Lavender is usually propagated using cuttings or planters, as this form has a higher chance of success than seed propagation. On the other hand, lavender plants are quite expensive in the garden center - especially if you need larger quantities - and growing your own plants is also just plain fun.
Seeds mostly from real lavender
In the garden, the real lavender in particular sows itself, provided the conditions are right. You can often find young plants in cracks between stones - this is where the lavender, which is used to a stony surface, feels most comfortable. However, this self-seeding does not occur with all types of lavender. When you buy lavender seeds, you usually only get so-called "wild lavender", which does not mean genuine lavender of a single variety. However, the resulting plants look very different, not only in terms of their height and shape, but also in terms of leaf shape and color. Sometimes even the colors of the flowers differ.
Prepare seeds before sowing
If you want to use seeds from home-grown lavender plants, they must be properly mature. This means that you should not cut off the faded flower stalks in summer, but only in spring. To increase the germination rate, you can stratify the seeds before sowing, i.e. store them in the refrigerator for one to two weeks. To do this, place the seeds on a little damp sand, which you fill in a sealable freezer bag (or another sealable container). Further preparations are not necessary.
Sow lavender
You should only sow lavender directly outdoors when no more frost periods are to be expected. This is usually the case from the end of May / beginning of June. But lavender can also be grown on the windowsill or in the greenhouse from February / March, then the plants grown from it will flower in the same year and can also be harvested.
Instructions for sowing
- Fill - if possible germ-free - potting soil in pots or a greenhouse.
- Low-nutrient herb soil is best.
- You can disinfect them in the microwave beforehand.
- Dampen the soil with a spray bottle.
- The seeds are scattered loosely on the substrate and lightly pressed with a board.
- Spread the stratified seeds together with the sand on the potting soil - as thinly as possible.
- Lavender germinates in light and needs a light location.
- The seedlings germinate after a week or two, but can take longer.
- Prick out the plants as soon as the first leaves have appeared after the cotyledons.
tips and tricks
Young lavender plants should only be planted outdoors or in a pot on the balcony when cold temperatures are no longer to be expected outside - ergo at the end of May at the earliest, later even better. Older lavender is no longer as sensitive.
IJA