5000 English Lavender Seeds!

Check out our most recent article of growing lavender from seed.

5000 English Lavender Seeds to Germinate for Allegin MI Lavender Farm!
5000 English Lavender Seeds to Germinate for Allegin MI Lavender Farm!

We have begun the germination process for 5000 English Lavender seeds in our Allegan cabin yesterday! The seeds are supposed to have a 91% germination rate. We will see by the time we put them in the ground (guestimating May 30) what the “success rate” will end up being!

Cold Stratification and Freezing Tests

With approximately 4000 seeds we are utilizing the cold stratification process for lavender plant germination.

First, we soaked the seeds for 24 hours in cold water in a stainless steel bowl. This is per the instructions we were given by the seed company.

5000 Lavender Seeds Soaking in Cold Water for Allegan MI Lavender Farm
5000 Lavender Seeds Soaking in Cold Water for Allegan MI Lavender Farm

The next thing we did was drain the seeds in a small strainer with paper towels to minimize loss! Lavender seeds are TINY!

Straining 5000 lavender seeds for cold stratification germination!
Straining 5000 lavender seeds for cold stratification germination!

We lightly moistened 4 paper towels.

Moistened paper towels for lavender seed germination
Moistened paper towels for lavender seed germination

We guestimated and added approximately 1,000 lavender seeds per moistened paper towel! Attempting to spread them out a little.

Lavender seeds on moistened paper towel for cold stratification germination process
Lavender seeds on moistened paper towel for cold stratification germination process

We lightly moistened a top paper towel and then wrapped up the lavender seeds and placed them in a gallon sized ziploc bag. We inserted a straw in the corner to allow air to flow in and out of the bag.

Ziploc bag filled with approximately 4000 lavender seeds for cold stratification germination
Ziploc bag filled with approximately 4000 lavender seeds for cold stratification germination

Now the lavender seeds will sit in the refrigerator for 30 days. They will need to stay moist. We will need to check every 3-4 days to make sure they are moist. In a couple of weeks we will need to start unwrapping the paper towels to check the seeds for rot and germination. If any lavender seeds rot or germinate they will need to be removed.

Testing Another Germination Process

I have researched that some lavender seeds may be germinated by a quick trip (24 hours) to the freezer and then may be planted. We put about 500-750 seeds aside to try this because it sounds too good to be true. We will compare germination rates with updates in this blog!

The other 250-500 seeds we are calling a loss because of the handling process and they are SO tiny! If we could have just put the seed packet in the fridge and not put them in a bowl of cold water overnight for the cold stratification process, we would have minimized loss.

Lavender seeds are small!
Lavender seeds are small!

Stay Tuned!

Check us out 4 years later!

Lavender Farmer | Aromatherapist | Yoga Instructor at Twin Flame Lavender Farm | Vibe Aroma LLC | + posts

Renee started out as an avid real estate blogger in 2006. Opting for a less stressful life, Paul and Renee moved to Michigan in 2018 and started a lavender farm in 2019.

There are very few resources available to aspiring lavender farmers for growing lavender, lavender aromatherapy and lavender culinary infusion.

Renee hopes to change and shake up the world of lavender by sharing her knowledge and experience she has gained by being a lavender farmer and aromatherapist with lavender lovers all over the world.