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Garden Gate:  Lavender Know-How  |
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RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 01 2009 : 08:59:54 AM
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I have two lavender 'bushes' out front, not sure what variety, and since they do so well here, I'd like to plant some in the backyard. I'd also like to harvest and dry it for selling.
Is there a tutorial somewhere? Or a Farmgirl who knows how to dry the flowers?
I'd love some advice and can barter for your knowledge  Thanks!
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2009 : 09:14:30 AM
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I love love Lavender, and have a couple now too. Used to have many and need more, lol.
What I always did was cut the stems when the flowers were just opened and at their loveliest color. Cut them in the AM! Just make a bunch of them hang upside down and they dry quickly. If you only want to use the flowers for sachets etc, you can just shake most off after drying and cut the rest.
You can make cute fragrant "bottles" from them as well:
Make a bunch of uneven numbers. Slowly bend the stems over the flowers and tie together just above the flowers. Weave a pretty ribbon through the stems that cover the flowers tightly and make a bow.
They smell real good, and when they fade (the smell) just swish them between the palms of your hands and the fragrance comes back. Nice for gifts, in the closet or just anywhere you like :)
I made SO many of these, should have some lying about still.
http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/images/2007/09/18/lavenderbottles.jpg
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2009 : 12:51:22 PM
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Oh thank you dutchy! I'm such a garden virgin, lol. The lavender bottles look so pretty! I may try to make some for gifts. Now I need to figure out what variety lavender I have...there are 3 plants next to eachother and they are huge, but 2 of them belong to the neighbor next door. And all three are different! I guess I thought there was more to 'drying' them than there really is...how easy, lol!
THANK YOU!
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
Edited by - RuralSuburbia on Mar 02 2009 7:12:56 PM |
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22shortie
True Blue Farmgirl
329 Posts
rebekah
sulphur
la
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2009 : 5:00:38 PM
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let me know how your "drying" goes. I just got two lavender plants and I hope to be able to grow and dry my own lavender but I lve in a humid climate and I've heard it doesn't do to well around here. Let me know how yours goes!
Fresh and creative projects popping up on my blog daily! Stop by and check out what I'm up to today!
http://pumpkinseed-unscripted.blogspot.com/ |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2009 : 5:27:25 PM
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HI, I love Lavendar too, and just love it. I have about 14 plants. I cut them when then mid bloom, bundle them and hand them upside down. Once they are dried I use for wreaths and swags and wands. I also snip off the flower and bag into silk bags to scent drawers or hand on hangers. I also have food grade plants that use for tea cookies and lemonades....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/http://renenaturallyspeaking.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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gspringman
True Blue Farmgirl
387 Posts
Gail
Bonanza
Oregon
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2009 : 7:19:42 PM
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I too grow lavender and hope to plant many more as the deer don't touch them. I love to dry some on screens and store them in sealed jars until ready for sachets and such. Hanging them in a dark place helps them dry nicely. There is a lavender farm in Silverton, Oregon I am hoping to go to this spring. Look up the city and you will find it as one of the places to see and the lady is really nice about emailing you about her farm.
gail
#486 |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
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K-Falls Farmgirl
Chapter Leader
2096 Posts
Cheryl
Klamath Falls
Oregon
USA
2096 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2009 : 7:50:39 PM
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Gail, Never mind.. I just found it on line and they are not open until May... (pouting..) I have three plants in my garden.,.I guess I can wait til it blooms...
Cheryl
Farmgirl #309
Almost daily posts at:
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Come visit the barn at http://barndoorcreations.blogspot.com/
Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
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5 acre Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1007 Posts
~~~*Terri*~~~
WA.
USA
1007 Posts |
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homemom
True Blue Farmgirl
1593 Posts
Ruth
Warwick
RI
USA
1593 Posts |
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RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2009 : 10:05:24 AM
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Well I'm glad to have a couple of farmgirls to 'grow' with! My lavender bushes have stayed in bloom all year, is that bad? Am I supposed to cut the old blooms off at some point? Maybe it's just the California weather. 
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2009 : 11:04:20 AM
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Yeah, cut them off when the weather is nice. DON'T cut the bush down to the ground, always leave some grey on it. That way it will grow and grow pretty.
Every couple of years it is best to throw then out, they grow real stalky and woody.
I usually do this ever 4 or 5 years. I don't know your weather as i am in the Netherlands, but you'll notice it growing less flowers and just the bottom part is real woody.
Mine still has old flowers, and will cut it down just before spring, but when there is NO chance of frost. Somewhere around the end of April here :)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 11:52:34 AM
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I planted 5 little lavendar plants last spring. Can't wait to see how many made it through the winter. I've never been able to keep them over, but they are in such a nice sunny spot this time that I'm hoping...
I dried lavendar last summer just by laying the flowers out on a washcloth laid over a cookie cooling rack in my pantry. I only had 5-10 sprigs drying at a time, so it was just the right size. I made a couple of lavendar wands (like Marian's bottles, I think, but much skimpier) and held on to the rest to make a sachet (haven't gotten to it yet).
