I've grown lavender from seed for several years. Most people grow lavender from cuttings--as do I.

There is no trick to germinate a lavender seed, it is just slower than what you might expect from annuals. In both zone 6 & 7 I start in the mid to late spring when it is consistently warm. There is no reason to start too early, there will be plenty of time (and then years). You don't have to stress out like people do with tomatoes to get a good head start.

I would discourage you from starting them indoors unless you have very good lights lying around unused (unlikely). Just wait for the good weather and save yourself all the hassle and costs of indoor starts.

These days I grow lavender from cuttings because it is easier. But, I still sow lavender seeds out of habit every year. I like to have native yearlings lying around, and to see them grow.

Lavender is one of the easiest plants to grow. You don't need to worry. It's tough as nails. During a drought in DC a few years ago on a patio, a lavender seedling survived when everything else could not--I discovered when I returned from vacation. Surviving a winter on the other hand, is another challenge.

Pugetsound, those are nice looking seedlings. Do you know what kind of lavender it is? I have a lavender plant that looks like yours but I don't know the variety. Thanks.

I'm not sure of the variety. Someone sent me seeds last year. If the variety was listed I didn't make a note of it. The foliage is very fragrant, though, unlike the ones I purchased at a local nursery.

Thank you, pugetsound. I grow my lavender from a cutting. It looks exactly like yours, and it is very fragrant (that's why I took the cutting from the mother plant :).

I'll have a dig in the fridge and see if I have any of the seed left. I think I had a couple of packs donated to me so if I do have any left they may not be the same ones as I planted last year.

Ok the seeds I have left are labeled Hidcote Lavender. I can't guarantee that's the same as the ones I planted last year. The description says very fragrant though, and it's possible I didn't write the variety down because the seeds I got were all Hidcote and I didn't know there were other kinds.

I think I planted some seeds that were labeled white lavender, too. I guess I'll find out when they bloom.

Thank you, pugetsound! It has that distinctive silver/gray foliage.

Here is a picture from the Internet, looks like it.

Hidcote Superior English Lavender, Monrovia.com

Once they bloom I'll pop some photos up on the Name That Plant forum and see if anyone can ID the variety. You can do the same with yours if you have photos of the flowers. They're quite good over there. Until then I'll assume Hidcote, which means I should have planted them closer together. Back out to add to my lavender hedge!

Good idea to ask on the NTP forum. Good luck with your lavender seedlings! And sorry for hijacking the thread and I agree that growing lavender indoors is not the best option, it's better to keep them outside.