The Secret to Germinating Lavender Seeds in Georgia: Cold Stratification

Step-by-Step Guide to Cold Stratifying Lavender Seeds

So you've decided to grow lavender from seed in Georgia. That's a great choice, but you may have heard that it can be a bit finicky. The key to a high germination rate isn't magic—it's a process called cold stratification.

This fancy term is simply a way of tricking your lavender seeds into thinking they’ve gone through a cold, moist winter. In nature, this period of chill and dampness breaks the seeds' dormancy, signaling that spring has arrived and it's time to sprout. Without it, your seeds may just sit there, dormant and unsprouted, no matter how much you water them.

The good news? It's an easy process that you can do with a few simple items from your kitchen.

What You'll Need:

• Your lavender seeds

• A paper towel

• A small, sealable plastic bag or container

• A spray bottle or a small cup of water

• A permanent marker

The Process:

1. Moisten the Paper Towel: Take a paper towel and lightly mist it with water until it is damp but not soaking wet. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge—you don't want it dripping, as this can lead to mold.

2. Place the Seeds: Lay the paper towel flat and sprinkle your lavender seeds evenly across one half of it. Lavender seeds are tiny, so try to space them out a bit if you can.

3. Seal It Up: Fold the other half of the paper towel over the seeds. Gently press it down to ensure the seeds are making good contact with the moist paper.

4. Bag and Label: Place the folded paper towel into your plastic bag or container and seal it. Use your marker to label the bag with the type of lavender and the date you started the stratification process.

5. Refrigerate: Pop the sealed bag into your refrigerator. The cold temperature (around 35-40°F) is crucial for this step.

6. Wait: Leave the seeds in the refrigerator for 3-6 weeks. This is the most patient part of the process! Check on them every week or so to make sure the paper towel is still moist. If it feels like it's drying out, lightly mist it again.

After this period of cold stratification, your lavender seeds are primed and ready for germination. You can now sow them in a well-draining seed starting mix indoors, following the steps from our previous blog posts about providing light, warmth, and good airflow.

By taking this simple extra step, you're dramatically increasing your chances of success and moving one step closer to that fragrant, beautiful lavender garden you've been dreaming of.

next steps: Tips for growing lavender in Georgia, zone 8