Harvesting the Bounty of Your Garden
Harvesting needs to be done when herbs are at their peak. This is when a plant is at its most vital and will yield the best flavor, fragrance, and healing properties. Here are some general guidelines for when to harvest various parts of plants:
|
Flowers |
The day they open or just before fully opened |
|
Leaves |
Before the flowers bloom |
|
Seeds |
When they are ripe |
|
Roots |
Annuals: Anytime in the season when the plant has finished its life cycle |
The tools needed for harvesting include pruning shears, scissors, shovel, trowel, and a couple of baskets or buckets. Harvest leaves and flowers on a dry day just after the dew evaporates. Do not gather plants that show signs of insect damage, mildew, or any disease. If you plan to use herbs fresh, store them in a sealed plastic bag or a container in the fridge. Leaves and flowers can be kept a day or two this way before use. Do not rinse them off before storing because they will not keep well. Gardening organic means that we don’t need to worry about cleaning off pesticides. Also, washing after picking may cause the loss of some essential oil, which is important for many healing properties.
Flowers can be harvested by hand or with scissors. Handle them gently to avoid bruising. Don’t harvest flowers that look like they are fading, as they will be past their peak. Dirty ones cannot be washed and dried successfully so it is best to put those directly on the compost pile. Use scissors to harvest stems and leaves. Do not pull leaves off as this may damage the plant. Brush or shake off any dirt or bugs.
Herbs grown for their leaves are usually harvested throughout the season and before the plants flower. Leaves often become coarse and lose their flavor after the plant blooms. After harvesting mints, lemon balm, and marjoram in the summer, the plants can be pruned down to the first set of leaves. Don’t worry, you’re not killing the plants, they will spring back with new growth and give you a second harvest. Basil and parsley can also be cut back throughout the season to encourage new growth.
Seeds usually start out green and then turn a different color when ripe. They can be left to ripen on the plant before harvesting, but keep an eye on them by checking each day because the seeds will drop to the ground. You will need a cloth or a paper bag to harvest them. When they appear to be ripe, gently bend the stalk until the seed head is over a cloth placed on the ground or inside a paper bag. Shake the plant so the seeds fall onto the cloth or into the bag. Alternatively, once the seed head is in a bag, cut the stalk off the plant. Poke holes in the bag for air circulation, hang it somewhere dry, and just let the seeds fall off when they are ready.
Roots should be harvested in the autumn or early spring when the plant’s energy is in its roots, making them more potent. Of course, if you are going to harvest the leaves or other parts of these plants do so first, then harvest the roots. On a day when the soil is moist, not wet, use a shovel, spading fork, or trowel (depending on the size of the plant) to loosen the ground around it. Get the shovel under the roots and gently pry the whole plant from the soil. Trim off stems to within one inch of the root and wipe off any excess soil.