Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden

You have learned how to grow your own home herb garden and are happy with the results.  You have managed to produce some good healthy plants and now it is time to start using them.  The following are some tips on how to use the beautiful herbs that you have managed to grow.

The first thing you will need to do is harvest them.  Timing here is very important as wind and heat can dissipate the herbs essential oils.  Since the herbs produce fewer oils on wet days, you should pick a calm, dry day.  Mid summer is a good time for this.  You also want to harvest the herbs after the dew has dried and just prior to the flowers opening.

Before you begin to harvest the herbs it is important to first check for insects and damaged leaves.  It is important to remember that you do not want to remove the entire plant.  You just want to take an amount that you want to use.  A good rule of thumb is to take no more than one third of the plants foliage.  The plant needs to keep the rest of its foliage for continued growth.  You can harvest more than you need for later use if you want, as they can be preserved.  

The three most common methods for preserving herbs are freezing, drying, or preserving them in an element such as vinegar or salt.  Drying is a popular method that requires bundling stems together, removing any foliage from the base and bounding with string.  Next they need to hang in a cool spot.  Individual leaves can be dried if desired by putting them on a screen.  It is important to turn them frequently or they will not dry appropriately.  Although not as effective, appliances such as ovens and dehydrators can be used to dry your herbs.  

An easy way to preserve your herbs is by freezing them.  Simply place small pieces onto a baking sheet with wax paper and once frozen, put them in a bag and store them in your freezer.  

Preserving herbs in an element might be the way you want to go.  There are many ways to do this and everyone has their own favorites.  One possibility is to make a flavored salt to preserve your herbs with.  Another idea is to cover your herbs with vinegar.  Try some different things and find the method that you like best.  

Preserving your herbs is great but there is nothing like fresh herbs straight from your home herb garden.  It is important to clean them before use.  The best way to clean them is to put them into a bowl of cool water with two tablespoons of salt.  Salt works great for removing any insects from the plant without damaging it.   Once cleaned they can be dryed in a salad spinner.  

Herbs are a lot of fun to grow and they have so many uses.  They also require different care from growing conditions to harvesting.  Make sure you learn about the particular herbs you are interested in growing in your home herb garden.  That way you can enjoy the process as well as understand how to use them correctly.