Lavender

hello,can anyone please tell me where i`m going wrong?i tried lavender(dwarf type)last year without much success and it looks like it`s happening again.i sowed them on the 22nd of last month in shed (its got 2 windows)and left them there for about 3 weeks (i think)covered in perspex.i moved everything into spare bedroom about a week ago and everything apart from lavender is doing well.should i just call it quits and try again?thanks in advance,elaine.

 

I've never tried lavender from seed, but I would assume it likes a good bright airy place.
Think I would try again later, when you can give it more natural conditions.

 

cof and aboout 3 years to get to 50p plant

 

Could have been too cold for germination then. I would try again, don't give up. I would still try them indoors though.

 

I did some indoors in January, and they're on their way, slowly, but surely! I've got them pricked out now, 3 months on! I kept on showing this tray of tiny seedlings, saying "This is my lavendar hedge!" Sad, I know! :D

 

Not tried them indoors - but one of mine self seeded on some stony ground. Could be that is what they like best - dry surface, sunshine and poor soil.

 

Lavandula.
does not thrive well in fertile ground, thats why you find that they seed in gravel, or poor ground.
when sowing seed use poor soil, or peat, put in cold frame and forget, except for watering, prick out when 2-3 inches high into a low fertile compost.
I mix my own as follows.
7 parts loam
3 parts peat
1 part hort grit
1 part sharp sand
you could buy One plant, a decent size, and bury the plant in spring so that only the top third is above ground, USING THE MIX AS ABOVE. this is what is known as MOUND LAYERING. re-mound the plant if heavy rain washes the mound away
Once the the plant has formed new roots on the layered stems, usually in autumn, pot them up, or plant them out

 

Rossco, your post was very interesting. I have never heard of mound layering - can you do this with other plants as well, and if so what sort of plants?

 

so we plant it eg 14" deep, with top 7" sticking out?

 

I haven't heard of it for lavendar, I shall try it! Thanks Rossco!

 

Definitely something to try! I've grown them from seed, and I've taken cuttings, and both have taken, but this looks like a better way, and less effort on my part! I'm all for that! Thanks Rossco! :D

 

thanks everyone.ive made a note.

 

Hi all,
the following can be used as mound layering stock. this is aslo similar to STOOLING.
Mound Layering plants,
SANTOLINA
HYSSOP
LAVENDER
ROSEMARY
SAGE
THYME
Stooling plants.
AMELANCIER
COTINUS coggyagia
CORNUS [MOST]
RIBES
SALIX
STEPHANANDRA.

if buying plants to try these methods potted, leave them in the pots, and bury the whole pot and a further third of the plant into the ground
If putting plant direct into the ground, it would be better to leave the plant to grow for a season so it can get its own roots down, then mound as directed...

 

feel like I'm at colllege and have to take notes!! but seriously - this is really useful, Rossco!! I knew that this was the case with some of them, like dogwood, as I've seen it do it for itself - but wouldn't have thought of it for Amelanchiers or Cotinus.
Do you do some teaching as well as your usual duties?? If not, why not??

 

Very,very helpful rossco - thanks.