Help with mint and lavender!?

I have been having some horrible luck getting my mint started this year. I am on my third try and out of an entire packet of seeds have gotten only five sprouts. Any suggestions? These are inside starts and I am using Miracle grow in the starter pots. Also my lavender started fine bit seems to be stunting out. It is planted in an area of 80% sun 20% shade. The rest of herbs are doing wonderfully so I am at a real loss as to what is going on.

Help with mint and lavender!?
Mint is a weed, which should be very easy to grow, so, most likely, you simply got a bad batch. Try a different brand and/or store.



Lavender - - great for the dying honeybee population! - - is a little more complicated, but, if it can grow wildly on the walls along the mall in Washington DC, it can grow virtually anywhere!



Generally speaking, amateurs should avoid using any fertilizers on seedlings, as they might "burn" the plants if the stuff isn't diluted properly. Generally speaking, such plants should be fully sprouted before applying fertilizers, and only in tiny amounts, at first.



Check out the links, below, for growing hints and guides to help the busy bees!
Reply:Five sprouts should be enough, it'll give you five plants. Problem may be the soil you're using. Lavenders need a well drained soil. A soil with lots of sand mixed in would be good. Too much fertiliser can be counterproductive especially with seedlings and may even kill them off.
Reply:Once your mint really starts to grow outside don't be surprised it if wants to spread like crazy. :)
Reply:Lavender is picky about the soil composition and drainage. It loves dry, sunny and rocky habitats, and full sun. Is there any mulch around the lavender, is it possible it is getting too much water, these could both common problems with people growing lavender. It is the dampness that is responsible for killing most plants. Give your plants plenty of room to breath in the summer if it is humid in your area. If you soil isn't good for lavender, you may want to consider planting in a pot. Lavender does very well in a pot, and it will give you complete control over the soil. Average well-drained soil, with a pH of ideally 7.1. A high humus content and rather low fertility produces best results, as does excellent drainage. As with many herbs, less than ideal conditions improve its fragrance. Very fertile soil will produce beautiful plants but decrease the production of the aromatic oils on which the plant's fragrance depends.



For the mint: You likely did get a bad batch, but 5 sprouts will probably be plenty. The stuff will grow like crazy once it becomes established. Be careful if you have other herbs planted nearby, they will all begin to taste mysteriously like mint if they are all planted in the same patch of dirt. It spreads by underground runners, and could be considered invasive by some. A hanging basket is perfect for me, i have all the mint i can handle, and there is no need to pull it up when it gets into my other flowers.