Lavender from seed

[where2start]

I have always dreamt of having my own home with a lavender boarder around the fence. Sounds so lovely doesn't it

Now i have my own home, with a fence (finally)!

I just wanted to check the best way to germinate lavender seeds. I have two packs but i was told the other day to sprout them on moist paper, and wanted to know what others recommended?

The soil isn't so good where i want to put them, and will be prone to strong winds.

Also we don't have any bees here in the FI will that make a difference to flowering?

[Nicos]

I understand the seeds germinate pretty quickly if you sprinkle them on top of moist compost and cover the pot/tray with a plastic bag and leave on the window sill. Matter of days I believe.

I've never tried it myself , but fancied having a go in the spring!
Be interesting to see how you get on!

Bees??- can't see how they would affect flowering- they just wouldn't produce seeds but other insects should get at them!

[where2start]

Okey dokey thanks for that Nicos. Will start them off in the window first otherwise they might get blown away this weekend!

[Irie Jan]

Lavender is a beautifull plant, I love it! When I first moved into my house 24 years ago now, I took a small cutting from my mother inlaws lavender bush! I had it in my garden for years and years! About 5 years ago now I lost that bush which was a shame! Im not sure what went wrong with it, it just deid back

For many years I also had a lavender hedge around my front garden, which I bought as small plants from a garden center, that must have been about 20 years old. Unfortunately it was looking sad, with lots of dead wood in it. when it had finnished flowering this year, I cut out as much of the dead wood as I could. It just looked too sad and untidy to keep so have now got rid of most of it.

I have saved quite a few of the seeds from it though so will be hoping for some nice new plants from those in the spring! I cant remember the type of lavender it was but the flower spikes were lovely and big, fat and long compaired to some lavenders that I have seen!

Good luck with your seeds where2start, we will have to compare notes! When were yo planing to start your off?

[where2start]

Hi Irie Jan

I was just surfing the net and i did read that lavender will last about 5 years before it starts dying back....so you have had a really good run

I will start them off today because its summer time here and its so warm they should take off. The only thing i will have to do it break down the clay soil where i plan to plant because i believe lavender dont like clay.

Cant wait it will be soooo pretty, and i just love the smell

[Irie Jan]

Hi Irie Jan

I was just surfing the net and i did read that lavender will last about 5 years before it starts dying back....so you have had a really good run

I will start them off today because its summer time here and its so warm they should take off. The only thing i will have to do it break down the clay soil where i plan to plant because i believe lavender dont like clay.

Cant wait it will be soooo pretty, and i just love the smell

Ooh lucky you! Summerrrrr.... Its what I long for, drool drool! lol I hate the cold! Bah poo Humbug!

Oh well let me know how you get on with your lavender soon. I will have to wait for just a while b4 I can get mine going, prob about another 3-4 months March April time! I cam smell the sweet sent already!
xx Jan

[BrideXIII]

i have a lavender older than 5 years

they don't so much die back as die UP, get leggy etc, but when they do you can dig them up and make the hole deeper, replant them and they keep going. of course eventually you have to dig down to australia, but it will prolong the life of them.

[jogette]

Lavender doesn't like wet feet so if your soil is heavy make sure you lighten it with some sand or grit.
Also if you shear over lavender when it's finished flowering - it keeps the bush from getting too leggy.
My lavender is gorgeous and grows next to the drive - every year I get about a dozen or so seedlings that have germinated in the sand between the paviors. I just gently tweek them out and pot up in very sandy compost (my insurance in case the original turns it's toes up! )

BTW I garden on heavy London clay.

[kentvegplot]

Really easy from seed - make sure the compost (and subsequent planting area) is very free draining - as jogette said, it's the wet feet they hate.

To get a head start, have you got any friends with lavenders you could get some cuttings from in spring?

[Mcbee]

I always find that its cuttings take really easily. When you cut it back in the autumn, just trim the flower spikes off, strip a few of the needles from the bottom and stick it in a pot of compost.
Leave it over winter and in the spring you should be able to move it o to a bigger pot, or plant out direct.

[inearlygaveup]

Hi, it may be a bit late for you, but I have only just seen your post. I found this information for myself after having no luck last year.

Growing Lavender for Beauty and Fragrance

Sow the seeds about an inch apart and no more than ¼ inch deep as light helps germination. Keep moist but not soggy. Room temperature (about 70°F) is optimal. Be patient, as lavender is unusually slow to germinate, sometimes taking up to a month to emerge from the potting mix. For this reason, it is important to use a well-drained sterile mix to prevent disease. Once the seedlings are established pot them up in four-inch containers and grow them for three months or more before moving to the garden. A well hardened-off, 5–8 inch tall seedling will have the best chance of adapting to the rigors of the garden. Transplant leaving plenty of space to insure adequate air circulation when plants mature. Space at least a foot apart for true lavender and two feet for the larger lavandins. Transplant any time up until about two months before the first fall frosts to allow the plants to get established before going dormant in winter. If you mulch young seedlings, leave a few inches around the plant for air circulation, which helps prevent damping-off disease. Once your beds are established, which might take two to three years, they should be fairly carefree with yearly dressings of compost. Mulching will help control weeds, retain moisture, and add fertility, but you might want to remove the mulch in the spring if soils remain soggy.

Extract from Seeds of Change 100% Organic Seeds

I will be trying this myself this year - good luck.........

[Irie Jan]

Hi Irie Jan

I was just surfing the net and i did read that lavender will last about 5 years before it starts dying back....so you have had a really good run

I will start them off today because its summer time here and its so warm they should take off. The only thing i will have to do it break down the clay soil where i plan to plant because i believe lavender dont like clay.
it will be soooo pretty, and i just love the smell

Hi Where2start! It's been a few weeks now, I was wondering how your lavender is going?

It won't be long now and I can get some going to replace the ones I lost last year. Lucky I managed to save quite a few of the seeds! I'm looking forward to some nice strong new plants, I can't wait I love the smell as well; so do the Bees and other insects!