Knowing when is lavender ready to harvest is the key to getting the most fragrance and longevity from your plants. Harvesting at the perfect moment ensures your lavender will dry beautifully, retaining its iconic scent and color for months to come.
This guide will walk you through the clear signs to look for, whether you’re growing it for buds, oil, or decorative use. Timing varies a bit by climate and variety, but the visual and tactile clues are universal.
When Is Lavender Ready To Harvest
The optimal harvest time for lavender is when the buds are colored but before they are fully open. This stage, just as the first few florets on each stem begin to open, captures the highest concentration of essential oils. The fragrance will be at its peak.
If you wait to long, the flowers will be past their prime. They’ll lose oil potency, fade in color, and may shatter easily when dryed. For culinary uses, this timing is especially crucial for the best flavor.
The Key Signs of Readiness
Use your eyes, hands, and nose to judge. Here are the main indicators that your lavender is ready for cutting:
- Color: The buds on about half to three-quarters of the flower spike should have developed their mature purple, blue, pink, or white hue. The very bottom florets may just be starting to open.
- Feel: Gently roll a flower bud between your fingers. It should feel firm, not soft or mushy. If it feels damp or squishy, it’s not ready.
- Scent: The fragrance should be strong and distinct when you rub a bud. If the scent is weak, wait a few more days.
- Bees: Notice heavy bee activity? This is a great natural sign that the flowers are opening and producing nectar, signaling you’re in the harvest window.
Best Time of Day to Harvest
When you cut is almost as important as when. Always harvest lavender on a dry, sunny day. Aim for mid-morning, after the dew has completely evaporated but before the afternoon sun gets to intense.
Cutting when the plant is wet from dew or rain invites mold during the drying process. The essential oils are also most concentrated in the plant before the heat of the day, which gives you the best aromatic yield.
Harvesting for Different Uses
Your intended use for the lavender can fine-tune your timing slightly.
For Drying and Crafts
Follow the standard timing: buds colored, not fully open. This ensures stems dry straight and buds stay on the stem without shattering. You’ll get the best color retention.
For Essential Oil
The oil content is highest right before full bloom. Harvest when the buds are plump and the lower florets are just begining to open. Process the cuttings for distillation as soon as possible after cutting.
For Culinary Purposes
For the sweetest, most complex flavor with minimal bitterness, harvest a bit earlier. Choose buds that are just showing color but are still mostly closed. This is perfect for lavender sugar, syrups, or baking.
For a Second Bloom
Many lavender varieties can produce a second, smaller flush of flowers. To encourage this, cut your first harvest fairly low on the stem, removing spent flower spikes and shaping the plant. Don’t cut into the old woody growth.
Step-by-Step Harvesting Technique
Using the right method protects your plant and ensures a quality harvest.
- Gather Tools: Use sharp, clean bypass pruners or harvesting snips. For large stands, a sickle or scythe works. Have twine or rubber bands and baskets ready.
- Cut the Stems: Aim to cut long stems for easier bundling. Cut just above the leaves, leaving a good portion of green growth on the plant. This avoids cutting into the woody base, which can harm it.
- Bundle Immediately: Gather stems into loose bundles, about 50-100 stems each. Too large a bundle can lead to mold in the center. Secure the cut ends with a rubber band (it tightens as stems shrink).
- Handle Gently: Avoid crushing or bruising the flower buds during handling to preserve their oils and appearance.
How to Dry Lavender Properly
Proper drying locks in color and scent. Here’s the best method:
- Hang bundles upside down in a warm, dark, dry, and well-ventilated area. A closet, attic, or shed is ideal.
- Ensure good air circulation around each bundle. Don’t cram them together.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight, which fades color and degrades oils.
- Drying takes 2-4 weeks. Stems are ready when they snap easily and buds feel completely dry to the touch.
Once dry, you can strip the buds by running your fingers down the stem over a clean bowl. Store dried buds in airtight containers away from light and heat.
Common Harvesting Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced gardeners can make these errors. Here’s what to watch for:
- Harvesting Too Late: Open flowers are pretty but less potent and more likely to drop during drying.
- Cutting Into Woody Growth: This can stunt or kill parts of your lavender plant. Always leave some green foliage.
- Poor Drying Conditions: Humid or dark conditions cause mold. Sunlight bleaches color. Ensure your drying space is optimal.
- Using Dirty Tools: This can spread disease between plants. Wipe your pruners with a disinfectant between plants if you notice any issues.
Seasonal and Regional Timing Tips
Your local climate dictates your harvest calender.
In most temperate regions, lavender blooms and is ready for harvest in mid to late summer, often around June or July. Warmer climates may see an earlier bloom. The best approach is to watch your plants, not just the calendar.
For English lavender types, you typically get one main harvest. For Lavandin hybrids or in very warm climates, a second, smaller harvest in late summer or early fall is often possible with proper pruning after the first cut.
FAQ: Your Lavender Harvest Questions
Can you harvest lavender after it has bloomed?
You can, but it’s not ideal. Post-bloom lavender has lower oil content and the buds may shatter. It’s better for decorative use than for fragrance or cooking.
How often can you harvest lavender?
Most plants provide one primary harvest per year. With careful pruning, some varieties may offer a smaller secondary harvest in the same season.
What happens if you harvest lavender too early?
Buds harvested to early will not have developed their full fragrance or oil content. They may also wilt more easily and not dry as well.
Is it better to harvest lavender before it opens?
Yes, for almost all uses. Harvesting just as the buds begin to open ensures maximum essential oils, best color, and less shattering.
Can I harvest lavender in the fall?
Fall harvesting is usually for a potential second bloom or for deadheading. Avoid a heavy harvest late in the fall, as new growth prompted by cutting could be damaged by winter frost.
By following these simple guidelines on timing and technique, you’ll capture your lavender at its absolute best. The reward is bunches of beautifully fragrant lavender that will remind you of your garden long after the season ends.