The timing doesn’t matter for the leaves, but it does matter for the flowers. What is this? The flowers are the most fragrant and colorful when you cut them before the buds open. So, the best time to cut the flowers for drying is when the buds are bright purple, and right before they open.
Do you use lavender leaves or flowers?
Both lavender leaves and flowers can be used for a number of different purposes on the homestead! Use lavender leaves for tea, use lavender essential oil to relax, or use it to attract pollinators! Lavender is one of the budding herbalists’ best friends.
Can you dry and use lavender leaves?
Spread the leaves out on a tray and set them in a warm dark place where they will dry rather quickly. Drying Lavender leaves quickly will help to preserve color, flavor and most importantly the Lavender scent!
What is the best way to dry lavender?
The most simple way to dry fresh lavender is to let it hang dry.
- Collect handful-size bouquets, secure the stems together with twine or a rubber band, and hang them upside down to passively dry.
- If you harvested a lot of lavender at once, it is best to create and hang several small bunches rather than one large one.
What do you do with lavender leaves and flowers?
6+ Uses for Lavender Leaves
- Infused Oil. You can make lavender oil from lavender leaves in the very same way that you make an infused oil with the flowers.
- Headache Salve.
- Bug Bite Itchy Sticks.
- Green Lavender Bath Soak.
- Infused Vinegar.
- Cooking with Lavender Leaves.
- 18 Comments.
What do you do with fresh cut lavender leaves?
Lavender Leaves :: Ideas and Recipes
- Vinegar. Steep in vinegar and use in vinaigrettes or as a cleaning product.
- Simple Syrup. Simmer a couple stems in a simple syrup and add to lemonade, iced tea or cocktails.
- Tea.
- Mixed with Fresh Cheese.
- Scented Sugar.
- Cookies.
- Cake.
- Dried Herb Mixture.
What part of the lavender plant is used?
Lavender is a unique herb in that every part of the plant—bud, stem, and leaf—can be used in cooking. While the lavender flowers and leaves can be used fresh, the buds and stems can be used dried. Since the lavender flavor intensifies when the herb is dried, the dried buds should be used sparingly.
How do you preserve fresh lavender?
Bundle your Lavender bunch with a rubber band toward the bottom of your bouquet. Hang your harvested Lavender upside down in a warm, dark, dry room with adequate air circulation. This will protect your Lavender against mold. Your Lavender should dry within a few weeks.
Where do you hang lavender to dry?
Drying lavender slowly in the dark is the best way to preserve its color, since the sun will fade the purple flowers. Look for a dry, dark place that doesn’t get much sunlight, such as your shed, garage, or a shaded place under your eaves. Hang the lavender bunch upside down.
How long will Dried lavender last?
Most lavender will keep a very strong fragrance for an entire season when dried, but when you store and care for it correctly you can extend that life upwards of 10 years.
Does dried lavender mold?
Important things to care about when storing lavender
It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to dry it properly. It is properly dry when the flowers and leaves are sharp and starts to fall off the stems. If you store it while still not dry, the moisture will cause a mold to develop which will destroy your flowers.
How long does lavender need to dry?
Drying Your Lavender Flowers
Protect drying lavender from sunlight to retain best color, and place a sheet beneath the bundles to catch any buds or blooms that might fall. You should have dried lavender bunches in about seven to 10 days, depending on humidity.
Can you lay lavender flat to dry?
Hanging Lavender To Dry
One of the easiest ways to dry out fresh lavender is to hang it upside down. If you chose to use this method, make sure your bundles are small, and bunch them loosely to prevent mildew.
What can I do with lavender sticks?
Remove dried lavender buds from the stems and collect them into sachet bags. Place lavender sachets under your pillow to help you sleep or put them in your wardrobes and drawers to repel clothes moths. Bake a tray of Lavender Shortbread Cookies for your afternoon tea.
What do you do with lavender flower heads?
From infusing lemonade to creating your own body scrub, these fun crafts will provide inspiration for what to do with lavender beyond just admiring the purple flowers.
- Create a Shower Bundle.
- Carpet Freshener.
- Make Lavender Soap.
- Use Lavender for Gift Wrapping.
- Make Homemade Candles.
- Make Bath Salts.
- Pet Deodorizer.
Are lavender leaves poisonous?
Lavender plants are generally non-toxic in nature, however, if sufficient quantities of the vegetation are consumed, it can result in dangerous intestinal blockages.
When should I pick lavender?
And of course, you always want to harvest in the early morning, before the heat arrives. Lavender loses its oil to the heat of the day, so harvesting in the cool of the morning (before 10am) you’ll harvest lavender with a higher oil content.
Can you get sick from smoking lavender?
Lavender does play an important role in aromatherapy and herbal medicine, but there are other ways to use it. Smoking lavender may present some of the same dangers as other forms of smoking. These dangers include an increased risk of lung cancer and respiratory issues.
Why does my dried lavender not smell?
The reason lavenders do not smell is usually to do with a lack of sunlight or soil that is too fertile. The less sun a lavender receives, the less flowers and oils will be produced which ultimately limits the lavenders smell. Lavenders need full sun and low to medium fertility soils to produce the best fragrance.
Why do you hang lavender upside down?
The dark helps the lavender retain its color, and drying it upside down helps the lavender retain its bloom shape. The lavender should dry for about a week or until there is no moisture in the stems at the center of the bundle.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.