But I was just wondering if I could bring the pot of the seedlings inside this winter to help it get a little bigger or would it be a wasted effort. I do have an unheated garage that dh sometimes works in so he uses a propane heater so it will sometimes get warm in there. Can someone help me figure out a way to help these guys make it through the winter. Thanks

Paula

Karen

Paula

Outside, being in a pot makes it harder for the plant to survive, especially if it's a super-cold winter. Make sure the plant has GREAT drainage (mix your soil 50/50 with sand if you need to) and pop it in the ground. You can give it some extra heat for the winter by making a mini-greenhouse. Use a WS top, or find something the right size, put a few vents in it, and the lavender will be happy.

When I started lavender, I planted them out mid or late summer, and then ignored them for at least a year. They were fine, but grew slowly, and I think I lost about 50% of the seedlings.

Does lavender bloom in year 2? I thought it was one that does not bloom the first year.

I am thinking of fall sowing some so I can plant in the ground before winter hits. Maybe I can trick it to bloom next summer.

Lots of good info on this post.
thanks,
Karen

The Munstead barely germinated (WS & GUL) and I ended up with only 9 plants out of a whole pack of seeds.
The True, on the other hand, were RAMPANT germinators! I had them (and still have them) everywhere! I kept potting the sprouts into cells and 16oz cups. I've been giving them away. I'm using them as filler plants in the bee garden. Talk about 'safety in numbers!' And in this shot from yesterday, I still have almost 40 True lavender plants to contend with. I know they won't bloom this year, but next year this place should look a lot like Provence. :-D

Kris

Lady lavender is supposed to bloom the first year, but it's not hardy here.

Lavender needs wonderful drainage-which clay soil does not have. If you didn't make a special spot for the lavender, that's probably why it died.

I have had a lot of failure in getting fall-planted tiny seedlings to survive the winter without a coldframe. However, you may be in the zone 6 part of Chicagoland, which will give you some extra help. I use coldframes now, or even just the 2-liter lids, and the seedlings do survive.

I do have some spots that have more drainage that might work better. I will try some seeds this year for WS'ing

Karen

Snow cover is very good on these english lavenders, I have grown lady and munstead. They had no problem surviving here planted in the ground covered by snow. No dieback this year at all. Some years you might have a little dieback, but thats ok with these.

Plus you can always resow, Lady is great becuase it blooms very easily in its first year.

Silverkelt

Karen