If my plants come back this year, I'd like to try using them in cookies and I hear they also go well in cheese/butter spreads. Rene, what makes a lavendar plant food grade? |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 5:22:51 PM
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I made some awesome lavender chocolate ice cream last July. The recipe is on my website below. You'll have to click on the archives for eaither July2008 or food. I can't link from my iPod.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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Teresa Tells
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Teresa
Iona
Idaho
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 08:56:00 AM
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Lavender lemonade is my favorite summer beverage! I'll post the recipe if folks are interested. Now here's my question. I purchase lavender buds to make it. I would prefer to grow my own. However, thus far, all I've read from all of you is about harvesting mid bloom or later. Anyone harvest for the buds - I'd love some tips!
Teresa
Everyone has stories they need to tell - Let me help you tell yours!
http://teresaclark.blogspot.com |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 09:53:44 AM
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the best time to 'harvest' your lavender is in the Am, after the dew is off. Don't dry the stems bunched if they are damp = mold.
Also bundle the stems w/a rubberband because the rubber band stretches down as the stems dry & shrink.
If you are using the buds for sachets/cooking the easiest way to de-bud them is to make a "pillowcase" using cotten fabric, 1 pc that is 12" x 20", fold in 1/2 & stitch up the sides...to make a pillowcase...put your dried lavender buds/stem into the pillowcase and roll back & forth to seperate the buds from the stem.
Did you know you don't have to toss the dry stems? retie w/a cotten string & remove the rubberbands and toss the dried stems into your fireplace/firepit....
there are a gazillion ides/recipes on the internet. There is a whole colony of Lavender growers/farms up in Sequim Washington too....but you can find lavernder growing well all over the USA.
So throw caution to the wind & have fun growing that awesome plant!
Oh, fyi,,,when on the internet, be careful...there are a few "lavender sites" that when you read furter you will discover have nothing to do with the plants but rather a "alternate life style"...oops!hahahlol!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 10:06:12 AM
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Oh I forgot,
my two favorite things to make...Lavender Cheese Cake & Lavender Scones. oh Yummm!
I also make my own Lavender Spritz using distilled water, lavender & a couple drops of Vodka....
2c. distilled H2O
2 tsp dried lavender buds if you ues fresh double the amount.
1/2 tsp Vodka(grain not potato) (optional)
Steep the buds in the H2O like you would for tea, let steep for 15-20min.
I strain the buds 2X using a paper coffee filters.
Bottle in a spray bottle & store in the refridge.
But don't keep longer than a week as it will get murky.
It will not be "purple" like the store bought stuff as ture lavender is lite in color or dark if you use a larger concentration of buds.
I use this as a room sptitz and after a shower as a spritz. And for you lovely ladies battling hot flashes,,a few spritzes will do wonders!
I also use it as a disenfectant spray on my kitchen counters.
And last but not least....a quick sprite near the kitty litter box after it has been paid a visit! lol!
Lavender has an endless list of ideas from crafting/cooking to homeopathic uses.
Enjoy becomming addicted to your lavender be it just 1 potted plant or acreas of plants. I just luv picking a single stem, crushing it 'tween my fingers and smelling it...so rejuvanating....
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 7:14:40 PM
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ooh, Katmom, awesome ideas!!!!
I just lopped off the dead blooms that have been there all winter, even saw some new blooms, so I'm super excited! OMG, I'm totally going to make the lavender spritz for my 'hot flashes' and house! (got plenty of vodka on hand, lol)  LOVE all the ideas and tips!
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
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Peg Graham
True Blue Farmgirl
281 Posts
Peg
Chesapeake
Virginia
USA
281 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2009 : 5:23:46 PM
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Now I have a recipe for Lavender Lemonade using Lavender Essential Oil (a plug for my new business adventure- I am an Indep. Distributor for Young Living Essential Oils now). email me if you want to know more or go visit my blog under my signature line.
Got this from their website:
Lavender Lemonade
7 lemons, peeled and juiced
2 limes, peeled and juiced
14 c. water
1 ½ c. blue agave
1 drop lavender essential oil
Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or Blue Agave, depending on the size and tartness of the fruit.
miles of smiles~
Peg
http://thelavenderfairy.blogspot.com/ |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
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Peg Graham
True Blue Farmgirl
281 Posts
Peg
Chesapeake
Virginia
USA
281 Posts |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
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BarnChickCecily
True Blue Farmgirl
673 Posts
Cecily
Corydon
IN
USA
673 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2011 : 07:23:56 AM
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Could anyone tell me when, in the lavender's plant life, I should pick the flowers for drying? This is my first time drying lavender...how long should it dry before I use the buds in my projects? Also, do I need to pick the whole stem, or can I just pick off the little flower part?
Farmgirl Sister # 241
www.thebarnchick.blogspot.com/ |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2011 : 2:11:13 PM
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You cut the stems off when the lavender has bloomed out 2/3 of the flowers. Most folks just grab a bunch and cut of stems to make hanging them easier. It needs pruning, so best to take the stem.
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
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BarnChickCecily
True Blue Farmgirl
673 Posts
Cecily
Corydon
IN
USA
673 Posts |
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Garden Gate: Lavender Know-How |
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Lavender Know-How
Living the farm life in my heart.