¬Ý
Cultivation
¬Ý
¬Ý
¬Ý
Cultivation Ôøº The plant can be grown from seed but is more readily propagated by cuttings or divisions. Growth can be slow and the plants do not produce any considerable quantity of flowers for about three years. It grows best in a light soil (sand or gravel) in a dry, open, sunny position. It needs good drainage, particularly in winter. It grows in soils where few plants can survive. Harvesting Ôøº The flowering crops are harvested when in full bloom and during the hottest time of the day. For best results, the flowers are steam distilled with no previous drying or fermentation. Fresh lavender gives a greater yield of oil with higher ester content. The altitude of the distillery also influences the ester content. Distilleries located at high altitudes produce oils of higher ester content, not only because a high-altitude, wild-growing lavender has a higher ester content, but also because high-altitude distillation means lower-temperature boiling. Consequently, the distilled oil is not exposed to 212¬ƒF steam, but perhaps only 197¬ƒF. Dried lavender, particularly if dried in direct sunlight, gives a decreased yield of oil by as much as 2.4%. Parts Used Ôøº The oil is distilled from the flower stalks and flowers. Higher quality oil is distilled from just the flowers, which are stripped from the stalks prior to distillation.
Our goal is to sustainably grow our lavender following organic principles, with the goal of obtaining organic certification.
¬Ý