Harvesting Your Herb Garden

There\’s nothing more rewarding than to reach out to your supply of herbs when cooking and know that it game right from your very own herb garden prepared by yours truly. From the ground to the plate, the thought of knowing that the herb you use comes from your own efforts is enough to boost the taste itself! Now that you know how to choose which herbs to plant, maintain and care for your herb garden, the next step is to know how to harvest your hard work. The general rule of thumb is that harvesting herbs is best done when the herbs have the highest level of flavor in their leaves, and this happens right before they bloom.

Fresh use

When harvesting of herbs for fresh use, you will need to snip growing shoots 4-6 inch in length (for perennials like thyme, sage and rosemary) for some, while only a few leaves is required for collection for others (annuals).

Image credit: John Athayde/Flickr

Harvesting for Preservation

Best time to harvest herbs when you intend to preserve them for future use is in the morning when the plant is at its aromatic peak. Any diseased or infested portions should be discarded, and the herb should be washed and dried thoroughly before processing.

Harvesting Seeds

The seeds must ripen completely but harvested before they disperse, so timing is crucial. As soon as the seeds begin to dry you may harvest it. Do so by carefully snipping off the heads over a large paper bag, collecting the seeds that fall into the bag. Do not compact the seed heads, and you will need to reduce air circulation in and around the seed heads to reduce the growth of undesirable molds. They should be kept in the bag through out the drying process.

Timing is crucial to harvest seeds. If you can\’t monitor the plant daily, enclose each seed head (while it is still attached to the plant) in a small paper or mesh bag after flowering has ended and you notice green seeds. Any seeds will fall out into the bag. When this happens, , snip off the heads with the bag still attached to it and dry indoors.

Herb

When to Harvest

What to harvest

Angelia

As available

Seeds

Anise

As available

seeds

Basil

As available

Leaves

Boneset

before flowering

flowers, Leaves

Chamomile

while flowering

flower

cilantro

As available

Leaves

coriander

As available

seeds

Dill

As available

Leaves, seed

Evening Primrose

While flowering

Flower, Leaves

Fennel

As available

Seed

Lavender

while in bud stage

Flower in full bud stage

Marjoram

Before and while flowering

Leaves

mint

Before and while flowering

Leaves

oregano

Before and while flowering

Leaves

Parsley

As available

Leaves

sage

Before and while flowering

Leaves

Tarragon

early and late summer

Leaves

thyme

while flowering

Leaves

Herb gardening not only provides the home owner with an abundant supply of flavors and aromas, the different textures of the different plants, the satisfaction of a job well done and relaxing sight of a beautiful garden can melt the most tiring day at work. Herbs also provide a good way to pollinate vegetable and flowering gardens, as they attract natural pollinators beneficial insects (bees), hummingbirds, butterflies and a wide assortment of birds.

More Reading:

http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Agriculture/Horticulture/Herbs/

http://earthnotes.tripod.com/harvest.htm