You have planted the herbs and watched them grow and flourish. They are extremely useful in so many ways. However, you will also know that for a successful home herb garden, there is a bit of work needed.

In order to use the herbs you will need to harvest them first and timing is a huge factor. 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. Fewer oils are produced by the herb on extremely wet days. So wait for a few hours for the early morning dew to evaporate from the leaves and then pick them just before the flowers open. Click here for more: grow herbs at home

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.It is important that you leave at least two thirds of the plants foliage ant any time. This will help the herb to recover and re-grow. You should also inspect the plant for insects and damaged leaves before you harvest it. 

Essentially, there are three ways to store your herbs; freezing, drying and #pickling’ in vinegar or salt. For drying, you can bunch the stems of six to twelve together removing any unwanted leaves at the base. You can secure the bundle with string. Then choose a cool place to hang them. For individual leaves, place them on a drying rack. Turn them  Remember to turn them often in order for them to dry properly. Some people have turned to using appliances like dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs as well although these are less satisfactory ways. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden 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. Once the herbs are frozen, you can place them together in a bag and store them in the freezer until use.

The third way to preserve herbs is through 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 make a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between 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. If there is a large quantity of herbs you can use the sink. Place about two tablespoons of salt in the water. This will keep the insects away and will not harm the plant. Then, take them out of the water and dry them in a salad spinner. 

There are many different kinds of herb for many different uses. Each one will need to be picked and prepared in a slightly different way. Make sure into research the specific type of herb you are using to use it correctly. Click here for more: Herb Gardening