Lavender from seed
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
I have two tiny lavender seedlings that have just germinated in the last week. Is lavender difficult to grow from seed and any advice tips on how to encourage more to germinate and overwintering please.
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Guernsey they're usually very easy from seed, sown in gritty compost and watered from underneath. I don't prick out till they're about an inch high then pot into gritty compost and they go in a cold frame from a late sowing. Nothing special.
Don't lavenders also grow well from cuttings?
Oh heck - watering from underneath - that could be my undoing then Dave. I have just been watering the normal way from above with a fine rose attachment to the watering can. I have tried not to over water as I know lavender normally grow in quite dry conditions. Perhaps I will start again as only two of my seedlings have germinated so far.
Yes Clarington you can take cuttings of lavender but I have a very poor success rate (even less than seed germination) with cuttings.
Guernsey, when you water from above the seeds can move about unless you top dress with grit. As for cuttings they're easy too. Heel cuttings and into some very sharply drained compost or even plain sharp sand. I do 6 to a 9cm pot and get 100%.
Dave, I watch all the programmes, videos, have the books etc. but cuttings just don't seem to work for me - well not entirely true as I did manage some Rosemary, blackcurrants and hydrangea cuttings last year and had about 60% success, which was astounded me as that was way above my average.
When do you take your lavender cuttings Dave - do you put them in heat and how long do they take to root? You have got me thinking maybe I should try taking a few cuttings..