Lavender seeds won't germinate
Name Withheld
Posts: 5
My grandma got this mother's day box of lavender seeds with the soil and basket. I followed the instructions when planting, taking special care not to cover the seeds with too much soil. It just says that once the seeds are planted in the basket they should be left outside in the shade until they sprout, then put them in the sunlight and separate them once they get bigger, dispose of weak ones, and so-on.
I didn't have an outdoor space in the shade so I have them in my room on my chest of drawers in the shade because my bedroom is the most similar place in the house to outside. It's always cool but quite a stable temperature (never goes above 15 or below 10) and the window is almost always open but light still bounces around the room even though the curtains provide shade for the basket of planted seeds.
I've kept the soil moist but not soaking and two weeks later not a single seed has sprouted. Have I done something wrong that might not have been mentioned in the instructions?
Posts
2 weeks might be too soon. Perennial plants don't generally germinate as quickly as annuals.
In the sticks near Peterborough
How long do you think I should wait?
I leave seeds for a very long time before giving up on them. Months.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Lavender seeds are stubborn germinators at the best of times. They also don't remain viable as long as some other seeds. Did they come with a plant-by date?
Try popping some of them in a sealed Tupperware type container with tiny amount of water place in bottom of airing cupboard for a few days check regularly for sprouting.If successful, continue as you have described....I've found this works with many of the seeds that are well known for being reticent to germinate.The tiniest- tiniest! amount of algaecide stops rotting problems if in warmth for any greater period. Distilled or just cooled boiled water is an advantage for the same reason.
Try popping some in sealed Tupperware type container with a little distilled or cooled recently boiled water laced with a trace of rose treatment.Place in bottom of airing cupboard,check regularly.As soon as you see action plant in tray being careful to avoid temperature shock...something odd afoot! sorry if this has duplicated! more of gardener than computer boffin!