When should I harvest palmarosa for the best oil and how do I run distillation?

Palmarosa oil quality depends a lot on harvest timing. The herb is generally cut around the flowering or early seed-setting stage when oil and geraniol content peak, but the exact best stage varies with variety and region, so confirm with your buyer and local KVK what they want, since some buyers specify a geraniol target. After cutting, many growers let the grass wilt for a short period before distillation, which can raise the geraniol content and oil quality. The grass is then steam or water-and-steam distilled: load the still, pass steam, condense the vapour, and separate the oil from the distillate water. As with lemongrass, the still should be near the field because the cut grass must be processed reasonably fresh. You get multiple cuttings per year over the crop's life. Practical tips: cut clean grass without too much soil and trash, do not over-pack the still, manage your fuel and water for steady steam, and keep the oil clean and well stored. Use a shared or hired distillation unit if you are small. Always tie harvest timing to what your oil buyer specifies, and get the geraniol spec and price agreed in writing.