An overview on how we produce thousands of Lavender plants each year from seed. Many have problems with this seed starting procedure and it is covered here.
I planted an entire package this year as per package instruction and had 0% germination rate. Then I found a great video on you tube (suburban homestead) where the fellow instructed, like you, to first stratify in a moist (not wet) paper towel, inside a ziplock bag for 10 days (I think) and then place in a warm place. I had 100% germination!
Thank you Sir! I've tried lavender from seed the last 4 seasons & 0% return has been my fortune. But I've never come across the method of starting seed that you've so graciously presented. I'm excited to try it! I'm in zone 7, at this stage in the season, should I wait until November to start the seed? Or do you think I could begin now for a later crop? Thanks for sharing!
I really appreciate your video. I kind of knew in general that lavender could be difficult for someone like me. I'm a beginner gardener. Ive had several failures with lavender and now I've learned why! I LOVE lavender and I'm determined to have some one day but I don't think this is going to be the year for it. I love your scientific, practical manner that doesn't insult sometimes intelligence. This video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for the great job and information!
Started 2 packs from seeds. Did the cold stratification, used jiffy mix, led lights and a heat mat and was stunned to see them pop right up in 4-5 days. I was expecting it to take a few weeks. This method really works.
Thank you for sharing your know-how as a professional. As a gardening enthusiast, I tend to want growing many plants from seeds. Your video is most helpful in giving me an idea of how-to and time-frame. Thank you.
Great! Thank you! I’m looking forward to trying to grow several varieties of lavender this winter and spring. I found your video refreshing because you’re not located on the West Coast or Deep South. You understand the challenges of Midwest growing!
Very much enjoyed your video..appreciate the tips greatly. Really hope to see more videos. I'm a gardener and we recently bought 7 acres I'm hoping to garden from vegetables to flowers and a food Forest. I can use all the advice I can get.. God Bless
I really enjoyed your video and am replicating your technique to grow Vera. The only ambiguity for me in your approach is the proper watering practice. Could you please let your us know what specific criterion or indicator we should use to water the seedlings? Thanks in advance.
I found this video to be very interesting. I truly love this plant and over the years have spent lots of $ $ $ trying to get it to grow in my yard. I have tried just about all the varieties as well. I realize now that I more than likely overwatered but I don't think I have ever had the right soil. I think my soil had not enough drainage. I would like to try again and instead of planting it in pots, plant right into the ground. You would think that being in zone 8 that a person could get it to grow. Any advice would be appreciated !!!
I suggest using raised beds when planting into the ground. This helps to insure good drainage in the event of heavy rains. Also, do not plant too close or mildew may become a problem in long periods of wet weather.
I’ve had my lavender seeds in the fridge for a month in the packet-dry. So, I assume I need to get them out and put them in some damp seed starting soil in a ziplock like the video states… after that 4 weeks period, will the seeds be beginning to germinate? How will I be able to see where they are to put in trays? Or am I leaving them as a group and putting in a large tray until they start to poke up?
Yes, requires moist/cold stratification. Dry seed in cold storage does not stratify. Seed may, or may not show signs of germination in cold. When planting, just spread everything out thinly as it would be very difficult to separate the seeds.
Wow, I feel pretty lucky about how my lavender turned out after learning some more about it. I got a random organic seed-starting 'soil,' put it in peat pots, and threw a whole packet of lavender seeds into two cells (didn't really think that one through, yikes, way too many in each) and it took about 3 weeks, but they definitely germinated well. It seems like the germination rate was pretty high too, because I have at least 20 seedlings on one side and 10 or so on the other (not sure how many seeds I put in there.) They're just now getting their first set of adult leaves, so they're still pretty small. I had no idea lavender was so particular or hard to germinate, it seems I got lucky. They were Burpee brand English lavender seeds, so maybe those are just good seeds? But yeah, I suppose I need to separate each one of them into its own pot or at least move them into a bigger container, anyway.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and your entire family. I hope that 2022 will be a very happy and prosperous year for you. I was wondering where I could purchase the plug flats that you used in the video. I have bought a couple of sets on Amazon but was really disappointed. They are flimsy and thin, and bend and break easily. The ones you used in your video appear to be much sturdier and of higher quality. Unfortunately, I can't find anything similar to yours in terms of quality and longevity when I search the internet. If you don't mind, I will appreciate if you can let me know the source of these flats. Thank you.
