Using Herbs From A Home Herb Garden
It’s taken patience and understanding, but you have planted, cared for and watched your herbs grow. They are extremely useful in so many ways, although you will find a bit of work is now required before using herbs from your home herb garden.
The next step to getting those herbs to the kitchen table is to harvest them. It is very important that the timing is right for this process to take place. The key to good harvesting is to maintain the essential oils; too much heat and wind during the process will reduce these essential oils. Harvesting your herbs in midsummer on a calm and dry day is the best choice to make for this important task. On very wet days herbs produce fewer oils so avoid them at all costs. The herbs should be harvested before the flowers open in a morning, right after the dew has dried from the leaves.
Harvesting your herbs does not mean you have to take out the whole plant. You are just using a small amount of the plant at this time. Bear in mind when harvesting that you will not be using the entire herb right after picking them. You have the option to preserve them for use at a later date. Avoid taking too much foliage; a good guideline is no more than a third. For this plant to regrow to the best of its ability then it needs a large amount of foliage. Another important task is to check your plants for any damages and pests before harvesting.
Drying, freezing or preserving are the three ways that people will use to preserve their herbs to enjoy at a later date. The best way to dry your herbs is to gather about 10 stems and then carefully remove the foliage at the base of the stem. String is a good way of tying them together. Then hang your herbs out of the sun in a cool area. Individual leaves can be dried better if you have the use of a screen or rack. Drying them properly will require you to turn them frequently. In this day and age we are continually looking for a short cut to complete tasks. Even for the simple job of drying herbs some people use dehydrators or microwaves but they do not do as good a job.
The obvious and easiest way to preserve your herbs is to freeze them. After cutting the herbs into thin strips about a quarter of an inch wide you should place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. After that it becomes a simple process of bagging them together, then pop them into the freezer until you require them.
The third way is by using other household items to preserve them. Preserving herbs like Basil or Tarragon for a few months is easily done by covering them with vinegar. Another way is making a flavoured salt, which you pack between each layer of herbs, as this will preserve the herb. Once the brown herb is dry, separate it from the salt and place in an airtight container for storage.
Herbs can be used straight from the garden bringing their fresh taste straight to the table. Care should be taken during the cleaning process before using your herbs in cooking. Making sure your herbs are clean is an important first step and you should start by placing them in a cool bowl of water. Using a sink is a good option if you have a lot of herbs. Two tablespoons of salt are then added to the water. This will not damage the plants but it will keep the insects at bay. A salad spinner is a good option for drying your herbs once you have taken them out of the water.
One thing you will find during your home herb garden journey is that herbs have many different uses. Every type of herb requires a different approach when it comes to their uses, the way you harvest them and trim them. Researching your herb is vitally important to make sure you harvest your herbs properly and with care.
Best Regards
Brian Chamberlain
www.SecretsOfAHerbGarden.com
