harvesting french lavender - when and how?

[linspins]

I've got a big french lavender bush which has flowered profusely (bees loved it) and now I'm wondering about whether it's possible to harvest the flowers, dry them and put then in lavender bags? Anyone done this and know when is best and how to/how long to dry? Cheers!

[EcoLady]

I fear that you have missed your chance this time. You should cut the stems before the flowers open, tie them into loose bunches and hang them up in an airing cupboard to dry.

After the current batch of flowers have faded, give the bush a good trim and you should get another set of flowers before autumn

[linspins]

Oh well!! Thanks Ecolady on tips, I will give it a good trim. I'll just have to enjoy the faded grandeur of the plant as I trim it, at least it'll smell nice for me!

[MrsDinky]

I always do this with my English lavenders when they have finished and are drying on the plant, it might not be optimal, but they are still nice. I cut the stems quite long, stick them in an old washing up bowl in the airing cupboard for a week to completely dry them and then stick them in bunches in old popsocks in the back of my drawers (put the sock over your hand, pick up the lavendar by the heads with that hand and pull the sock inside out and over them. Not pretty, but nice and easy.