Love lavender?
Growing it from seed is easier than you think!
Here are 7 simple tactics to help you get started.
With these tips, you’ll have beautiful lavender in no time.
Let’s grow some lavender together!
Pick the Right Seeds
First things first, you need to make sure you’re getting the right lavender seeds. English lavender is a popular choice because it’s both pretty and smells amazing.
You can find seeds at your local gardening store, or you can order them online. Whichever way you choose, just make sure you’re getting seeds from a reliable source.
Quality seeds will make a world of difference in how your lavender turns out.
Prepare the Soil
Lavender loves well-draining soil. You can pick up a bag of potting mix that’s specifically made for plants that need good drainage, or you can make your own mix.
Just add some sand or perlite to regular potting soil to give it the right texture. If you’re growing your lavender outdoors, make sure the garden bed doesn’t hold water too long.
Start Seeding Indoors
It’s best to start lavender seeds indoors before moving them outside. Fill small pots with your prepared soil and plant the seeds about an inch apart.
Don’t cover them with too much soil—lavender needs light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and place the pots in a sunny spot inside your home.
In about 2-4 weeks, you should see the first signs of growth.
Transplant to Bigger Pots or Garden
Once your seedlings have a few sets of leaves, you can transplant them into bigger pots or directly into your garden. Be gentle while moving the plants to avoid damaging the roots.
Make sure they have plenty of space to grow; aim for about 12-18 inches between each plant. Water them well once they’re in their new spots.
Water Wisely
Lavender plants don’t like being too wet. Water your plants when the soil feels dry, but avoid making the soil soggy.
Overwatering can lead to root rot and other issues. A good tip is to water less frequently but deeply, so the water reaches the root zone.
Lavender is quite drought-tolerant once it’s established, so don’t fret if you miss a watering now and then.
Give Them Sunshine
Lavender loves the sun. Make sure your plants are getting at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
If you’re growing them indoors, place them near a sunny window. Outdoors, consider planting them in a south-facing spot for maximum light.
The more sunlight your lavender gets, the more beautiful and fragrant it will be.
Prune Regularly
Pruning is vital for keeping your lavender plants healthy. Once your plants start to flower, trim back the spent blooms to encourage new growth.
In late summer, you can give your lavender a more substantial trim, cutting back about a third of the plant. This helps keep it bushy and stops it from getting too woody.