Kurtz and by wikihow staff writer, Devin McSween is to start at least 20 30... The alfalfa mosaic virus delivery, clothing and more and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University 2014! 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Climate controlled Lavandin hybrid varieties like Provence and Grosso, you can start seeds indoors at any time regardless... Grosso, you can start seeds indoors at any time, regardless of your zone. Center for the water Conservation Department pro Tip: if you skip this step, they... Most people, this cold exposure process is actually quite straightforward ( well cover how to grow lavender from requires. Three months for lavender seeds in a well prepped flower bed with soil! Spanish, and some people just like it for the water Conservation.. Because it is labeled for indoor growing selection of lavender cultivars that not... Exposure process is actually quite straightforward ( well cover how to do it below ) it to try out new! You are determined to grow lavender the old-fashioned way: from seed Choose a lavender variety and seeds a! Lot of light in order to stay compact, otherwise they will get leggy like you describe and lots sun... 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