Drying Lavender in a Dark Room
Harvest the lavender before it's fully in bloom. Cut the lavender at the base of the stem right before the buds open. This will ensure that the dried lavender will retain a strong floral scent and remain it's bright purple color.
Cut matured lavender flowers just above the leaves. Aim to get the longest stem possible on the flower. In harvesting lavender you are also pruning the plant, which helps it grow strong throughout the winter. The plant will need the leaves and stem to finish the growing season, so make sure to leave them in place.
Gather the lavender into a bunch. Once you've harvested a good handful, gather it into a bunch. Cut the bottom off of the bunch so the ends are even.
Tie the stems with a rubber band. Keep bundles ¾” around or smaller so that they will dry evenly. This will help prevent mold and mildew growth. Wind the rubber bands toward the base of the stems. Keep winding until the stems are tightly secured, but not crushed. Using a rubber band instead of string or ribbon will ensure that the stems won't slip from the tie as they shrink during the drying process.
Find a dark place to dry the lavender. 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. Loop a strand of the rubber band over a hook or nail. You can also tie a string from the rubber band to a hook or rack to hang the lavender, or you can partially unwind a paperclip and use that to hook the rubber band to a rope, chain, or hook.
Let the lavender dry for 2 - 4 weeks. Check every so often to see when the lavender is dry. When you brush the flowers, they should fall easily from the stems. You can leave the flowers on the stems or brush them off to use in sachets or for baking.
Drying Lavender in the Sun
Harvest the lavender. Harvest lavender just before the buds open. Cut at the base of the stems to preserve as much stem as possible.
Lay the lavender on a block of wood. A cutting board or another large piece of wood is perfect for drying lavender in the sun. If you use a metal tray, the lavender will get too hot; if you use plastic, you might have a melted mess on your hands.
Place the lavender in a sunny spot. Move the cutting board or wood block to a place that gets plenty of sun, either indoors or outdoors. Drying lavender this way is a much quicker process than drying it in the dark, but be prepared for the sun to fade the lavender to a very pale purple color. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, either dry the lavender inside near a sunny window or be ready to move it inside when the clouds threaten to break.
Allow the sun to completely dry the lavender. It should take under a week for the hot sun to dry the lavender. Check every few days to see whether the lavender is dry. When it's ready, the flowers should crumble easily from the stems.
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