How to grow LAVENDER from seeds, by Anya Lautenbach on YouTube. 21 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes to sow, then 3 to 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Fill small pots or a seed tray with moist, free-draining seed compost. Press it down gently and level the surface so it is firm but not compacted.
Give the seeds a cold spell first. Mix them with a little damp compost in a sealed bag and keep them in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks before sowing.
Sow thinly on the surface, a few seeds to each pot. Cover them very lightly with a fine sprinkle of compost or vermiculite, just enough to hide them.
Water gently with a fine rose or mist the surface so the seeds are not washed away or buried deeper.
Cover the pot or tray with a clear lid or a plastic bag. Keep the sown seeds at around 18 to 21°C, which is 65 to 70°F.
Place the container somewhere bright with plenty of light. A sunny windowsill or a warm, sheltered spot works well.
Keep the compost lightly moist but never waterlogged. Let the surface almost dry out between waterings to avoid rot.
Be patient. Lavender germination is slow and uneven, often taking weeks or even several months, so do not throw the tray out early.
Prick out the strongest seedlings once they have a couple of true leaves. Lift each one by a leaf, not the stem, into its own small pot.
Grow the young plants on in a bright spot, then harden them off and plant out once the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
Tips and common mistakes
Lavender grown from seed may not look identical to the parent plant, and some hybrid lavenders are sterile, so take cuttings if you want an exact copy.
Sowing in autumn and leaving the pots outside gives the seeds their cold spell naturally with no fridge space needed.
Overwatering is the most common mistake; damp, airless compost rots the seeds before they ever sprout.
Label each pot with the variety and the sowing date, since germination is so slow you may forget what is in the tray.
Questions
How long do lavender seeds take to germinate?
Usually several weeks, and often two to three months. Germination is uneven, so a few seedlings may appear long after you had given up.
Do lavender seeds need to be put in the fridge?
Yes, a cold period of about 3 to 4 weeks helps break dormancy. You can also sow in autumn and leave the pots outside over winter instead.
Why are my lavender seeds not sprouting?
The compost may be too wet, too cold or the seeds buried too deep. Keep them at 18 to 21°C, only just covered, and give them more time.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
