Woad

I am keen to use locally grown dyestuff in my work, either foraged or from my garden. So earlier this year I planted some woad seeds. I had obtained the seeds from natures rainbow. Woad has been used as a dye stuff in Britain for 100s of years and I found it remarkably easy to grow. What I did not research at the time of planting was anything about harvesting for dyeing. When I did was somewhat perplexed as to the complexity of the harvesting procedure - never mind the dyeing processes. It was clear that I needed to harvest the leaves in the first year of growth. But when , summer of autumn.  Possibly that depends when you planted the the seeds.   I have been looking at my plants now for a number of weeks , wondering is today the day to harvest.    As I have a holiday planned shortly…