Lavender is cut by hand with a small sickle or other sharp knife. This method is used for small acreage and where bunches are gathered for bouquet sales. Larger acreage is harvested by machine and the product is either dried in bulk for stripped flower or taken to the still for distillation for essential oil. Lavender is normally dried in bunches, secured with rubber bands, which are hung vertically from racks or ceiling wires. These bunches are dried in sheds, attics or other dry areas which are kept as dark as possible to preserve the colour of the lavender flowers.
Good ventilation is important.
Oil quality and quantity will vary according to soil and climate conditions and even the same plants in the same acreage may produce different quantities and oil assays each year. Therefore trial plants are recommended to establish the cultivar potential for the individual area and oil tests need to be carried out for each season s crop. Lavender like any other plant needs water to establish. However, it is a xerophyte and able to withstand dry conditions. In very dry conditions irrigation can be considered.