The sources we use are for commercial growers and these must be purchased by the case. Two example sources are Carlinsales.com and Hummert.com. Example cost is $110 per 50 count case of the 512 cell flat. These are quite sturdy and we do reuse these and the 288 cell several times after sterilizing. The UV from sun exposure eventually breaks these down, but we generally get 4-5 uses from each one. The 128, 72, and 50 count flats are what we ship plants in, are lighter in gauge, and generally are not reusable. The TO Plastics brand do not require a base flat and stand on their own.
Roger, On Feb 1 I sowed two varieties of lavender, Vera and Hidcote, which I sourced from two different reputable seed companies, after having stratified them for a month (Jan 3) in the fridge. About 50% of the Vera germinated and are growing, while as of today, Feb 21, NONE of the Hidcote seeds have germinated. Could you venture a guess as to why that might be the case? Does Hidcote seed take unusually long time to germinate or might there be another reason? Thank you for your advice.
A better stratification period is 6 weeks minimum for best germination. if your Hidcote has zero, there may be an issue with seed quality, even though it may a reputable company. For example, a few years ago, we sourced a 1/4 lb of Vera Lavender from a national-known seed company that routinely supplies commercial growers, and had about 1% germination in spite of proper pre-treatment. For the Munstead, Lavender Lady, and Hidcote Superior we grow, we always source Apex Primed seed. So far, we have not found this to be available for the variety Vera, so we still need to do the stratification process.
Loved your video. Answered many questions I had. Just want to know, if I plant my lavender and it grows nicely, will it come back next year or do I have to start over. Thanks
We do not use any hybrids in our production, other than Lavender Lady. From experience, most are not as hardy as the open pollinated varieties and are more "decorative" than useful for commercial LAvender production. The only reason we grow Lavender Lady is that is is first year flowering and works in areas where Lavender does not over winter. Soil PH can be raised by using Lime (not the fruit!). Do an accurate soil test first.
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310 I have planted 300 lavender, (lavender lady) and only lost five, due to deer stepping on them 😃. Now, I want to do more serious business and will buy an attachment for my tractor an make a raised beds with a cloth the same time. What is the difference between germinating 2000 of them from beginning and buying them ready to plant in the field, money wise?
Roger, when it comes to good watering practice's on seed cells. Do you normally water from the bottom or mist from the top? And do you water daily? Multiple times per day? Or... Where I am we don't have the humidity here like you guys do so things tend to dry out quicker. Also, when you move them to the bigger plugs, does your watering process change? Thank you!
512 and 288 cell flats are watered from the bottom. 128 and 72 cell, from the top. We keep the medium moist, but not wet and never let the small cell flats get dry. Once shifted to 128 or 72 cell, they are allowed to dry quite a bit between waterings, but not to the wilt stage. There is no set schedule for watering. In winter when humidity is very low, it may be more than once a day. Once weather warm and humidity goes up, it may be less frequent, but still based on temperature. Also, never water at night! Gremlins may appear (damp-off).
We direct seed into either 288 cell or 512 cell plug flats using a seeder, then cold-moist stratify for 4-6 weeks for non Apex primed seed. The cold-moist stratification could also be done using damp horticultural vermiculite in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. However, wet seed does not work in our seeder.
Rodger, i have never grown anything in my life and have got English lavender seeds and want to plant in my garden borders, i live in the northeast brazil now with sand garden borders, do i need to put some organic soil ? any other tips
The addition of organic matter is always useful, just be cautious not to make the area where is would remain soggy as Lavender does not like wet feet.
4 роки тому+3
Wonderful professional video! A request, if possible: I live in a a region (in Brazil!) which does not have prepacked potting mixes. Would you be able to make a recommendation of non-commercial mixes in your videos? We have access to seeds...
We purchase Apex Primed seed from Ball Horticultural in Chicago. This is a site for commercial growers and I don't know if they sell to individuals. Another source may be Hazzard's Seeds, but even here, you are looking at a 1,000 seed minimum.
