Multiplication of the plants can occur using two different techniques. The regional lavenders come from seed sown using seed harvested from the plants. The resulting lavender is all different. Cloned lavender and lavandins are reproduced from slips. In both cases, the plant material is grown in nurseries.
One hectare - which is approximately 2.5 acres - contains 12,000 to 15,000 lavender plants or 8,000 to 10,000 lavandin plants.

The lavender plantation lasts about ten years, then must be replaced for a time by another crop such as grains or fodder. Plants start producing after the second year and reach maximum yield between the 4th and 6th years.One hectare of fine lavender produces, on the average, 15 to 20 kilos of essential oil. Lavandin yields vary between 60 and 150 kilos of essential oil per hectare depending on the variety..

Lavender harvest

Lavender harvest takes place between mid-July and late August - the date depends on the plant, the region and the weather that year.
When harvested for processing in the mobile trailers, lavender is cut and crushed by the silo filler and directly loaded onto the mobile trailer. The crushed lavender is then immediately distilled to avoid any fermentation.