Lavender Varieties            Companions to Lavender          Pruning Lavender  

Fertilizing Lavender          Harvesting Lavender               Where to buy lavender

Harvesting Lavender

In general, wait until any rain or dew has dried from the plants.  Harvest on a sunny day, mid-day or early afternoon. 

Dried Flowers for crafts

(When you want to use the lavender flowers on the stalk)

Harvest the flowers when you see the first few start to open.

Hang in small bunches in a dry area, out of direct light.

Some popular choices are L. a. Hidcote Superior, L.x intermedia 'Grosso', L.x intermedia 'Provence' and L.a 'Hidcote'

Dried Flowers for Potpourri

Harvest the flowers when 1/4 - 1/2 of the stalk is blooming.

Harvesting for Essential Oils

Harvest the flowers when 30%-50% of the flowers have finished on the stalk.  This will give you the highest amount of oil in the flowers.  The least amount of stalk is better for essential oil.

Some popular choices are: L.x intermedia 'Grosso', L. angustifolia, L.a. 'Folgate' and L.a.'Folgate'.

Harvesting for Hydrosols

Similar to essential oils, but the hydrosol will be best when the flowers are distilled immediately.