Herbs are a very good way to learn and start your adventure in gardening. They relatively are easy to grow and you can physically use the plant for many different things like cooking, teas, or decoration. Having successfully grown herbs for a lot of my life and using them, it is important to know and understand how to harvest herbs and techniques. Different parts of the plant are harvested and gathered in different ways, and at different times depending on what you want. Obviously when pulling bulb or root plants like garlic, the entire plant is taken and not just a sprig. But leafy annual herbs properly harvested by carefully picking and pruning the leaves will flourish and keep providing new leaves for you to use throughout its life cycle. Perennials herbs like thyme , rosemary and sage are a little hardier and can handle sever pruning or over-stripping of the leaves, but it is very important to understand the herb type, size, and age to ensure you are not going to kill the plant your first harvesting session.
When one is harvesting any kind of plant either herb, fruit, or vegetable, never take more than ten percent of the leaves and growth. This is because if you harvest too much, the shock of the trimming can be very detrimental and cause harm to the plant. Again, if you are harvesting bulbs or roots like galic, the entire plant is forfeited. It might sound funny, but it is also important to wash your hands and cutters before harvesting. This is to ensure the herbs stay healthy and disease free. Careful harvesting of the herb leaves will result in more vigorous leaf production plus a healthier overall plant to be proud of.
How to Harvest the Leaves from Herbs
Leaves are what we are mostly after on most herb plants. Leaves can be harvested by picking and pruning throughout the year, particularly taken from herb plants like thyme, chive, rosemary, and parsley. An important to consider when thinking how to havest herbs, the leaf flavor is best and greatest just before the plant flowers. Knowing this, pick the young leaves from the plant in the morning time, when the dew has evaporated. Some leaves are always going to be burnt, brown or dying, so prun and discard any imperfect leaves. You can also prune away leaves damaged by insects. Handle the harvested leaves as little as possible to help reduce crushing or bruising, which will release the good oils, reducing the flavor of the leaves.
How to Harvest the Flowers and Bulbs from Herbs
It is first important to know what your plant is, and if we use the flower, seed, bulb or root. When harvesting flowers to use from the herb plant, like chamomile, marigolds, or chives, extreme caution should always be used, and only harvested when the herb flower is fully open. The exception is lavender, it is best to harvest when the flowers just begin to open. But, whenever harvesting flowers, avoid damaged, old or wilted flowers. After harvested, place the specimen in open containers, uncovered, and do not harvest too far in advance of using. Flowers do not last very long and lose their flavor and essence quickly. When pulling bulbs or roots, you do not have to be as careful as when harvesting leaves or flowers. Bulbs like garlic are pulled when the leaves start to die off, or the top of the plant falls over.
How to Harvest the Seeds
Seed are a fun way to continue your herb journey, once your herb plant decides to go to seed. When the seed heads and pods on the herb plant have formed, stop harvesting the leaves and flowers, and watch the plant closely because it is almost time to harvest the seeds. There should not be any green color on the pods or the seeds. With some plants like fennel, it is best to cut the entire stalk off and hold the stalk upside down in a bag or over a paper towel and shake, because the seeds scatter around and make a mess very quickly.
Once you harvest the herb plant seeds, place the seeds in a warm, well ventilated room for a couple days to dry out thoroughly, this is a very important part in how to harvest herbs. After the seeds dry, place them in a airtight glass jar, and place them in a dark dry place until you use them. You should get in a good habit of labeling to avoid identification problems down the road. They can easily be stored for next season. I hope this will help you with questions on how to harvest herbs.