If you have never used fresh herbs in your cooking, I highly recommend you do. You will be shocked at the difference from store bought dried vs fresh from the garden herbs. There is so much more flavor! Even drying your own herbs will be much more flavorful than what you can buy. I planted a whole herb garden many years ago and have loved it so much. I have a whole post about growing herbs from seed. I also have a post about perennial and annual herbs. But today we are going to talk about harvesting your herbs!
This post is sponsored by Digz Gardening but all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.
Tips For Harvesting Herbs
I love being able to walk out into my yard and cut fresh herbs anytime I want. You can grow them in your vegetable garden, raised beds, flowerbeds, and even in containers. Herbs are easy to grow and once you start, you'll be adding more and more to your space. The best thing about herbs is that you can harvest them all season long. The more you cut, the better they grow! Here are some tips for harvesting herbs.
When To Harvest Herbs
The best time to harvest herbs is mid morning after the dew has dried. Cutting the herbs when they are wet can increase the likelihood of mold. They will last longer if the leaves are dry. You want to cut them in the morning because that is when the essential oils in the plant are at their peak. In the heat of the day, the plant can wilt and have a less than desirable texture. So you want your herbs well hydrated but with dry leaves when you harvest them. That being said, there are many times when I cut herbs in the evening for the dinner I am making. If you forget the harvest at peak time, it doesn't mean you can't harvest at all.
Tools To Harvest
Make sure you have really sharp clippers when harvesting your herbs. Really, you should have sharp clippers for every yard chore such as deadheading flowers or trimming trees. It is a good habit to get into. If you use sharp clippers you are less likely to cause damage to the plant while harvesting. I like to use either needle point clippers or a really good pair of scissors. These clippers are from Digz Gardening and are my absolute favorite!
To prevent the spreading of diseases from plant to plant, clean your clippers frequently. I used rubbing alcohol but you can also use lysol spray, cleaning wipes, or a soapy bleach solution.
How To Cut Herbs
For most herbs, you will be cutting from the top of the plant. This helps encourage a bushy growth habit. For example, when you cut basil, find a spot on the plant where it branches or where there are new pair of leaves starting to grow. Cut the main center stem. The little baby leaves on either side will eventually turn into two new stems. This is good for the plant and prevents it from getting tall and leggy.
Harvesting from the top also stops the plant from flowering. If your herb flowers, it can reduce the flavor and size of the leaves since all the plant's energy is now going to producing seed. Cut off the flower buds when you first see them appear. If your plant does flower, you can simply prune them off and still use your herbs. They just might have a bit less flavor.
The flavor can also start to lessen towards the end of the season so if you are harvesting a bunch to preserve, do it closer to the end of summer instead of waiting until early fall for the best flavor.
There are some exceptions to the "cut from the top" rule. Herbs like cilantro, chives, and parsley all get cut towards the base of the plant.
The ⅓ Rule
When you are pruning things in your yard or harvesting herbs, you should never take off more than ⅓ of the plant at a time. This prevents the plant from going into shock while promoting new growth. This is a good rule of thumb during the active growing season. If your herb is an annual herb, at the end of the season you can harvest the entire plant and preserve it for use later. I have a post about preserving your harvest. If your herb is a perennial, you can cut it back quite a but at the end of the season.
Storing Your Herbs
After collecting your herbs from your garden, store them separately so they retain their individual flavors. If you plan to use them soon, you can add them to plastic bags or containers to put in your fridge or you can add them to some water like you would flowers in a vase. If you want to store them for more long term use, drying them is the most common way. To dry herbs, you can use a dehydrator if you have one or simply tie them with string and hang them somewhere until they are completely dry. You may need to tighten the string during the drying process since the herbs shrink as they dry. I remove the leaves from the stem before storing.
Then you can add them to a jar or an airtight container to use later. Keep them in a cool, dry, dark place. I have a whole post about different ways to preserve herbs.
Herbs are one of the best things you can grow in your garden. They flavor foods, they are medicinal, they look great and smell amazing. You can keep cutting and they keep on growing! If you grow herbs, which is your favorite to grow?
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