I think the main issue with any plant is using the wrong potting mix. Thanks for the explanation on that, and what this particular plant needs. An alkaline based mix, not acidic.
Can you please advise me on the best seed to use for zone 6. I am a small farmer starting to grow in my high tunnel for sale at the local farmer's market and would like to look into lavender for next season. Also, your suggestion for where to purchase good seed. Thank you!
Suggest Apex Primed Munstead and/or Hidcote. Small quantities of primed seed are available from Hazzard Seed. Large quantities from Ball Seed or Harris Seed. Stay away from the Chinese imports on Amazon as they are junk with very low germination rates, if any at all.
I sowed lavander seeds but I do not know which one because it's mixed up with other seeds, so I don't know if they germinated or not. I removed weeds, and I forgot about the lavander seeds, so now nothing left. I honestly don't know how it looks like without flower or when they are starting to come up.
If kept long enough in plug flats to attain a height of 2-3 inches, then yes, we do shear the flats. Normally, we do not keep them long enough for this to be necessary. When producing potted plants, they are sheared at least twice.
Apex primed seed will germinate at a higher percentage, but Lavender is not known for a high germination rate, especially if not stratified first. Stratification is not necessary with Apex primed seed.
Keep moist, but not wet. Do not allow to wilt, but do not let media become saturated. it is a delicate balance and over watering will be detrimental. There is not a set schedule. You will need to closely monitor the moisture level.
The main reason is "space" taken up on the propagation benches. These benches are heated and space is always short. We also sow into 512 cell trays. Since we usually do 16,000 plants a year, this makes best use of that available space.
I had so many Italian seeds. None grew. Now i know why. I am a beekeeper looking for a lavender that get a ton of honey bees. I only saw 1 of those. Got it .... and died. .... does anyone have one of those?
I planted an entire package this year as per package instruction and had 0% germination rate. Then I found a great video on you tube (suburban homestead) where the fellow instructed, like you, to first stratify in a moist (not wet) paper towel, inside a ziplock bag for 10 days (I think) and then place in a warm place. I had 100% germination!
It was 30 days in the fridge from the homestead video. LOL.
Thanks for recommending suburban homestead UA-cam video for recommendation. I will follow it .
you shouldn't plug another channel on this guys video. he took the time to put it up, that's not right.
@@DeJenerateTraveler IKR! How rude.
Place in a warm place or cold place?
Lavender needs cold place to germinate.
Those babies look amazing! I'm so keen to succeed with these fab plants
Did everything wrong with planting my lavender last week. Trying stratification today for the remainder of my seeds! Thank you 🙏
This was the most resourceful lavender video on here! Thank you. The information of time in cells to planting was critical.
Glad it was helpful!
I love how honest you are and explained everything so well, thank you for making this video:)
Thank you Sir! I've tried lavender from seed the last 4 seasons & 0% return has been my fortune. But I've never come across the method of starting seed that you've so graciously presented. I'm excited to try it! I'm in zone 7, at this stage in the season, should I wait until November to start the seed? Or do you think I could begin now for a later crop? Thanks for sharing!
I really appreciate your video. I kind of knew in general that lavender could be difficult for someone like me. I'm a beginner gardener. Ive had several failures with lavender and now I've learned why! I LOVE lavender and I'm determined to have some one day but I don't think this is going to be the year for it. I love your scientific, practical manner that doesn't insult sometimes intelligence. This video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for the great job and information!
Started 2 packs from seeds. Did the cold stratification, used jiffy mix, led lights and a heat mat and was stunned to see them pop right up in 4-5 days. I was expecting it to take a few weeks. This method really works.
How long did you stratify them?
Thank you for sharing your know-how as a professional. As a gardening enthusiast, I tend to want growing many plants from seeds. Your video is most helpful in giving me an idea of how-to and time-frame. Thank you.
Roger, thank you. You explained everything so well. I’m putting my lavender seeds in the fridge today.
i just put some in my fridge today!! how did it go for you?
Great! Thank you! I’m looking forward to trying to grow several varieties of lavender this winter and spring. I found your video refreshing because you’re not located on the West Coast or Deep South. You understand the challenges of Midwest growing!
Thank you for putting up this video it is very helpful. I am new at seeding this plant and I appreciate your Expertise.
