Preserving Fresh Herb Plants

How to Preserve Fresh Herb Plants

 
It has been said that all good things must come to an end, and summer gardens are not the exception. 

Of course, many plants will not survive the cold, winter season, and this  is why harvesting and trying to preserve crops becomes imperative as the cold weather begins to loom. And the truth is that if we want to keep fresh herb plants, we shouldn't  wait until there's a nip in the air to begin harvesting this crop. By the way, when herbs are dried properly, they can bring you many months of delicious flavors throughout the fall and winter.

When Is The Best Time to Harvest Fresh Herbs

Definitely, the best time to harvest your plants is prior to flowering, and this  frequently happens when the weather begins to cool, in the fall. If you decide to harvest in late summer. it will ensure the best flavor and freshness to your herbs, but you can also harvest throughout the growing season because this stimulate additional growth of plants. When possible, try to cut your stems in the mid-morning hours. Why?  Because the morning dew has dried out by then, but the plants have not yet begun to wilt in the afternoon sun.

Air Drying Herbs

The air drying process works best with plants that have a lower moisture content like the following:

• oregano

• summer savory

• thyme

• rosemary

• dill

Herbs that have a higher amount of moisture will dry better using a microwave

To air dry your plants follow these steps:

1- First, cut the stems and remove any unhealthy leaves. Then, rinse your stems with cool water (if necessary) and pat dry completely.

2- If you leave the herb stems wet this will result in moldy leaves that you can't use.

3- Bundle together in batches of four to six stems, and then hold them together with a rubber band or piece of string. Remember that the stems will shrink as they dry so you will need to check them periodically and retighten as necessary.

4- Once your herbs are bundled, place your bunches upside down into brown paper bags that have a number of holes punched in them and label them with the type of herb plant on the front. 

Tip: You can use a fork to make holes in the bag.

5- Tie the bags closed and hang them up in a warm, airy room and check them every week.

6- Next, when your fresh plants are dried enough, store your herbs in airtight containers. You can use some canning jars or even zip top bags.

7- Finally, keep the containers away from direct sunlight and use within one year.

 
If you use this process to dry and preserve your fresh herb plants, you will be able to enjoy the delicious flavor of home grown herbs year round. 

  
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