When To Grow Lavender From Seed?

How to cultivate lavender from seed It may be more cost-effective to grow lavender from seed in order to create a long, low hedge. Most people prefer to purchase lavender plants that are already grown, but if you’re on a budget or enjoy a challenge, you can grow lavender plants from seed.

1. From February to July, sow lavender seeds on the surface of moist seed compost.
2. Cover the seeds with vermiculite or compost that has been finely sieved.
3. Place the seed tray in a propagator at 21 to 25 degrees Celsius (70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) or seal it in a clear polythene bag until germination, which can take up to 21 days.

Keep the compost moist, but not drenched, and do not block out light, as both of these factors promote germination. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into 7.5cm (3″) pots and continue to cultivate the lavender plants in cooler conditions until they are well-established.

What is the optimal planting season for lavender?

A Brief Guide to Lavender Cultivation – Plant lavender in the spring, after all frost danger has passed. This lovely, fragrant herb is an excellent addition to raised beds, in-ground gardens, and containers. Plant lavender 12 to 18 inches apart in an area that receives ample sunlight and has sandy, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3.

Give young plants a great start to the growing season by incorporating a few inches of compost or other organic matter into the native soil. You only need to water lavender when the top two inches of soil are completely dry. Utilize a water-soluble plant food on a regular basis to encourage the development of lustrous flowers.

how to grow lavender from seeds and a trick that I found to help germinate lavender seeds

Once stems have reached the appropriate size for use, they should be gathered. Do not harvest more than a third of the plant at once. Lavender plants have a neat, shrub-like form. This lavender grows alongside orange poppies in a rock garden, which is an ideal location for lavender due to its excellent drainage.

Can I simply toss lavender seeds?

Lavender cultivation from seed is relatively simple but requires patience. Lavender seeds can be planted directly in the garden, but they germinate much more reliably when planted in a seed tray indoors. Utilize a light, seed-specific potting mix and lightly cover each seed with soil.

• Lavender germinates more quickly when exposed to sunlight, so avoid completely obscuring them.
• Place the seedlings in a warm area or use a heating mat to keep them warm.
• To prevent overwatering the seeds, the soil should be well-draining.
• Lavender seedlings are especially susceptible to fungus infection.

Allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings and placing seedlings in a location with good airflow can help mitigate this issue. The majority of lavender seeds germinate in just a few weeks, but some can take up to a month if they do not receive sufficient sunlight or warmth.

Initially, lavender grows very slowly and will continue to grow slowly throughout its first year. It is time to harden the seedlings when they are a few inches tall and have a few sets of leaves. Hardening is the process of acclimating seedlings to outdoor conditions, which increases their chances of surviving transplanting.

This entails exposing the seedlings to the outdoors for brief periods, beginning in a more sheltered area and progressing to more open areas as time passes. Your seedlings will likely be ready for transplanting in a few weeks.

It will also boost flower production! Pruning may be performed at any time in the spring, but ideally before flowering (so as not to remove all of the flowers). For detailed pruning instructions, see our blog post on Pruning! 3: Weeding While we enjoy leaving weeds and wildflowers between our lavender rows (they feed the bees, help retain topsoil, and provide shelter for beneficial insects), leaving too many too close to your plants can hinder their development.

1. We suggest clearing a circle around the base of your lavender plants that is the same size as the plant’s crown.
2. Putting unbleached paper (such as brown paper bags, corrugated cardboard, or brown butcher paper) over the soil and then covering it with bark mulch is a great way to prevent weeds from returning.4: Soil maintenance Alright, let’s talk soil! Lavender is extremely particular about soil conditions.

Lavender needs adequate drainage, as wet roots will kill the plant. The roots also have a high oxygen requirement and require a porous, airy soil. How you achieve these conditions will depend on the type of soil you have:

Soil Type:	Characteristics:	Soil amendment requirements:
Sandy or chalky	Good drainage, low organic material content	Add organic material (compost)
Clay, silty, or peaty	Poor drainage and high water retention	Till in large pieces of bark mulch to provide air spaces. Supplement bark mulch regularly (every other year or so). Peaty soil is also highly acidic and will need pH correction – see info on pH below.
Loamy soil	Good drainage and high organic material content	You’ve hit the jackpot! Your soil type is perfect!

Lavender requires a neutral to slightly alkaline pH; however, the soil on our coast is extremely acidic and therefore unsuitable for lavender growth. Annually, we add pelletized lime (1 cup per fully grown plant) to our soil to neutralize its pH. If you are unsure of the composition of your soil, you can purchase pH test kits at your local hardware store or garden center.

1. In addition, you’ll need to fertilize a little for optimal flower production.
2. Early in the spring, you can give each plant a small amount (about 2 cups) of well-aged compost or a small amount (1-2 teaspoons per plant) of pelletized slow-release fertilizer with a balanced nutrient ratio (e.g.7-7-7).
3. We hope this springtime guide will assist you in achieving the best lavender plant growth ever.

If you live in Nova Scotia or another cold climate, it will be a few months before the plants green up, but the wait will be well worth it! Check out our video playlist of springtime lavender garden chores. Photographer: unsplash-logo Natalia Luchanko.

Is lavender poisonous to dogs?

Is Lavender Oil for Dogs Safe, and What Benefits Does It Offer? – Lavender oil is primarily praised for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety in humans. But is lavender oil for dogs just as helpful? Most importantly, is it secure? The answer to this question is unfortunately complex.

First, according to the ASPCA, lavender is toxic to dogs (as well as cats and horses). The plant can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite if consumed. These symptoms can be traced back to linalool, a single toxic component. Even though your dog would have to ingest a significant amount of it before exhibiting signs of toxicity, it is not a situation you want to find yourself in by accident.

Aromatherapy is the only safe way to use lavender to help relax your dog. Although research on the use of lavender oil for dogs is limited, studies indicate that it may be safe. To avoid accidental toxicity, you must be aware of how to safely employ aromatherapy to help your dog feel less stressed.

1. Using lavender oil for dogs in aromatherapy involves placing a few drops of the essential oil in areas where your pet spends the most time.
2. When they are feeling overwhelmed, lavender oil in their bed or on their favorite blanket can provide them with a place to retreat.
3. The key is to keep lavender oil away from areas where it could be accidentally ingested or absorbed through the skin.

Remember that a dog’s sense of smell is at least one thousand times more acute than ours. The scent of lavender is already potent, so it can easily overpower your dog.