Best lavender info. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this information! I'm hoping to have better germination rate in my home nursery and garden.
thank you for taking the time to put this video up, going to try vera seed with cold strat. per your instructions!
Best video I wacthed , by far .
You touched all stages. With great advice as well .Thank u .. new subscriber 😊
This was a great video!
Very helpful and lots of good information. Thank you!
Very much enjoyed your video..appreciate the tips greatly. Really hope to see more videos. I'm a gardener and we recently bought 7 acres I'm hoping to garden from vegetables to flowers and a food Forest. I can use all the advice I can get.. God Bless
Didn’t mean to dislike! I fixed it lol The video was great and very informative!
I really enjoyed your video and am replicating your technique to grow Vera. The only ambiguity for me in your approach is the proper watering practice. Could you please let your us know what specific criterion or indicator we should use to water the seedlings? Thanks in advance.
Thank you for sharing this fabulous information. Most helpful. 👍
Very thorough, very helpful!! Thank you very much!!
I found this video to be very interesting. I truly love this plant and over the years have spent lots of $ $ $ trying to get it to grow in my yard. I have tried just about all the varieties as well. I realize now that I more than likely overwatered but I don't think I have ever had the right soil. I think my soil had not enough drainage. I would like to try again and instead of planting it in pots, plant right into the ground. You would think that being in zone 8 that a person could get it to grow. Any advice would be appreciated !!!
I suggest using raised beds when planting into the ground. This helps to insure good drainage in the event of heavy rains. Also, do not plant too close or mildew may become a problem in long periods of wet weather.
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310 thank you Sir!!!
Excellent info!
I’ve had my lavender seeds in the fridge for a month in the packet-dry. So, I assume I need to get them out and put them in some damp seed starting soil in a ziplock like the video states… after that 4 weeks period, will the seeds be beginning to germinate? How will I be able to see where they are to put in trays? Or am I leaving them as a group and putting in a large tray until they start to poke up?
Yes, requires moist/cold stratification. Dry seed in cold storage does not stratify. Seed may, or may not show signs of germination in cold. When planting, just spread everything out thinly as it would be very difficult to separate the seeds.
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310 thanks for a quick reply! Will do!
Very nice and beautiful ❤️ 😍 🤩 👌 ❣️ Thank you ❤️ Subscribed
I wish I would have known this last week 😩
Wow, I feel pretty lucky about how my lavender turned out after learning some more about it. I got a random organic seed-starting 'soil,' put it in peat pots, and threw a whole packet of lavender seeds into two cells (didn't really think that one through, yikes, way too many in each) and it took about 3 weeks, but they definitely germinated well. It seems like the germination rate was pretty high too, because I have at least 20 seedlings on one side and 10 or so on the other (not sure how many seeds I put in there.) They're just now getting their first set of adult leaves, so they're still pretty small. I had no idea lavender was so particular or hard to germinate, it seems I got lucky. They were Burpee brand English lavender seeds, so maybe those are just good seeds?
But yeah, I suppose I need to separate each one of them into its own pot or at least move them into a bigger container, anyway.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and your entire family. I hope that 2022 will be a very happy and prosperous year for you.
I was wondering where I could purchase the plug flats that you used in the video. I have bought a couple of sets on Amazon but was really disappointed. They are flimsy and thin, and bend and break easily. The ones you used in your video appear to be much sturdier and of higher quality. Unfortunately, I can't find anything similar to yours in terms of quality and longevity when I search the internet. If you don't mind, I will appreciate if you can let me know the source of these flats. Thank you.
The sources we use are for commercial growers and these must be purchased by the case. Two example sources are Carlinsales.com and Hummert.com. Example cost is $110 per 50 count case of the 512 cell flat. These are quite sturdy and we do reuse these and the 288 cell several times after sterilizing. The UV from sun exposure eventually breaks these down, but we generally get 4-5 uses from each one. The 128, 72, and 50 count flats are what we ship plants in, are lighter in gauge, and generally are not reusable. The TO Plastics brand do not require a base flat and stand on their own.
Awesome presentation!
