When planted in your yard, lavender can be used for crafts, cooking, and decor.A full-grown lavender bush can give you 7 to 8 bundles of lavender each season, which you can dry and store for months to come.Harvesting lavender is good for the longevity of the plant, as it removes old growth to make room for new shoots.So grab your gloves, sharpen your pruners, and get harvesting to enjoy the scent of lavender!
Step 1: Wait until at least 40% of the plant has flower buds.
This usually happens in early to mid-spring.If you look for lots of bees as they fly around to pollinate the plants, you can tell that the lavender is ready.lavender can produce more flowers for a second harvest if you cut it in the spring.When the flower buds are swollen and the flowers are just beginning to open, it's a good time to harvest the lavender.
Step 2: It is a good time to harvest the lavender in the morning.
The best time to harvest lavender is in the morning.Your lavender harvest will smell great if you have the highest concentration of oils inside the plant.The sun may evaporate some of the oils inside the plant if you wait for later in the day.They will still smell good, but won't be as potent as earlier in the day.
Step 3: There are flowers that look fresh and colorful.
Pick out the flowers that look the best when you look at your lavender plants.It is possible to pass over flowers that look small, as they won't smell or taste as good.Think about picking out lavender, like you would pick out fresh fruit, if it isn't colorful and ripe.
Step 4: A bunch of 50 to 100 lavender stalks.
To get enough stalks to fit in your fist, use your hands.You don't have to worry about tearing the stalks apart if you gather from all parts of the bush.The bundle that fits inside your hand is called abunch.
Step 5: The lavender 2 is above the growth.
If you look at the lavender bush, you'll see it's root to the ground.The new growth is green and flimsy.To give the plant enough room for a new bloom, use your shears to cut at least 2 inches above the woody part of the stalks.A harvesting knife is the best cutting tool for lavender.It has a serrated edge and is curved like a scythe.A hand pruner will work if you don't have one on hand.If you're using a harvesting knife, hook it around the bunched lavender and pull the knife toward you, cutting off the lavender stalks.If you want to keep your lavender flowers in a bundle, tie a rubber band around them.It's best to harvest the whole stem, not just the flower.You don't want a bunch of sticks around your plant.
Step 6: Place your bundles in the water.
If you want to keep your lavender fresh, you can fill a vase with water and put your bundle in it.This isn't a long-term solution, but it can keep lavender fresh for a few days until you're ready to use it.This is a great place to store lavender until you are ready to put it in a bouquet.
Step 7: To remove pests, rinse the lavender.
If you want to remove dirt or pests from your lavender flowers, submerge them in water.If you want to clean them off, put them out on a paper towel and pat them dry.If you want to eat lavender, you need to Rinsing it.If you are drying it out, you don't need to worry about it as much.
Step 8: The lavender needs to be dried.
You can use a food dehydrator, hang it upside down to dry in a cool, dark spot in your home, or dry it outside on metal screens in the sun.The flowers may be a bit lighter if you sun-dry it.If you decide to hang your lavender to dry, use twine or twist ties to gather the stalks in bunches and hang them upside down off of hooks or nails.Since they will shrink while drying, retie the stocks.lavender can be dried in the sun for a few days, while indoors it can take weeks.
Step 9: The lavender should be sealed in a container.
You can keep lavender fresh with a plastic bag, glass jar, or plastic container.Air can get into it before you put it away.Make sure that the lavender is dry before you take it away.The scent of your lavender can be ruined by mold if you store it wet.The scent of lavender lasts about 1 season.
Step 10: You can store lavender in a dark place.
The lavender will last longer if it is kept away from the sun and heat.If lavender doesn't get below freezing, you can keep it in your kitchen pantry, cabinet, or basement.For a long time, dried lavender can last.Since the petals are so small, it can be hard to sweep them up again after they are dried.
Step 11: The lavender can be used in cooking and crafts.
It's time to use the lavender.You can place the dried stems in vases to decorate your home, use the flowers to make sachets, or make delicious confections with your harvest.There are a lot of options when it comes to using flowers with lavender.When cooking with lavender, be careful.Too much in your food can make it smell like perfume.When lavender is arranged with flowers like white lilies or daisies, it looks beautiful.