Lavender seed can produce variable results, especially from named cultivars. Keep the packet instructions and label each sowing rather than relying on one universal germination timetable.
Seed may not reproduce a named lavender
A seedling can differ in flower color, size and other traits, and some selections are not normally maintained from seed. Use labeled seed and choose cuttings where an identical cultivar is the aim.
Start in a clean, draining container
Follow the packet for sowing depth and any cold treatment. Do not impose the same refrigerator period on every lavender. Keep germinating medium appropriately moist without a permanently waterlogged tray.
Light becomes important after emergence
Provide useful brightness and ventilation so seedlings remain sturdy. Handle them gently before roots become tangled, moving into modest containers as growth warrants. More fertilizer will not correct a shaded, crowded seed tray.
Acclimate before outdoor growing
Introduce stronger sun, wind and changing temperatures gradually. Choose final conditions suited to the species and local climate. Newly rooted seedlings still need water while establishing, even when the adult plant is described as drought-tolerant. Time to flowering varies rather than following one guaranteed number of weeks.
