Another Lavish Lavender Harvest and New Sachet Designs!
This year brought another incredible lavender harvest resulting in four large laundry baskets filled with fragrant lavender blooms. If you would like to know the back story of this crazy lavender project you can find it here.
Last year I learned a lot of lessens while harvesting and processing lavender. The biggest lesson: you do not have to go to extreme measures to dry and process lavender! So…this year was much easier…although I still have several baskets to process…but…that will wait until winter!
The abundance of blooms inspired me to get creative.
To add a touch of fun, whimsy, and nostalgia (not just work!) to our harvest, I filled the baskets of my Dutch bike with lavender blooms and rolled it into our garden.
The cutting garden was a perfect backdrop for the bike! Then…
…I just had fun taking photos of these beautiful blooms so I could share them with you!
Bundles tied with a jute bows…and wisteria blooms…
Lavender and cosmos…
Brown paper bags filled with lavender, dried poppy pods, and fresh dahlia blooms….
Soooo much lavender…
Lavender and tomatoes…why not?!
These beautiful blooms inspired 5 new sachet designs…
and we set up a “free lavender” basket at the end of our driveway for neighbors and friends!
How to Harvest Lavender and a Few Easy Tips!
Lavender blooms are at their peak in late spring to early summer.
It's best to harvest in the mid-morning when the dew has evaporated but before the sun is too intense.
Using sharp scissors or pruning shears, cut the lavender stems just above the leaves, leaving some stem attached.
It is helpful to have at least two people for the harvest. One to hold a clump of lavender and the other to cut. We used our hedge trimmer! Last year I used a small electric hand pruner and completely burned it up. Lavender is a bit sticky and the gooey build-up is hard on small tools.
After the blooms are harvested…use hedge trimmers to shape the plants for the next flush. You can cut into the leaves but don’t cut into the woody part of the plant!
After the Harvest
Bundle the stems together with twine, creating small bunches for optimal air circulation. Hang these bundles upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space to dry. Avoid areas with direct sunlight, as it can cause the flowers to lose their color and fragrance.
Note: I did not bundle or hang all of our lavender this year…time was short so I let it dry in the baskets in our barn. The most important aspect is air circulation!
Once the lavender is dry, which usually takes about two to four weeks, gently strip the buds from the stems.
I use an elevated wire screen and roll the blooms over grid. The buds fall through the grid and stems remain, making it easy to discard the chaff.
Store the dried lavender in airtight containers away from sunlight to preserve its fragrance and flavor for various uses, such as sachets, potpourri, or culinary applications.
The moral of this story is…
Only plant what you want to harvest! Lavender plants grow in size and abundance of blooms! Just say’n!
Pop over and check out the new sachet designs!
Lavender Sachets
$14.00