How to harvest lavender for culinary use?

The first step of harvesting lavender for culinary use is to cut off the dried flowers from the plant. You can either do this by hand, or using a harvesting tool, which consists of a rake with a long handle. When harvesting lavender, the upper flowers are cut off, since those are the ones that contain the most essential oil. However, harvesting lavender flowers can also be used for making herbal tea or for making fragrances.

How to harvest lavender flowers for culinary use?

From late May to early June, lavender flowers are at their peak, and harvesting them can be quite a chore. To do it, you will need a sturdy basket or one of those plastic lawn bags lined with burlap. Lavender flowers are gathered by snipping off the tips of the stems, which allows the plant to continue to grow. Pick the flowers in the early morning hours before the dew dries.

How to harvest lavender seeds for culinary use?

To harvest the seeds of lavender, flowers should be picked when they are fully dry and the seeds are beginning to turn a dark blue color. To do this, place the cut lavender flowers in a pile and let them dry in a sunny location. When the flowers are completely dry, rub the seeds off the individual heads of the plant using your fingertips. The seeds can then be stored in airtight containers.

How to harvest lavender for tea?

The ideal way to dry lavender flowers for making tea is on a drying tray lined with cloth. You can also use a dehydrator. The dried flowers can be steeped in boiling water for up to 5 minutes. To preserve the color and flavor of the lavender, it is best to strain the water after brewing.

How to harvest lavender for eating?

The lavender flowers can be gathered in early summer before they fully blossom. You can use the flowers, the dried flowers, or the essential oil to add flavor and aroma to foods and beverages. You can even add the fresh or dried flowers to other plants, like tomatoes. Lavender is also an effective insect repellent, so you can use the dried flowers to make a simple herbal insect spray.