Herb Garden Masters 101: Building a Home Herb Garden
After planting these herbs and watch them grow, now it's time to utilize them.
But, when using them from your own home herb garden requires a little bit or work first.
Why? Here you'll find the answers.
Harvesting The first thing to do before you can use them from your home herb garden is to harvest them first and for this, timing is a huge factor.
It is because the wind and the heat can easily disperse the essential oils of the herbs so if the timing is not right, then you end up with a useless or a less productive herb.
The best time to harvest them is during a calm and dry midsummer morning.
You also have to know that fewer oils are produced by the herb on extremely wet days so when you harvest, see to it that the harvest takes place just after the dew has dried form the leaves right before the flowers open.
During harvest, it is also one of the best times to inspect for insects and damaged leaves.
Preserving Typically, the 3 most common ways of preserving them from one's home herb garden is by drying, freezing, or preserving them in a medium like salt or vinegar.
The following is a summary of the 3 means of preservation: 1.
Drying- To dry them, you need to bundle six to twelve stems together using a string and then remove any foliage that is near the base of the stems.
The bundle should be hung in a cool location and away from sunlight.
If what you want are dried leaves, you can place the leaves on a screen or a rack, turning them often in order for them to dry properly.
Others also use dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs although these means are less satisfactory ways.
2.
Freezing- To freeze them, you need cut the herbs into ΒΌ inch pieces and then place them on a baking sheet that is lined with wax paper for freezing.
Once the herbs are already frozen, place them in a bag and store them in the freezer until the time you have to use them.
3.
Using Medium- This way of preserving them is done through the use of a third party medium.
Example is covering herbs like chopped mint, basil or tarragon with vinegar to preserve it until several months.
Another is to use salt just like when making a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt.
After the herbs are dried, you can now then separate the brown herb from the flavored salt and store it in an airtight container.
Fresh Herbs Not at all times that you'll want your herbs preserved, of course, you can also use herbs fresh right out of the garden.
When using the herbs this way, one must take care in cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.
So, how does one clean herbs? You just have to place the fresh herbs in a bowl or use the sink and fill it with cool water.
Then, place about two tablespoons of salt in the water as the salt in the water drives away insects without damaging the plant.
You can now then remove the herbs from the water for drying.
As an herb enthusiast, you should know that different types of herbs are used for many different uses and have different instructions on how to use, harvest, and chop them.
But, when using them from your own home herb garden requires a little bit or work first.
Why? Here you'll find the answers.
Harvesting The first thing to do before you can use them from your home herb garden is to harvest them first and for this, timing is a huge factor.
It is because the wind and the heat can easily disperse the essential oils of the herbs so if the timing is not right, then you end up with a useless or a less productive herb.
The best time to harvest them is during a calm and dry midsummer morning.
You also have to know that fewer oils are produced by the herb on extremely wet days so when you harvest, see to it that the harvest takes place just after the dew has dried form the leaves right before the flowers open.
During harvest, it is also one of the best times to inspect for insects and damaged leaves.
Preserving Typically, the 3 most common ways of preserving them from one's home herb garden is by drying, freezing, or preserving them in a medium like salt or vinegar.
The following is a summary of the 3 means of preservation: 1.
Drying- To dry them, you need to bundle six to twelve stems together using a string and then remove any foliage that is near the base of the stems.
The bundle should be hung in a cool location and away from sunlight.
If what you want are dried leaves, you can place the leaves on a screen or a rack, turning them often in order for them to dry properly.
Others also use dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs although these means are less satisfactory ways.
2.
Freezing- To freeze them, you need cut the herbs into ΒΌ inch pieces and then place them on a baking sheet that is lined with wax paper for freezing.
Once the herbs are already frozen, place them in a bag and store them in the freezer until the time you have to use them.
3.
Using Medium- This way of preserving them is done through the use of a third party medium.
Example is covering herbs like chopped mint, basil or tarragon with vinegar to preserve it until several months.
Another is to use salt just like when making a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt.
After the herbs are dried, you can now then separate the brown herb from the flavored salt and store it in an airtight container.
Fresh Herbs Not at all times that you'll want your herbs preserved, of course, you can also use herbs fresh right out of the garden.
When using the herbs this way, one must take care in cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.
So, how does one clean herbs? You just have to place the fresh herbs in a bowl or use the sink and fill it with cool water.
Then, place about two tablespoons of salt in the water as the salt in the water drives away insects without damaging the plant.
You can now then remove the herbs from the water for drying.
As an herb enthusiast, you should know that different types of herbs are used for many different uses and have different instructions on how to use, harvest, and chop them.
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