to make: lavender experiment
 week 1 cut 
week 1 dried
 week 2 cut  week 2 dried  week 3 cut  week 3 dried  week 3 and five days cut  week 3 and five days dried  week 4 cut -- Don't cut it yet.  week 4 dried  week 5 cut -- Cut it now.  week 6 cut -- Cut it now.  The difference in buds between the second and sixth week (week 1 was too early and difficult to get buds off of). |
It was summer of 2005 and surprise, that stuff growing in my front yard is lavender. I wasn't sure when to cut the blooms to get the best smelling buds, and not being a person that can learn anything unless I do it myself, I decided to cut some each week and keep track.
After week 6 the plant was blooming all over and the bees were making sweet love to it. Not being one to ask to get stung I decided I had enough lavender and didn't cut anymore. We did a sniff test using coffee as our between week cleanser. Weeks 2 through 4 were deemed "weak". Week 4 and 5 days was "more floral" and "soapier". Week 5 was "more ripe", and week 6 "delicate yet lavendery". So there it is, cut when it looks like the picture for week 5 or 6. |
I absolutely love the smell of lavender, but I have allergies and a phobia of bees.
Comment by Emily — March 5, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
That's really good to know. Is it really hard to grow lavender?
Comment by Rachel — May 10, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
I love lavender and grow several different varieties in my gardens. It is easy. At the end of the season I cut as many buds as I can and create lavendar laundry bags that you can place in your dryer with your clean wash. It adds a wonderful smell and is a natural moth repellent! I also make hand made soaps with many different herbs from my garden including my lavender.
Kudos to you and this site. I'll be back often!
Comment by Caroline — May 24, 2007 @ 10:22 am
This is exactly what I needed!! A picture that shows me what a mature bloom looks like! Thanks a million!
Comment by Renee — June 21, 2007 @ 8:20 am
THANKS FOR THE PICTURES THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME ALOT,THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE CUT LAVENDER FOR DRYING SO HERE GOES I HOPE I GET IT RIGHT JUST GOT TO WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP AND I AM OF.
Comment by PAT BENNETT — June 30, 2007 @ 4:46 am
Great information, have harvested lavender from my neighbors yard for 4 years and now have 3 plants of my own, with your information I now know when to harvest to get the max aromatic from the bloom.
Something keeps drawing me to lavender and each time I see a different type plant I must have it. Thanks again for you website
Comment by Sue — July 4, 2007 @ 8:49 am
I'll feel much more confident when I harvest my lavendar for the first time, thanks to your pictures. The other websites I'v found only DESCRIBE when to harvest - your pictures are worth a thousand words.
Comment by Ann-Marie — July 6, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Thanks so much for the photos and info. This is a gem of a resource--having the photos is invaluable.
Comment by Steph — July 10, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Exactly what I needed to know - a couple months ago when I was making soap. Now I'm set for next year.
Comment by Vicki — September 21, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
WOW Lavender wasn't one of my favourites until I learned about when to cut and dry it. You are exactly correct. Of course it depends where you live. Up here in the north (Canada) it can be around week 8 but the wait is well worth it. I hope that you will test and publish some herb maturity information as I love to use lemon dill, verbena and sage in my soaps. Any ideas?
Comment by Lina — December 29, 2007 @ 11:55 pm