The Best Time to Plant Lavender Seeds for Success

Planting lavender seeds at the right time is crucial for their success. In regions with mild winters, September and October are ideal months to sow lavender seeds, allowing them to establish a strong root system before the heat of summer.

In areas with cold winters, it's best to plant lavender seeds in the spring, around late March to early April, when the soil has warmed up and the risk of frost has passed. This allows the seeds to germinate and grow during the cooler months.

Lavender seeds need about 6-8 weeks of cold stratification to break dormancy, which can be achieved by sowing them in the fall or early spring.

Related reading: Lavender Plant Cold Hardiness

To give your lavender seeds the best chance to thrive, you'll want to start preparing and planning early. Plant lavender seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before planting outside.

This means you should start planting your seeds around late March or early April. The exact timing will depend on your location and the last frost date in your area.

For me, the last frost is usually mid-May, which is why I like to plant flowers outside around the end of May. This allows the seeds to germinate and develop strong roots before the warmer weather sets in.

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Direct sowing lavender seeds outdoors requires waiting until the last frost date has passed and daily temperatures reach 65 to 75 degrees.

If you do decide to direct sow, prepare the soil surface by lightly scratching it with a fork tool, and if you have heavy wet or clay soil, add a layer of potting mix.

Lavender seeds need ample light to germinate, so direct sowing outdoors can be a bit tricky, but it's doable.

You can also try planting them in the fall, lightly sowing into the top layer of soil, allowing the winter to cold stratify them. This can work if you don't have very cold, wet winters.

Transplanting lavender seedlings outside is a great option when danger of frost has passed, ideally when daily temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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You can successfully grow lavender from seed, and it's actually quite easy once you know the basics. Most people prefer to buy pre-grown lavender plants, but if you're on a budget or enjoy a challenge, you can grow your own.

Sow lavender seeds from February to July on the surface of moist seed compost. Cover the seeds with a sprinkling of vermiculite or finely sieved compost, and make sure the compost is damp but not wet.

Place the seed tray in a propagator at 21-25°C (70-75°F) or seal it inside a clear polythene bag until germination, which can be up to 21 days. This will help the seeds germinate quickly.

Keep the light on as it helps germination, and don't exclude it as this can slow down the process. Transplant the seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots when they're large enough to handle.

Grow the lavender plants on in cooler conditions until they're well established, and when all risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting outdoors.

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To start growing lavender from seed, you'll want to plant them indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last date of frost.

Count back from the last date of frost, usually mid-May in some areas, to determine when to start your lavender seeds indoors. This will give them enough time to germinate and develop strong roots.

If you're starting lavender seeds outdoors, direct sowing should happen in spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.

Lavender can be sown indoors in late winter or outdoors in early spring or late fall. It will germinate in about 15 to 20 days.

You can grow lavender from seed, and there are three popular types of lavender to choose from: French, English, and Spanish. English lavender is the most commonly grown type from seed.

English lavender is easy to maintain when grown in the right conditions. It's a great choice for beginners.

If you're interested in growing English lavender, you can choose from several varieties, including 'Hidcote', 'Munstead', and 'Lady'. 'Hidcote' is a hardy variety that's commonly grown in North America.

'Lady' is a dwarf lavender that produces flowers with a milder fragrance, making it suitable for flavoring frostings and cakes.

If you prefer Spanish lavender, 'Fathead' is a great option, with beautiful grey-green foliage and long spikes of showy flowers that bees love.

For a more unique look, consider growing 'Ellagance', which comes in both purple and white varieties.

If you're planning to grow lavender from seed, you'll want to start by choosing the right time to plant. The best time to start lavender seeds indoors is about 6-8 weeks before planting outside, according to Example 8.

You can plant lavender seeds indoors as early as late winter or outdoors in early spring, as mentioned in Example 7. If you're starting seeds indoors, count back from the last date of frost according to the seed packet, as recommended in Example 6.

To give your lavender seeds the best chance to germinate and develop strong roots, make sure to provide them with the right conditions. This means keeping the soil temperature above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as suggested in Example 4.

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If you're planning to start lavender seeds outdoors, direct sowing should happen in spring, as soon as the ground can be worked, as stated in Example 6. Alternatively, you can also plant seeds outside in fall, if your winters are not too cold and wet.

Here's a quick rundown of when to start lavender seeds: