Lavender is a popular herb grown for its beautiful flowers and fragrant aroma. Many gardeners opt to start lavender from seeds as an affordable way to get many plants. However, lavender seeds and seedlings have some unique characteristics you need to understand.
When starting lavender from seed, you’ll need to be able to recognize the seedlings properly when they germinate. Young lavender has an appearance and growth habit different from mature plants Learning what to expect will help you identify seedlings correctly and tend to them properly. With the right care, you’ll gain a bounty of aromatic lavender plants from seed
What Do Lavender Seeds Look Like?
Lavender seeds are tiny, measuring 1mm or less in size. They are oval or irregularly shaped. When fresh, lavender seeds may be gray, brown or black in color. White or very pale seeds are unlikely to germinate. To improve germination rates, some people soak seeds in water prior to planting which can bleach the dark pigment from some varieties resulting in whiter seeds. But the seeds will still germinate well when planted.
Lavender seeds have a broad temperature range for germination. They will sprout best when soil temperatures are 60-70°F making spring and fall ideal planting times in most climates. The seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them with soil when planting. Simply press them into the growing medium.
How Lavender Seedlings Look When They First Emerge
Lavender seedlings look grassy and delicate when they first emerge. The small sprouts will have:
- Thin, threadlike green stems that may be translucent
- Narrow green leaves in opposite pairs along the stem
- A somewhat open, lanky overall appearance
- Height of 1-2 inches typically
These nascent seedlings do not resemble mature, woody lavender plants yet. Their appearance is normal for the first weeks of growth.
Lavender Seedling Growth Stages
Lavender seedlings go through a few distinct phases in their first year of growth
Germination Stage
- Seeds sprout and put up pairs of thin leaves along a wispy stem
- Taproot grows down while stem elongates up
- Plants reach 1-3 inches in height
Seedling/Juvenile Stage
- Stems and leaves remain narrow but lengthen
- Plants grow upright with little branching
- Lavender variety can be hard to discern
- Reach 4-8 inches tall within 2-4 months
Maturing Growth
- Stems and foliage start thickening and become woody
- Color and form characteristics of variety emerge
- Branching increases and plants bush out
- Reach 8-12 inches tall by 6-10 months old
Caring for Lavender Seedlings
Lavender seedlings need attentive care in their first year while becoming established:
- Keep plants weed-free to prevent competition
- Water regularly to keep soil moderately moist but not soggy
- Feed with balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to 1/4 strength every 2-3 weeks
- Ensure seedlings receive full sun for at least 6 hours daily
- Transplant promptly once true leaves emerge so seedlings aren’t crowded
- Outdoors, protect young plants from harsh weather and frost
- Pinch back tips occasionally to encourage bushy growth
With attentive care while growing on, seedlings will mature into robust, productive lavender plants.
When to Transplant Lavender Seedlings
Ideally, lavender seedlings should be transplanted when they are still very young, at the two true leaf stage. Transplanting helps avoid overcrowding which can cause seedlings to become elongated and weak. Follow these guidelines:
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Indoors: Transplant seedlings into cell packs or 3-4 inch pots when the 2nd set of true leaves emerges. Gradually acclimate plants to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting into the garden after the last spring frost.
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Outdoors: Thin direct sown plants to stand 6 inches apart when the 2nd set of true leaves is present. Water transplants well and shade for a few days until established if temperatures are high.
Giving each seedling adequate space at an early stage prevents competition and results in bushy, robust transplants.
When Do Lavender Seedlings Flower?
Lavender seedlings typically will not flower until their second year of growth. Flowering in the first season is uncommon but can occasionally occur if plants are grown under ideal conditions and with attentive care. Do not worry if your seedlings do not bloom the first year – this is normal. The second season is when prolific flowering will occur after plants are well established. Deadheading spent blooms the first year can help promote bushy growth.
How to Overwinter Lavender Seedlings
The first winter can be challenging for young lavender plants. Follow these tips to help them successfully overwinter:
- Transplant into well-draining soil enriched with grit or sand for drainage
- Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to insulate roots from cold
- Prune leggy growth in late fall and protect with row cover if frost threatens
- Water deeply before ground freezes but avoid overwatering during winter
- Ensure excellent drainage to prevent crown rot
- Shelter from harsh winds and winter sun which can desiccate plants
- If snow covers plants, gently brush it off to avoid breakage from heavy snow
With attention to their special needs, your seedling lavenders will come back vigorously the following spring.
The first year requires vigilance when growing lavender from seed. But the reward is having many plants adapted to your site at very low cost. Learning to identify true lavender seedlings and providing attentive early care will set your plants up for success. In time, you can look forward to enjoying bountiful, fragrant blooms from your homegrown lavenders.
Prune to Encourage More Growth
The happiest plants are the ones that are pruned! It may seem counterintuitive, but you can encourage faster growth by pruning twice per year. The first pruning happens in the late spring after the first round of flowers.
You can cut back to a few inches above the woody portion of the plant. This refreshes the herb to prepare for another flush of blooms in the fall.
After the autumn flowers fade, it’s time to prune again. This hard prune takes back the plant by up to two-thirds of its growth. Don’t worry, this will all grow back even more abundantly next spring! Pruning encourages the plant to channel its energy into preparing the roots for winter dormancy so it can come up with lusher green foliage in the following year.
As mentioned above, it’s best practice to prune lavender before transplanting as well. This helps the plant be less stressed when moving into a new home.
Find Balance With the Watering Schedule
Lavender is known for its drought tolerance, but it needs plenty of water to get established. For the first few months, newly planted lavender needs water at least once per week in most climates. If it rains, there is no need to irrigate.
Always let the soil dry out between waterings. Most importantly, avoid overwatering, which could stunt plant growth and cause disease problems.
5 Tips to Grow Perfect Lavender
FAQ
How to identify lavender sprouts?
However, if you wait another 2-4 weeks, you’ll be able to identify your lavender as the seedlings will begin to develop needle-like leaves, which are generally associated with lavender.
What does a lavender plant look like in spring?
But even the toughest perennials may still look quite grisly after their long winter dormancy. A live, but dormant, lavender plant is usually a silvery colour, tinged with green. As warm weather and the sun approach, new, bright green growth will start emerging from the woody stems.
What plant is mistaken for lavender?
Russian Sage, Veronica, Lavender, and Salvia can appear to be very similar at first glance, but there are so many nuanced differences that will make one better for your space compared to the others.