subject: 12 Essential Tips For Herb Gardening And Harvesting [print this page] Herb plants from your own herb garden are an easy and inexpensive way to make recipes even tastier than you ever imagined. Herbs can also be used for garnishes or as adornment for your dinner table. Knowing the secrets and tips to harvesting herbs will make them even more flavorful and enticing.
Taking advantage of the spicy, sweet, or pungent flavors of foliage removed from herb plants requires more than simply plucking them from the garden and tossing them in a recipe. When you know how to properly harvest, prepare, and preserve the fruits from your herb plants, you will get more from your Herb Gardening efforts. A Culinary Herb Garden is a treasure once you learn the secrets to harvesting herbs.
The herb harvesting process is not difficult nor does it take a lot of expensive equipment or processing. The most important secret to remember about harvesting from herb plants is to retain as much of the natural essential oils as possible. Essential oils are one of the most vital and important parts of the herb plants and most all herbs store valuable, flavorful oil within the leaves.
Learning about herb harvesting without losing the natural oils in the leaves will result in the most aromatic, flavorful, and savory herb plants possible. Whether you are using herbs fresh from the garden, or drying them for later use, preserving oil from the herb plants is the most important thing to remember during harvesting.
Culinary Herb Garden Harvesting
The following tips will help you harvest the most luscious and delicious herbs possible:
1.Always consider the timing of the harvesting process. Mornings are the best time of the day.
2.Since the wind can disperse and dilute the essential oils of the herbs, you should harvest them on a calm, dry morning during mid-summer.
3.Keep in mind that fewer oils are produced by the herb plants on extremely wet days so the herbs will not be as fragrant and pungent if harvested during rainy or wet days.
4.Dew settling on herbs can affect the oils and flavor so be patient and wait until the dew has dried from the leaves right before the flowers open.
5.Harvesting should be done before the sun becomes too hot or the heat will cause the herbs to have less oil.
6.Harvesting should be done before the sun becomes too hot or the heat will cause the herbs to have less oil.
Culinary Herb Gardening Secrets for Continual Growth
Not only is it important to harvest at the right time, it is also important to understand how to harvest from the herb plants. Pulling large clumps of herbs and flowers from the plant can cause damage. Knowing the secrets about how to harvest delicacies from the herb plants will make them more precious.
Consider these essential tips for herb harvesting:
1.Do not remove the entire plant or you will lose the opportunity to have a continual harvest of freshness from the herb plants.
2.Herb gardening takes time and effort and you should only take a small amount of growth and foliage from herb plants for each use. It is recommended not to take more than 1/3 of the plants foliage at any one time.
3.The herb plants require a fair amount of foliage to continue reproducing and growing well so take care during the harvest and afterwards. Do not handle herb plants in a way that causes unnecessary loss of foliage.
4.Herbs can be picked for immediate use or they can be dried, prepared, and saved for later use. Never harvest more than you believe you can use in a reasonable time because the fresher the herbs, the tastier and more fragrant.
5.Before, during, and after harvesting, always check the herb plants for insects or damaged leaves. Take necessary precautions to remove or avoid insects in the future.
6.Using a good pair of sharp shears or knife is advised. Pulling with the fingers may damage the plants and the root system causing poor herb production later.
Culinary Herb Gardening Rewards
A Culinary Herb Garden brings great pleasure to those who engage in the process. Once you learn the important basics about herb harvesting, you will find that herb gardening is rewarding and uncomplicated. A few tips can make a significant difference in how your herb plants reproduce and grow in the future. Taking the time to properly prepare will make the Herb Gardening experience more effective with every herb plant you choose.
Knowing when to harvest from herb plants and how to take care of the plants for continual beauty and production of healthy, fragrant foliage is a treat for the senses. Start your Culinary Herb Gardening today and watch your herb plants flourish for a long time to come.
