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  • Lavender Bags

    I'd like to make some Lavender bags but have no idea when I should be picking the lavendar heads / how to dry them etc?

    Has anyone made them before and can give me some advice?

    Cheers
    Shortie

    "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

  • #2
    Pick the flower heads when they are looking gorgeous and smelling even more wonderful. Keep them on their stalks and tie in bunches of about ten stems and hang upside down in a warm, dry, dark, well-ventilated place. Airing cupboard, warm loft or outhouse is great. Ideal drying conditions are 32 degrees C for the first 24 hours, then 24-26C thereafter. Allow to dry fully - anything from one to three weeks. Once fully dried, remove flowers and place in bags (I think you need quite a close weave fabric or they poke through)

    Hope that helps. Drying advice from The Complete Book of Herbs by Lesley Bremness.
    Happy Gardening,
    Shirley

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    • #3
      OOo thanks Shirl! I'll be re-using clothing fabrics that will be close weave so that should be fine

      Originally posted by shirlthegirl43 View Post
      Pick the flower heads when they are looking gorgeous and smelling even more wonderful.
      What a fab description! That made me smile
      Shortie

      "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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      • #4
        You wouldn't guess I like lavender then?
        Happy Gardening,
        Shirley

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        • #5
          great, i was wondering what to do with mine,its lovely at the moment,so guess what? thanks for the idea.

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          • #6
            I just wish rosemary was as easy! Lavendar helps you sleep (well it works for me) but rosemary helps you relax without making you sleepy.
            Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Hilary B View Post
              I just wish rosemary was as easy! Lavendar helps you sleep (well it works for me) but rosemary helps you relax without making you sleepy.
              Same instructions for drying rosemary Hilary B - tie with string in small bunches.
              Happy Gardening,
              Shirley

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              • #8
                Originally posted by shirlthegirl43 View Post
                Same instructions for drying rosemary Hilary B - tie with string in small bunches.
                Yeah, but it doesn't work the same way because it grows different.......
                To avoid stalky bits on lavendar you to rub the flowers off the stalks and put just the flowers in the bags. Can't do that with rosemary.....
                Last edited by Hilary B; 19-06-2008, 12:35 PM.
                Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                • #9
                  Ah, sorry, see what you mean now. What about if you crushed it up with mortar and pestle and mixed it with barley or something as a 'carrier'?
                  Happy Gardening,
                  Shirley

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by shirlthegirl43 View Post
                    Ah, sorry, see what you mean now. What about if you crushed it up with mortar and pestle and mixed it with barley or something as a 'carrier'?

                    Worth a try......
                    Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                    • #11
                      i always wondered about people working lavender feilds they wouldnt get the job finished as they would fall asleep me and my son love lavender *reminds him of his great granma bless him * we made pretty but simple bags 2 heart shapes edged using pinking shears to prevent too much fraying stitched round cm in with small hole in the top to fill with lavender then hand stiched at the top and a little bow or one of little predone roses you can buy and an matching colour hanging ribbon on the top so you can hang them anywhere. Pretty thin cotton or oganza even silk, i normaly hunt round charity shops and cut up old dresses etc

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                      • #12
                        Argh! While pegging out my washing this morning I saw my lavendar has flowered. Is it too late to use it now?
                        Shortie

                        "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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                        • #13
                          Tis the flowers you need Shortie. The lovely little bits of purple are what you are seeking to put in the bags. Pick with about 4-6 inches of stalk so you can tie the stalks to hang them for drying.

                          http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com...rahflowers.jpg

                          If you have french lavender which looks like this...

                          http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...der_flower.jpg

                          I am unsure whether the flowers would separate to look like this...

                          http://herb-magic.com/lavender.jpg

                          after drying.

                          Hope that helps a bit
                          Last edited by shirlthegirl43; 20-06-2008, 03:06 PM.
                          Happy Gardening,
                          Shirley

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                          • #14
                            Thanks Shirl. I always thought it was the unopened flowers that were used, lol. Thank goodness!

                            I was going to use my lavendar that looks like the top link
                            Shortie

                            "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

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                            • #15
                              can you not dry it in the microwave? i've dried other leaves and stuff out that way?

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