Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden
So you have successfully produced a thriving fresh herb garden. Congratulations! The next consideration you have is what to do with the wonderful bounty the garden offers. Following a few simple steps will insure that you receive ample reward for you gardening efforts.
The Harvest.
To be able to use your herb products they must first be harvested. The procedures vary with the type of plant but here is some general advice. The best time to harvest your herbs is on a dry and calm midsummer morning because the vital oils of the herbs can be dispersed by wind and heat. On extremely wet days the herb will produce less oils. For this reason the herbs ought to harvested as soon as the dew dries and before the flowers open. When harvesting the leaves only take about one third of the plant. This will allow the plant to grow back out again for a later harvest. Follow these advice and you should reap a great crop.
Cleaning Your Herbs.
Whether you are preserving your herb crop or using it straight out of the garden it is important to follow a simple step to insure it is properly cleaned for use. After the herb stems and leaves have been prepped by removing any trash or dead leaves put them in a cool water bath that has one ounce of salt per gallon of water. The salt will get rid of any insects. After washing in the cool saltwater bath dry them and proceed on to the next step.
Preservation of Your Herbs.
Herbs are great when taken directly from the plant and thrown on a slab of your favorite meat or vegetable dish but they can be preserved for year round enjoyment. The three most common methods are drying, freezing, or preserving.
Drying – This is a simple process that requires only one tool – a piece of string. Simply take six to twelve herb stems and tie them together at the base of the stems in a cluster. make sure you remove any leaves near the base of the stems and then hang the bunch in a cool, dry and unlit area. If you want to dry a single leaf at the time place the leaf on a rack or screen and put it in the same cool, dry and unlit area. In this case the leaves should be flipped over frequently to insure proper drying. Artificial methods can be used to dry herbs but nothing beats natural drying.
Freezing – This is a quick and easy method of saving your herb crop for future use. Simply cut the herbs into 1/4 inch pieces and spread them out on a baking pan lined with waxed paper. Put them in the freezer and as soon as they are fully frozen take them out and place them in a plastic bag and stash them back in the freezer until you need them.
Preserving – Another inventive way to preserve herbs is through putting them in some other products that will prolong the life of the herb. These include oils, salt and vinegar. This technique was developed long before anyone ever imagined refrigeration but it is still viable as ever today.
Please take note that this is a general guide to the utilization of a herb harvest. There are many different types of herbs available for you to grow and enjoy. Go out and discover which variety strikes your fancy, learn how to make it flourish and enjoy it.
