Commonly used in cooking and herbal treatments, bay leaves come from the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) tree, which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 10. Attempting to grow bay laurel trees from seed can sometimes be frustrating as the seeds typically have a long germination period and may begin rotting before germination begins. It is possible to germinate bay laurel seeds, though Gardener's Path recommended that you attempt to germinate twice as many seeds as you need to allow for germination failure and rotting in some of the seeds. Prepare the Bay Leaf Seeds Soak the bay laurel seeds in warm water for 24 hours. Prepare a Seed Tray Prepare a seed tray with a layer of starting soil. The soil should be moist but not saturated and there should be no standing water present in the tray. Fill the Seed Tray Spread the seeds out over the tray, pressing them lightly into the moistened soil. The seeds should be approximately two inches apart to allow them room to spread out once they begin developing roots and shoots. Add a Covering Cover the bay tree seeds with a thin layer of compost, mulch or horticultural sand. Spray the contents of the tray lightly with warm water to dampen the seed covering. As with the initial moistening of the soil, you only want to dampen the covering and not actually saturate it. Provide Adequate Sunlight Place the seed tray in an area where it will receive up to eight hours of sunlight per day and will maintain a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the Soil Moist Moisten the seed tray as needed. You want the soil and the seed covering to remain moist, though being slightly on the dry side will not harm the seeds. It is better for the bay tree seeds to germinate in an environment that is only slightly moist than one that is saturated since the latter condition encourages rotting. Watch for Germination Check the progress of the bay leaf seeds weekly. It may take as few as 10 days or as long as six months for the bay laurel seeds to begin germinating. If you notice any seeds that have begun to rot, remove them from the tray. Transplant the Seeds Transplant germinated bay leaf seeds to pots or to a prepared location outdoors once leaves begin to appear. North Carolina State University Extension points out that bay trees do best in well-draining soils. Tip Bay laurel trees can grow as tall as 40 feet outdoors but can also be trained to grow in a pot through regular pruning. Many growers prune even outdoor trees to keep them around 10 feet tall for easy harvesting of leaves. 1 seed per pack