12/24/2023 0 Comments Lavender seedlings growingOverwatering will rot the roots and means sure death. Watering: They need less water in winter, too wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before giving them a drink.While your lavender is indoors for winter, follow these practices: They are dormant from September until April. Spanish and French lavenders, on the other hand, are only hardy to Zone 8 and will need to be brought indoors in colder areas.ĭuring winter, the plants want to rest and will not produce much, if any, new growth. Otherwise, lavender shouldn’t need any extra care outdoors. How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors & OutdoorsĪs mentioned above, English lavender is winter-hardy to Zone 5 and may only need a bit of help in the form of a thin layer of straw. Spanish lavender is sometimes called “rabbit ears” for its unusual blossom. To mimic the alkaline soil of the Mediterranean, add one teaspoon of lime to the bag of potting mix before using it in the lavender pots. Two parts of potting soil with one part perlite or coarse sand will give them the necessary quick draining conditions. The soil does not have to be rich, either. Too much extra soil will stay soggy, which these plants won’t tolerate. Only give them an extra inch of soil around the root ball. If you are re-potting them, don’t use a pot that is too large. The good news is that lavenders are relatively compact plants that grow well in containers, making it relatively easy to move them indoors and outdoors. They have to be moved indoors to survive the winter in colder zones. dentata) are much more tender and hardy outdoors, only in Zone 8 and warmer. stoechas) and fringed or French lavender ( L. In an open winter with no snow cover, we may pile a thin layer (1 to 2 inches) of straw or shredded leaves over them for added cover. Pruning should be ideally done just before the growing season, which is early spring.English lavender is hardy in Zones 5 and warmer, usually overwintering in the ground outside just fine without any added protection. Start off on a dry, sunny day preferably between June to September. The best time to cut and harvest the flowers of lavender is the second flowering season. Grow your newly transplanted seedlings in partial sun for one to two months. If you started in a large tray, thin your seedlings to one every 2-3 inches. One week after germination transplant your lavender seedlings into individual 4” pots filled with the sandy potting mix. Whenever the sand mixture feels dry on the surface, mist with a water bottle so as not to disturb the seeds. Leave one side open to allow some moisture to escape. Use a sheet of plastic to hold in the warmth and moisture, ensuring that the plastic never touches the soil or seedlings. Soil should remain 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and as low as 55F at night. Use a cold frame outdoors or a sunny window indoors. Place your tray or pots where they will receive 8-10 hours of sun exposure daily. Mist the sand heavily to settle it around the seeds. Lavender seeds need light to germinate, so be sure not to bury them. Sprinkle a very thin layer of sand over the lavender seeds so they are barely covered but still exposed to the light. Drop the lavender seeds into the furrows, aiming for one seed every inch. Create shallow, 1/8” deep furrows across the surface of the sand mixture. Mist this sand mixture until it is saturated, then let the excess water drain off. Fill a 2” deep nursery tray with a mixture of equal parts washed medium-grit sand and seed-starting compost. Learn more about the importance and process of cold moist stratification here.Īllow them to reach room temperature while preparing a sowing container for them. While not required, Lavender seeds can benefit from a special 4 to 8 week treatment called cold moist stratification prior to planting them. This will help reduce the chance of developing root rot. Lavender should be located in areas of full sun with adequate drainage and spaced far enough apart to ensure good air circulation. Prepare the seeds for sowing three months before the last spring frost and needs to be cold stratified.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |