How To Harvest Lavender for Dried Bunches
There’s nothing quite like the scent of freshly harvested lavender filling the air. Whether you’re gathering lavender for personal use, selling dried bunches, or creating fragrant gifts, harvesting correctly ensures the best quality blooms that will last all season. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to harvest lavender for drying.
Step 1: Gripping the Blooms
Start by gently gathering a section of lavender blooms in your hand. We recommend beginning with the side blooms first (on either side of the plant), as they tend to be longer and easier to handle. After the sides are done, cut the blooms on top of the plant last.
Step 2: Cutting the Lavender
Using a serrated blade, such as a sickle, a pair of floral snips or sharp scissors, cut the section of lavender you’re holding. Aim to cut just above the woody growth, ensuring a clean cut that promotes healthy regrowth.
Step 3: Bundling the Stems
Once you’ve gathered a handful of lavender, secure the stems together at the base using a rubber band, twine, or a metal twist tie. Keeping the bunches neat and organized makes the drying process easier and ensures uniform, beautifully shaped bundles.
Step 4: Temporary Storage Before Collection
After securing the bunch with a rubber band, twine, or metal twist tie, place it on top of the harvested plant to await collection. This keeps the blooms clean and allows you to quickly see where your bunches are when you prepare to collect them. You’d be surprised how easy it is to miss a bundle when you go to gather them up to bring them inside, if they’re not left on top of the harvested plant.
Step 5: Collecting to Bring Inside for Drying
Once you’ve harvested enough or all bunches you’re able to get, gather them all and bring them indoors for drying. The ideal drying environment is dark, dry, and well-ventilated to preserve the fragrance and color of the blooms. Also, the warmer the better!
Step 6: Hanging the Lavender to Dry
Suspend the lavender bunches upside down from a rope or drying rack. A simple and effective way to hang them is by using a metal paperclip, hooking one end through the rubber band and the other over the drying line. Hanging helps with proper airflow around the stems and helps retain the lavender’s vibrant color.
Enjoy Your Dried Lavender!
After about two to four weeks, your lavender should be fully dried and ready to use. Whether you’re making sachets, wreaths, or simply enjoying the beauty and fragrance of dried lavender, this simple harvesting method will ensure high-quality, long-lasting blooms.
Dried lavender has so many wonderful uses! Use it in sachets to freshen up drawers and closets, craft beautiful wreaths or floral arrangements, infuse homemade soaps and candles, throw it in a vase to enjoy it in your home, or even brew a calming lavender tea. However you choose to enjoy it, your dried lavender will bring a touch of natural beauty and relaxation to your home all year long.
Happy Growing!
XX Jenn and Adam
Floret’s Beautiful Pursuit Series
We’re excited to share that PepperHarrow Flower Farm is featured in Floret Flower Farm’s new YouTube series, The Beautiful Pursuit. This documentary beautifully captures the heart and soul of flower farming. The breathtaking beauty, the deep connection to nature, and the often unseen challenges that come with growing flowers on a working farm.
This series consists of three chapters, each offering a unique perspective on flower farming. Chapter 1, Called by Flowers, lays the foundation, exploring the passion and drive that brings farmers to this way of life. Chapter 2, Living the Dream, pulls back the curtain on the realities of flower farming, sharing the beauty and the struggles. Chapter 3, Beauty Prevails, shares the beautiful, soul filling side of flower farming.
Throughout each inspiring chapter, you’ll see gorgeous, flower filled footage and a few snippets of our interview, sprinkled throughout. But the lion’s share of our appearance happens within Chapter 2, Living the Dream.
Living the Dream
In Chapter 2: Living the Dream, we, along with our fellow farmers, open up about the reality of flower farming. There’s a common perception that our days are filled with nothing but armfuls of blooms and peaceful moments in the fields. While there are plenty of those, moments where the early morning light dances across rows of lavender, where hands in the soil bring a deep sense of grounding, where the hum of pollinators fills the air, there’s also another side to this life.
Farming is unpredictable. It’s long hours, backbreaking work, and the kind of dedication that tests you in ways you never expect. Nature is both our greatest ally and our fiercest challenge. In 2022, PepperHarrow was hit by a devastating tornado that tore through our fields, damaging structures, scattering years of hard work, and forcing us to rebuild from the ground up. It was a stark reminder that no matter how much we plan or prepare, the land has its own rhythm, and we are simply stewards of it.
Bouncing back after the March 2022 tornado was no small feat. The storm took so much, but it couldn’t take our spirit. With the support of our incredible community, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We rebuilt, we replanted, and we found strength in the very land that had been tested.
Each new flower growing season since has been a testament to resilience. Lavender once again is thriving, dahlias bloom into a quilt of amazing color, and our fields are filled with life. It hasn’t been easy, but the journey has made us even more grateful for this farm, this work, and the community of supporters who believe in what we do.
And yet, despite the hardships, flower farming is a calling. There’s magic in watching a tiny seed grow into something extraordinary, in sharing the beauty of the seasons with others, in offering people a space to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the earth. Every bloom that makes it from our fields to your hands carries with it a story of resilience, care, and love.
We’re thrilled to be featured alongside a star-studded lineup of our peers, including 3 Porch Farm, Dahlia May Flower Farm, Sunny Meadows Flower Farm, The Farmhouse Flower Farm, Urban Buds, Whipstone Farm, and so many more. These incredible farms represent a wealth of knowledge and massive dedication, artistry, and passion that define flower farming. We are so honored to share our story among such inspiring company.
We’re grateful to Floret for shining a light on the realities of this work, and we hope The Beautiful Pursuit gives you a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a flower farmer. If you’ve ever dreamed of working with flowers, of getting your hands in the soil, of experiencing the joy and heartbreak that comes with growing something from the earth—this series is for you.
We can’t wait for you to watch and catch a glimpse of life here at PepperHarrow. Thank you for being part of our journey, for supporting small farms, and for celebrating the beauty of flowers with us.
XX Jenn and Adam
Select Seeds for Starting A Cutting Garden
There’s nothing quite like stepping into the garden on a cool summer morning, snipping fresh stems, and arranging a bouquet that brightens up your home (or a friend’s day). A well-planned cutting garden keeps those vases filled all season long, and we’ve stocked our seed shop with some of our absolute favorites to help you grow your own.
If you’ve been dreaming of armfuls of blooms, here are some of the great cutting garden seeds that are available on our website to help get your cutting garden started.
The Cut Flower Garden Collection – Seed Starting Kit
New for this year, we hand-picked five of our favorite flower varieties for this collection, making it easy to grow a vibrant and productive cutting garden right at home
These tried-and-true blooms will keep your snips busy from early summer until frost. If you're just getting started, this kit is the perfect way to dive in!
The kit also includes detailed seed starting instructions for each variety as well as a few special tips & tricks for each flower. Also included is a beautiful pair of our wooden handled floral snips to help harvest your blooms to enjoy!
Celosia – Garden Lover’s Mix
Celosia is an essential must-have in any well-planned cutting garden, offering bold color and playful texture that elevates every floral arrangement. These vibrant blooms thrive exceptionally well in the summer heat and hold up beautifully in bouquets, whether they are presented fresh or dried.
The Garden Lover’s Mix is packed with a delightful variety of mixed, vibrant hues, adding rich tones to your flower beds and vases, making it a perfect choice for enhancing the beauty of your garden and for bouquets.
Sunflowers – Vincent’s Choice & Vincent’s Fresh
These aren’t your grandma’s sunflowers!
No cutting garden is complete without sunflowers! Vincent’s Choice and Vincent’s Fresh are two of our favorites for their strong stems, pollen-free blooms (great for indoor arrangements), and stunning golden petals. These sunflowers are reliable, productive, and add that perfect touch of sunshine to every bouquet.
Benary’s Giants Zinnias
If you want show-stopping, long-lasting blooms, Benary’s Giant Zinnias are a must-grow. These zinnias are beloved by flower farmers and gardeners alike for their large, fully double blooms, strong stems, and outstanding vase life. They reach up to 4 feet tall, with sturdy, branching growth that produces an abundance of flowers all season long.
One of the best things about Benary’s Giants is their incredible range of colors—soft salmon, rich oranges, warm gold, soft pastels, and bold magentas. Their petals have a beautiful form, and their blooms can span up to 4-5 inches across, making them a stunning focal point in bouquets.
Zinnias are also heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and incredibly easy to grow, making them perfect for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. The more you cut, the more they bloom, ensuring a steady supply of vibrant stems from summer through the first frost. Plus, pollinators love them, so they’ll help bring even more life to your garden!
Pink Lemonade & Peaches Celosias - New Introductions This Season!
We’re beyond excited to introduce two stunning new celosia varieties to our seed shop this year: Pink Lemonade and Peaches.
Pink Lemonade Celosia
This beautiful bloom features soft, feathery plumes in a gorgeous blend of pastel pink and warm golden yellow, reminiscent of a glowing summer sunset. Its dreamy, airy texture pairs beautifully with bold blooms like zinnias and sunflowers. It’s a must-grow for a cutting garden.
Peaches Celosia
Peaches is a warm, peachy colored variety with a touch of coral that lightens a bit as the season progresses. This variety glows in the garden, bringing an elegant and unique hue to fresh arrangements and dried floral work.
Both of these heat-loving, long-lasting blooms are perfect for fresh bouquets or drying for year-round beauty. Their tall, sturdy stems make them an excellent choice for cut flower production, ensuring a constant supply of richly textured blooms throughout the season.
If you need some seed starting tips and tricks for celosia, check out our YouTube video here.
Double Dutch Rose Cosmos
If you’re looking for a delicate, airy flower that adds movement and whimsy to bouquets, Double Dutch Rose Cosmos is a must-grow! Trust us, you NEED them. This variety stands out with fully double, ruffled petals in a striking shade of deep rose-pink, creating a lush, fluffy bloom.
Cosmos are incredibly easy to grow from seed, thriving in poor soil and requiring little more than sunshine to flourish. The more you cut them, the more they bloom, producing a steady flush of flowers from midsummer to frost. Their tall, wiry stems make them perfect for loose, romantic arrangements, and they mix beautifully with zinnias, sunflowers, and celosia.
As we said above, cosmos are super easy to get start from seed, but if you need some pointers, check out our seed starting cosmos video on YouTube here.
The Easiest Flowers to Start for a Cutting Garden
If you’re looking for reliable, abundant bloomers, start with the classics: strawflower, zinnias, cosmos, and basil (yes, basil!). These varieties are beginner-friendly, bloom prolifically, and keep producing as long as you keep cutting. Plus, their pollinator-friendly nature brings even more life to your garden. Check out other varieties we have available in our online seed shop, or via our YouTube video giving a little more detail about our favorites.
Need a little guidance? Our "Seed Starting 101: Creating a Home Cutting Garden" online class is designed to walk you through the basics of seed starting and garden planning so you can plant with confidence.
There’s something deeply satisfying about growing flowers from seed and watching them flourish in your own backyard. Whether you’re growing for yourself, for gifting, or even for market bouquets, we’re honored to help you build a garden full of beauty.
Shop our seed collection now and get ready to grow!
Making Mini-Dried Flower Bouquets
Dried flowers bring lasting beauty to any space, and at PepperHarrow, we love experimenting with colors and textures. In a recent A/B test, we found that customers were evenly split between two styles: soft pastels and bold brights.
Pastel Romance – Featuring delicate hues of blush, lavender, cream, and soft blue, our pastel bouquets create a dreamy, elegant ambiance, perfect for neutral home décor and weddings.
Bold & Beautiful – With vibrant pinks, deep purples, and rich berry tones, our bright bouquets add energy and a striking pop of color to any space.
Which suits your style? Pastel perfection, bold and bright, or both? Explore our collection at PepperHarrow and find your perfect match!
Dried flowers are so gorgeous and they bring colorful beauty to any space without the worry of wilting. At PepperHarrow, we love experimenting with colors and textures to create unique floral arrangements. Recently, we conducted an A/B test to see what our customers preferred in terms of colors for the dried flowers we use in bouquets: soft pastel hues or slightly bolder pops of pink and purple. The results? It was nearly a perfect split!
The Romance of Pastels
Romantic Pastel Bouquets
Pastel dried bouquets evoke a sense of calm, romance, and elegance. With delicate shades of blush, cream, lavender, and soft blue, these bouquets are perfect for those who love a subtle, dreamy aesthetic. They pair beautifully with neutral home décor, wedding centerpieces, and gentle, airy arrangements. There’s something so soothing about the muted tones blending harmoniously, creating a peaceful ambiance wherever they’re placed.
The Beauty of Bold
Bold and Beautiful
On the other hand, our brighter bouquets featuring hot pinks, deep purples, and rich berry tones have their own undeniable charm. These bouquets bring energy and vibrancy to a space, perfect for those who want a pop of color that commands attention. Whether used in a modern home setting, as a striking gift, or simply to lift the mood of a room, these bright bouquets add a dynamic touch to any display.
Learn How to Make These Bouquets!
Learn how we create them on our recent YouTube video, which you can access here.
Which One is Right for You?
Choosing between pastels and brights comes down to personal preference and how you want your space to feel. If you love soft, understated beauty, a pastel bouquet might be your perfect match. If you prefer a more lively and bold statement, the brighter hues could be just what you’re looking for. Or better yet—why not mix and match for a unique, personalized arrangement?
At PepperHarrow, we’re thrilled to offer both styles so you can choose the perfect mini dried bouquet that speaks to you. Which side are you on—pastel perfection or bold and bright, or both? Let us know in the comments or visit our shop to pick your favorite!
XX Jenn and Adam
Growing Lavender at PepperHarrow Flower Farm
Known for its captivating scent, calming properties, and endless versatility, lavender has become a flower that’s a staple of our farm. The beauty and tranquility these beautiful plants bring to our growing areas is incredible. Lavender’s vibrant purple to ultra violet color and sweet fragrance not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also create a calming atmosphere that benefits visitors and the surrounding environment (so many bees!).
One of the lavender fields growing at PepperHarrow Flower Farm in Winterset, Iowa
Why Lavender?
We’re well known for growing over 200 different types of cut flowers at our farm, but for us, lavender is more than just a flower; it’s a powerhouse of uses. From its use as an essential oil, fresh or dried bundles, to its culinary applications, lavender is a favorite for us. Although occasionally tricky, its ability to thrive in the Midwest, where our farm is located in zone 5b, makes it an ideal addition to our fields of blooms.
We appreciate lavender not only for its fragrance but also for its practicality. The plant is drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and adds a stunning pop of color to the landscape. It also pairs wonderfully with the other flowers and plants we cultivate, creating a picturesque and sustainable environment.
As of this blog post, we’re currently supporting 2.5 acres of lavender, and we have plans to expand this in the future, adding new varieties and setting up interesting areas for photographs. Check out a great YouTube video for a small lavender tour of our farm here.
Growing Lavender at PepperHarrow
Lavender thrives in well-draining soil and full sun. The plant prefers a slightly alkaline soil pH (between 6.5 and 7.5) and benefits from being spaced adequately to promote airflow, reducing the risk of mold or mildew.
Our lavender plants are carefully pruned each year to maintain their shape and encourage healthy growth. We prune after the flowering season, cutting back about a third of the plant to keep it tidy and productive. This care ensures we have vibrant blooms and great harvests season after season.
Lavender’s Role on the Farm
Beyond its practical uses, lavender is a cornerstone of the farm’s aesthetic. Its purple hues contrast beautifully with the other flowers we grow, creating breathtaking scenes for our visitors. It’s extraordinary to see the fields in full bloom, which usually happens fro mid-June through early July.
Lavender is also a huge attractor for bees and butterflies, making it a vital player in our commitment to sustainability and supporting pollinators. The fields all hum with the buzz of bees, who are busy at work, gathering pollen to take back to their hive.
Harvesting Lavender
Harvesting lavender is one of the most rewarding tasks on the farm. We cut the stems early in the morning when the essential oils are at their peak, ensuring the freshest and most fragrant product. The blooms are then bundled and hung to dry in a cool, dark space to preserve their quality.
Dried lavender is used in so many different ways. We love making a dried lavender wall against our battened white walls in our barn to make a really beautiful, visually stunning statement piece for guests to enjoy when they visit.
Dried lavender can be used in wreath making, sachets, and even in the farm's seasonal offerings like holiday wreaths, and lavender lemonade. Whether fresh or dried, the lavender from PepperHarrow adds a touch of beauty and serenity to every use.
A Few Tips for Growing Your Own Lavender
Choose the Right Variety: English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is hardy and great for colder climates, while French and Spanish lavender thrive in warmer areas.
Well-Draining Soil: Lavender dislikes “wet feet.” Adding sand or gravel to your soil can improve drainage.
Full Sun: Lavender loves the sun—aim for 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
Minimal Watering: Overwatering is a common mistake. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Prune Regularly: Pruning helps the plant stay healthy and prevents it from becoming too woody.
Need Pro-Level Growing Tips?
Check out our Lavender Masterclass here. It’s a fee based online course with a ton of great information, our best tips & tricks for how to be successful growing these tricky plants.
Lavender's Timeless Appeal
What is it about lavender that everyone seems to love and connect with? Is it the fragrance? Is it the gorgeous purple blooms? For us, lavender represents so many things. Lavender’s a blend of visual beauty, utility, and also sustainability. Whether it’s gracing our flower fields or the star of the show, enhancing our handmade products, it continues to be at the core of what we do and leans into our mission of bringing beauty, wellness and connection to people’s lives.
We would love to invite you to visit the farm and experience the calming presence of lavender for yourself. Walk among the rows of this enchanting plant, breathe in its soothing aroma, and take a little piece of PepperHarrow home with you.
Let’s Celebrate Lavender Together!
Follow along with our farm’s journey as we cultivate not only flowers but also connections with nature and our community. Lavender is just one way we share our passion for the land with you.
New for 2025, we’re celebrating our 1st annual Lavender Festival. Grab your tickets and enjoy a weekend filled with live music, great food, and all things lavender.
