Anyone who knows anything about herbs knows how useful they are in so many ways. You may have purchased your herbs at the local market or from a health store but now you are ready to reap their benefits from the comfort of your own home. Herb gardening can be very rewarding but once you have planted the herbs and watched them flourish, it will take a bit of work on your part to actually be able to use the herbs from your home herb garden.
Before you can use your herbs, they will need to be harvested and this is best done in an environment free from wind and heat as these elements can disperse the essential oils in the herbs. The best time to harvest is on a calm and dry morning in midsummer. On wet days, fewer oils will be produced so make sure the dew has dried before beginning. When harvesting, do not remove the entire plant, just take a certain amount of growth for use and try not to take more than a third of the plants foliage at one time as the plant will need a certain amount to help it grow again. Another important thing to do is inspect the plant for insects and damage. Harvesting also does not mean using the herbs as soon as you pick them because they can be preserved for later use.
Preserving your herbs can be done in three ways:
1. Drying
2. Freezing
3. Preserving them in a salt or vinegar.
When drying herbs, bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems and secure the bundle with a string. Hang away from sunlight in a cool area. To dry individual leaves, place them on a screen or rack and turn them often so they dry properly. Some people claim appliances such as dehydrators and microwaves are a good way to dry herbs, but the results are not as good.
One of the easiest ways to preserve your herbs is to freeze them. You will want to cut them into small manageable pieces ready to freeze. Place them on a tray as you would if drying them but place them in the freezer. Once they are frozen you can now keep them in a container, jar or bag just make sure it is freezer friendly. Put them back into your freezer until you need them. A quick way to freeze your herbs is to place them in your ice cube tray with a small amount of water.
The third way to preserve herbs depends on the type of plant you are trying to preserve. For example, a medium like vinegar can be used to preserve herbs such as chopped mint, basil and tarragon. This method of preservation will keep your herbs good for several months.
You may not want to preserve all of your harvested herbs. Instead, you may want to use some of them straight from the garden. An important thing you must do before using herbs in fresh recipes is cleaning your herbs. Place them in a bowl filled with cool water, add two table spoons of salt and watch as it drives away insects without causing any damage to the plant. To dry the herbs, use a salad spinner.
You will need to do some more research about your home herb garden as every herb you are thinking of using will be different. They will require different elements and specific needs to help them grow and thrive. - 30228
Before you can use your herbs, they will need to be harvested and this is best done in an environment free from wind and heat as these elements can disperse the essential oils in the herbs. The best time to harvest is on a calm and dry morning in midsummer. On wet days, fewer oils will be produced so make sure the dew has dried before beginning. When harvesting, do not remove the entire plant, just take a certain amount of growth for use and try not to take more than a third of the plants foliage at one time as the plant will need a certain amount to help it grow again. Another important thing to do is inspect the plant for insects and damage. Harvesting also does not mean using the herbs as soon as you pick them because they can be preserved for later use.
Preserving your herbs can be done in three ways:
1. Drying
2. Freezing
3. Preserving them in a salt or vinegar.
When drying herbs, bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems and secure the bundle with a string. Hang away from sunlight in a cool area. To dry individual leaves, place them on a screen or rack and turn them often so they dry properly. Some people claim appliances such as dehydrators and microwaves are a good way to dry herbs, but the results are not as good.
One of the easiest ways to preserve your herbs is to freeze them. You will want to cut them into small manageable pieces ready to freeze. Place them on a tray as you would if drying them but place them in the freezer. Once they are frozen you can now keep them in a container, jar or bag just make sure it is freezer friendly. Put them back into your freezer until you need them. A quick way to freeze your herbs is to place them in your ice cube tray with a small amount of water.
The third way to preserve herbs depends on the type of plant you are trying to preserve. For example, a medium like vinegar can be used to preserve herbs such as chopped mint, basil and tarragon. This method of preservation will keep your herbs good for several months.
You may not want to preserve all of your harvested herbs. Instead, you may want to use some of them straight from the garden. An important thing you must do before using herbs in fresh recipes is cleaning your herbs. Place them in a bowl filled with cool water, add two table spoons of salt and watch as it drives away insects without causing any damage to the plant. To dry the herbs, use a salad spinner.
You will need to do some more research about your home herb garden as every herb you are thinking of using will be different. They will require different elements and specific needs to help them grow and thrive. - 30228
About the Author:
Learn more about Gardening Herb Tips. Stop by Tony Stevens's site where you can find out all about Home Herb Garden and what it can do for you.
