Drying Lavender
Tips on Drying Lavender
One of the most versatile household products can be made by drying lavender. A natural alternative to daily stress and anxiety, a delicious herb used in cooking and a beneficial herb for healing, lavender can be a beneficial plant to preserve when the proper technique is known.
Drying lavender is a process that has been done for thousands of years. The scent has long been revered for its calming and relaxing properties, the essential oils for their healing properties, and its unusual taste for its flavorings. Lavender is particular popular as a dried herb because it retains its wonderful scent and color.
Any of the purple flowers can be used when drying lavender, but the white or pink varieties do not hold their colors when dried. It is a common belief that the darker the flower, the more color the dried product will retain. English lavender, as one of the sweetest smelling, is the most popular choice for drying lavender.
The best time for harvesting lavender is just as the flowers are beginning to open. Dry weather conditions will yield the most favorable lavender, as there will be less moisture in the stalks. In the cool of the morning, after the dew has dried, cut the stalks near the bottom of the plant. Two inches of stalk at the cut end will be needed to attach stalks together when drying lavender, with all leaves stripped off.
Attach several stalks together, wrapping a rubber band securely around the stem ends that have been cleared. In an attic or other area with good air circulation as well as being dry and hot, hang the stalks upside down. The drying process should take approximately 15 days, but may take longer depending on the condition of the lavender stalks. Drying lavender is not an exact science.
After the stalks have completely dried, the dried flower buds can easily be removed from the stalks by simply grasping the stalk with your thumb and forefinger and, moving downward, strip the buds. If you are not using the dried buds immediately, it should be safely stored to preserve the color and scent. If you were drying lavender buds for use in foods or drink, store them in a tightly covered container and either refrigerate them or store away from any heat source. Storing dried lavender to later use in a craft project can be left on the stalk in a dark, dry area or placed in tightly closed plastic bag.
Growing, harvesting and drying lavender can be a satisfying experience. The dried flowers can be made into any number of different items from food additives to health products and more when the proper techniques of drying lavender are known.