Roger, On Feb 1 I sowed two varieties of lavender, Vera and Hidcote, which I sourced from two different reputable seed companies, after having stratified them for a month (Jan 3) in the fridge. About 50% of the Vera germinated and are growing, while as of today, Feb 21, NONE of the Hidcote seeds have germinated. Could you venture a guess as to why that might be the case? Does Hidcote seed take unusually long time to germinate or might there be another reason? Thank you for your advice.
A better stratification period is 6 weeks minimum for best germination. if your Hidcote has zero, there may be an issue with seed quality, even though it may a reputable company. For example, a few years ago, we sourced a 1/4 lb of Vera Lavender from a national-known seed company that routinely supplies commercial growers, and had about 1% germination in spite of proper pre-treatment. For the Munstead, Lavender Lady, and Hidcote Superior we grow, we always source Apex Primed seed. So far, we have not found this to be available for the variety Vera, so we still need to do the stratification process.
Loved your video. Answered many questions I had. Just want to know, if I plant my lavender and it grows nicely, will it come back next year or do I have to start over. Thanks
Whether or not it will come back depends on variety, your zone, and conditions.
This was so helpful. Thank you!
So thorough! Thank you!
Excellent demonstration!
Thanks for sharing ❤
Love lavender and thank you for the video.
I just started the lavender farming in Lowell, Indiana.
2 questions:
Which hybrid do you recommend, and if the soil is acidic, how do you fix it?
We do not use any hybrids in our production, other than Lavender Lady. From experience, most are not as hardy as the open pollinated varieties and are more "decorative" than useful for commercial LAvender production. The only reason we grow Lavender Lady is that is is first year flowering and works in areas where Lavender does not over winter. Soil PH can be raised by using Lime (not the fruit!). Do an accurate soil test first.
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310
I have planted 300 lavender, (lavender lady) and only lost five, due to deer stepping on them 😃.
Now, I want to do more serious business and will buy an attachment for my tractor an make a raised beds with a cloth the same time. What is the difference between germinating 2000 of them from beginning and buying them ready to plant in the field, money wise?
@@3FAZNI Please send this message to me at Roger@moonshinedesignsnursery.com as this can be a complicated reply.
Roger, when it comes to good watering practice's on seed cells. Do you normally water from the bottom or mist from the top? And do you water daily? Multiple times per day? Or... Where I am we don't have the humidity here like you guys do so things tend to dry out quicker.
Also, when you move them to the bigger plugs, does your watering process change?
Thank you!
512 and 288 cell flats are watered from the bottom. 128 and 72 cell, from the top. We keep the medium moist, but not wet and never let the small cell flats get dry. Once shifted to 128 or 72 cell, they are allowed to dry quite a bit between waterings, but not to the wilt stage. There is no set schedule for watering. In winter when humidity is very low, it may be more than once a day. Once weather warm and humidity goes up, it may be less frequent, but still based on temperature. Also, never water at night! Gremlins may appear (damp-off).
Also, did you sow the seeds into the tray, wet the soil, then cold store for 4 weeks before germination?
We direct seed into either 288 cell or 512 cell plug flats using a seeder, then cold-moist stratify for 4-6 weeks for non Apex primed seed. The cold-moist stratification could also be done using damp horticultural vermiculite in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. However, wet seed does not work in our seeder.
Rodger, i have never grown anything in my life and have got English lavender seeds and want to plant in my garden borders, i live in the northeast brazil now with sand garden borders, do i need to put some organic soil ? any other tips
The addition of organic matter is always useful, just be cautious not to make the area where is would remain soggy as Lavender does not like wet feet.
Wonderful professional video! A request, if possible: I live in a a region (in Brazil!) which does not have prepacked potting mixes. Would you be able to make a recommendation of non-commercial mixes in your videos? We have access to seeds...
We will put something up in the near future.
Do lavender seeds need sunlight to sprout or germination?
Light helps, but is not necessary
Would you tell me where one can purchase the apex prime seed that is described in this video? Web site?
We purchase Apex Primed seed from Ball Horticultural in Chicago. This is a site for commercial growers and I don't know if they sell to individuals. Another source may be Hazzard's Seeds, but even here, you are looking at a 1,000 seed minimum.
Thank you. Is all there lavender seed apex prime or just seeds like Hidcote Blue ApeX?
