How to Grow Blue Scent Lavender From a Seed

Sow the Blue Scent seed in spring in a pot filled to within 1 inch of the rim with sterile seed-starting mix. Lay the seed on the surface of the soil and cover it with a 1/8-inch or less layer of sand or perlite.

Use a heat mat to keep the soil temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and keep the soil barely moist. Provide bright, indirect sunlight or place the pot 6 inches beneath grow lights, left to burn 16 hours a day. Do not cover the pot with plastic, as this may cause the seed to rot. Blue Scent lavender seeds germinate within 3 months.

Wait until the lavender seedling has its third set of leaves to transplant it into a pot filled with equal parts of sand and standard potting soil. The Blue Scent seedling must be grown on indoors or in a greenhouse over the first winter. Keep it in a bright area, out of direct sunlight.

Transplant the Blue Scent seedling into the garden the following spring, after the last frost date. Choose the sunniest spot in the garden; the ideal location is a spot that is higher in elevation than the rest of the garden. Don't plant the seedling too close to other plants that might impede air circulation.

Add amendments to the soil if drainage is poor. Blue Scent lavender is susceptible to fungal pathogens that cause root rot so fast draining soil is crucial. Remove 2 or 3 inches of the heavy soil and replace it with the same amount of peat moss, coarse sand or chunky compost, mixed with the top 6 inches of soil.

Plant the lavender seedling at the same depth it is growing in the pot. Burying the crown deeper can lead to root rot.

Top-dress the soil around the Blue Scent lavender with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch, such as wood chips or compost. A 2-inch layer of compost is all the fertilizer the plant requires for the season.

Water the lavender immediately after planting and keep the soil moist until the plant produces new growth. Slowly decrease the frequency and amount of water given until you are watering only when the soil is completely dry.

Encourage the Blue Scent lavender to produce new branches and become fuller by pinching 1/2 inch from the tips of new stems.

Prune the Blue Scent lavender shrub in early spring to remove dead stems and to shape it how you want it. Be careful not to prune the stems more than 4 inches.