Knowing when to pick lavender for drying is the single most important step for preserving its color, fragrance, and potency. Get the timing right, and you’ll have beautiful buds that last for years. This guide walks you through the clear signs of perfect ripeness so you can harvest with confidence.
Every variety of lavender has a slightly different schedule, but the visual and tactile clues are universal. We’ll cover how to check your plants, the best time of day to harvest, and the simple techniques for cutting. A successful dry starts in the garden with a perfectly timed harvest.
When To Pick Lavender For Drying
This is your core rule: harvest lavender just as the flower buds begin to open. You do not want to wait until every single flower on the spike is fully open. At the ideal moment, the bottom few flowers on each stem will have opened, the middle section will be plump and colored but still closed, and the very top buds may still show a hint of green.
If you harvest too early, when buds are all tight and mostly green, the stems won’t have developed their full aromatic oils. The fragrance will be weak. If you harvest to late, when flowers are all fully open, the buds will shatter easily during handling and lose petals. Their scent will also fade faster once dried.
The Key Signs of Readiness
Use all your senses to judge when your lavender is ready. Don’t rely on the calendar alone, as weather and location play huge roles.
- Color: The buds should be deeply colored for your variety (deep purple for English types, lighter for others). They should not look faded or brown.
- Feel: Gently roll a bud cluster between your fingers. It should feel firm and plump, not dry or brittle. It should also leave a strong scent on your fingers.
- Bee Activity: Your plants will be buzzing! Bees love lavender, but they focus on the open flowers. If bees are only on the lower, open flowers and ignoring the upper buds, you’re at the prime time.
- Stem Condition: Look at the stem just below the flower head. It should still be mostly green, not yet turned woody and brown all the way up.
Best Time of Day to Harvest
Always cut your lavender on a dry day. The perfect window is mid-morning, after the dew has completely evaporated but before the afternoon sun is at its hottest. This ensures the plant’s essential oils, which give lavender its scent, are at their peak concentration.
- Avoid Evening: Cutting in the evening means the plant may have taken on moisture again, increasing the risk of mold during drying.
- Avoid Rain: Never harvest right after rain or when plants are wet. The excess moisture will ruin your batch.
How to Cut Lavender for Drying
Use clean, sharp garden shears or snips. This gives a clean cut that doesn’t crush the stem, which helps the plant heal and can promote a second, smaller bloom in some varieties.
- Gather a handful of stems together in one hand.
- Cut the stems as long as possible, aiming for at least 6-8 inches in length. Cut just above the leaves, leaving some green growth on the plant.
- Immediately lay the cut bundles down gently in a basket or tray. Don’t cram them in a bag where they can crush and bruise.
A Note on Lavender Varieties
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the classic choice for drying due to its high oil content and sweet scent. Popular cultivars like ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Munstead’ are ideal. French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) has showier blooms but is less fragrant when dried, so it’s often grown for ornamental purposes instead.
The Drying Process: Simple and Effective
Proper drying locks in that just-picked quality. The goal is slow, even, air drying in a dark, warm, and well-ventilated space.
- Bundle: Group your stems into small bunches, about 50-100 stems each. Large bunches can trap moisture and promote mold.
- Secure: Tie the stems tightly at the cut end with a rubber band. As the stems dry and shrink, the rubber band will tighten with them (string can loosen).
- Hang: Hang the bundles upside down on a hook or rack in a dark, dry room with good air circulation. An attic, spare closet, or garage is perfect—just avoid damp basements or direct sunlight, which bleaches color.
- Wait: Allow 2-4 weeks for complete drying. The buds will feel completely crisp, and the stems will snap when bent.
Storing Your Dried Lavender
Once fully dry, you can keep the buds on the stems for crafting wreaths. For most uses, you’ll want to strip the buds. Do this over a large tray or sheet. Gently run your fingers down each stem to catch the dried flowers.
- Store the dried buds in airtight containers, like glass jars or sealed tins.
- Keep them in a cool, dark place to preserve their color and scent for up to a year or more.
- Avoid clear jars on sunny shelves, as light will degrade the quality quickly.
Common Harvesting Mistakes to Avoid
- Harvesting in the heat of the day: Oils are less concentrated, leading to weaker fragrance.
- Using dull tools: This crushes stems, harming the plant and potentially introducing disease.
- Waiting for all flowers to open: This is the most common error and leads to bud drop.
- Drying in humid or bright conditions: Causes mold or faded, brown lavender.
FAQ: Your Lavender Harvest Questions
Can you pick lavender after it has bloomed?
You can, but it’s not ideal for drying. Post-bloom lavender is more fragile, its scent is diminished, and it’s more likely to shatter. The oil content is past its peak.
How often can you harvest lavender?
Most English lavender varieties will produce one main flush of flowers per year. If you cut it back lightly after this first harvest, you may get a smaller second showing of blooms in late summer.
What if it rains right before harvest time?
Patience is key. Wait for at least one full day of dry, sunny weather after the rain before you cut. This allows the plant to dry out and replenish its oils.
Can I dry lavender in a dehydrator?
Yes, but use very low heat (95°F / 35°C or lower) and check frequently. It can dry in just a few hours this way, but air drying is gentler and better for preserving the volatile oils that you want to keep.
Is the first year’s lavender ready for harvest?
It’s best to avoid a major harvest in the first year. Let the plant focus its energy on establishing strong roots. You can take a few stems, but a full harvest should wait until the plant’s second summer, when it is more mature and robust.
Mastering the art of when to pick lavender for drying truly makes all the difference. By focusing on those key signs—plump, colored buds just starting to open on a dry morning—you set yourself up for perfect results. With your lavender properly dried and stored, you’ll have a plentiful supply for sachets, culinary uses, and simple enjoyment all year long. The sweet smell of success in your garden is worth the careful timing.