Thanks for the info! I just began cold stratification! :-D I love lavender and I would love to grow my own from seed rather than buy it. I
I germinated my seeds straight from HD, on plastic container with moist Sphagnum Moss on heat mat at 82degrees, about 70 to 80% germination rate.
I think the main issue with any plant is using the wrong potting mix. Thanks for the explanation on that, and what this particular plant needs. An alkaline based mix, not acidic.
After you dump the seeds in the baggie with soil, how do you find them again in 4 weeks to put them in the flats?
Do you have any lavender that will thrive on the Gulf coast? Will those varieties survive in a humid environment? I'm in zone 9 in Texas.
How is that I see lavender paths in the wild fields? Nobody did made a seed planting process so how that worked?
Lavender will self-seed and if conditions are right, will certainly grow
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310 I wish my home had that haha
Can you please advise me on the best seed to use for zone 6. I am a small farmer starting to grow in my high tunnel for sale at the local farmer's market and would like to look into lavender for next season. Also, your suggestion for where to purchase good seed. Thank you!
Suggest Apex Primed Munstead and/or Hidcote. Small quantities of primed seed are available from Hazzard Seed. Large quantities from Ball Seed or Harris Seed. Stay away from the Chinese imports on Amazon as they are junk with very low germination rates, if any at all.
@@moonshinedesignsnursery3310 thank you so much.
I sowed lavander seeds but I do not know which one because it's mixed up with other seeds, so I don't know if they germinated or not. I removed weeds, and I forgot about the lavander seeds, so now nothing left. I honestly don't know how it looks like without flower or when they are starting to come up.
Very helpful thanks!
This is great, Thanks.
Thank you!
do you pinch there seedlings back
If kept long enough in plug flats to attain a height of 2-3 inches, then yes, we do shear the flats. Normally, we do not keep them long enough for this to be necessary. When producing potted plants, they are sheared at least twice.
Any recommendation of a seed brand?
I tried some where I live but it's quality is very bad for germination.
Apex primed seed will germinate at a higher percentage, but Lavender is not known for a high germination rate, especially if not stratified first. Stratification is not necessary with Apex primed seed.
I always just wonder how lavender grows in nature.. why do we always have to pop our lavender seeds in the fridge first. 🤔
Well, that explains it!
❤️
can you please tell me the company you got the seeds from ?
Ball in Chicago, IL. May be limited to commercial growers only.
Do you sell lavender plugs if not do you know who does?
Do.
Yes. moonshinedesignsnursery.com/
Excellent.
Excellent video. Thank you! Is it too late to start my stratification then seeding here in North Carolina in mid April?
how much should you water it? also when should i water it? once a week or so?
Keep moist, but not wet. Do not allow to wilt, but do not let media become saturated. it is a delicate balance and over watering will be detrimental. There is not a set schedule. You will need to closely monitor the moisture level.
Why are the seeds not planted directly into a 72 count tray and just skip the 288 count all together?
The main reason is "space" taken up on the propagation benches. These benches are heated and space is always short. We also sow into 512 cell trays. Since we usually do 16,000 plants a year, this makes best use of that available space.
how much are your plugs?
Available on our website, but already sold out for 2021.
I just threw mine in the soil and 4/5 days later they are growing
I’d like a price on lavender plants and shipping cost please
Please see our website: www.moonshinedesignsnursery.com for availability and pricing. Not available during wintetr months for shipment. Thanks.
I had so many Italian seeds. None grew. Now i know why.
I am a beekeeper looking for a lavender that get a ton of honey bees. I only saw 1 of those. Got it .... and died. .... does anyone have one of those?
I am also a bee keeper. The most robust varieties are Vera, Munstead, and Hidcote. Bees love them.
When you're saying Jiffy Mix does that mean the Jiffy cornmeal mix
Jiffy Mix is a seed starting media. Also branded as Redi earth. Not to be confused with the food brand.
Can I work for you?
Will cuttings work?
Oh no , I didn't do the pre-germination trick :P I hope a couple survive 😭
Lavender is hard.
It can be. If the right conditions are met, and they are quite specific, you will succeed.
So much talking!!!!
That is the whole point to explain the process. If you just want to look at pictures, buy a comic book.