French Lavender Seeds - Lavandula stoechas

Sowing:

Lavender can be sown all year round, in trays, pots, etc. in well-drained sowing mix. Place the seedlings in a propagator or warm place to maintain an optimal temperature of 15-18°C. Cover the seeds with a fine layer of potting mix. Germination can be slow. It can help to place the seed trays or pots in a polyethylene bag, at a temperature of 15-18°C for 2 weeks; then move them to the refrigerator (not the freezer) for 3-6 weeks. They can then be returned to the recommended germination temperature. If germination has not taken place after 6 to 10 weeks, put the pots/seed trays back in the fridge for another 3-6 weeks. Regularly examine the seedlings and remove immediately any seeds that show signs of germination.

When the seedlings are large enough to be handled, transplant them into individual pots. Leave them to develop in a cold frame and plant them out the following spring, 30cm apart, in full sun.

Care:

In its natural environment, lavender always thrives in poor, stony, dry, perfectly drained soils. It suffers from watering (particularly with hard water) during the summer, which causes the plants to develop diseases and die. Lavender is very prone to cryptogamic diseases caused by the combination of heat and humidity. French lavender tolerates frosts down to -7/-10°C and is best grown against a South or West-facing wall in colder climates, or in a pot that can be overwintered indoors. In winter, it needs perfect soil drainage, and in summer its needs to be kept dry. Lavender will age better in poor soil, as its growth will be slower and it will be less prone to thinning at the base. This can be limited by pruning the plants from a young age, after flowering or in autumn, just above the first buds. Lavender and lavandin never sends new growth out of old woody stems. Pruning encourages branching, enabling the plants to remain compact and keep their neat shape. When planting, provide your lavender plants with gravel (as long as it’s not limestone based), pebbles, coarse sand and most importantly, avoid using compost and fertilizer.