Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden
You have planted the herbs and watched them grow and flourish. Hopefully you will now know how very useful they can be in lots of different ways. But, using herbs from a home herb garden requires a little bit or work first.
The very first thing to do is to harvest them and getting the timing right is one of the most important things. The wind and the heat can disperse the essential oils of the herbs. You should harvest them on a still and dry day sometime around misdsummer. On very wet days, herbs make very little of their oils. Harvest the herbs just after the dew has dried form the leaves right before the flowers open. Click here for more: home herb garden
Harvesting the herb does not mean removing the entire plant. You just want to take what you need at that time. You do not need to use the herbs that you are harvesting at the time that you pick them. They can always be preserved for later use.Be careful not to take more then one third of the plant’s foliage at one time. The plant will need a good amount of foliage to re-grow well. While picking it is always wise to check the plant for any damage from insects and weather.
Essentially, there are three ways to store your herbs; freezing, drying and #pickling’ in vinegar or salt. In order to dry herbs you need to bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems. You can secure the bundle with string. Hang the bundle in a cool location away from sunlight. For individual leaves, place them on a drying rack. Don’t forget to turn them regularly so they can dry properly. Some gardeners use machines like ovens or dehydrators etc. to dry herbs, although this may not be as good. For more visit our blog: Herb Gardening Blog
Freezing herbs is a fairy simple way to preserve herbs. Cut the herbs into ¼ inch pieces and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. When frozen store them in a freezer bag until they are needed.
The third alternative for storing your herbs is via a medium. For instance, you can cover herbs like chopped mint, basil or tarragon with vinegar and it will be preserved for several months. Or you can preserve your herbs by using alternate layers of flavored salt. The salt will completely dry out the herb and all that is needed is to separate them and store in an airtight tub.
You can, of course use your herbs fresh and straight out of the garden. Make sure you clean them properly before using them. To clean them correctly, place them in a bowl of clean cool water. Use a sink if there are a lot of herbs to prepare. Add about two tablespoons of salt to the water. This will keep the insects away and will not harm the plant. Remove the herbs from the water and dry them in a salad spinner.
Different types of herbs are used for many different uses. Each different type of herb has their own list of instructions on how to use, harvest, and chop them. So make certain you research the type of herb you are preparing beforehand to get the best from it. Click here for more: Herb Garden Facts
