Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden

You have planted the herbs in your home herb garden and watched them grow and flourish.  Herbs are very useful in so many different ways.  Using herbs from a home herb garden, however requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

In order to use the herbs you will need to harvest them first.  Timing though, is an extremely vital factor.  Wind and heat deprives the herbs of their essential oils.  You should choose a calm and dry morning during midsummer to harvest your home herb garden.  Herbs produce little oil during the wet season.

Harvest the herbs just after the dew has dried form the leaves right before the flowers open.  Harvesting the herb does not mean removing the entire plant.  At this point, you are just taking a certain amount of growth for use.

You don’t necessarily have to use the herbs right after you have harvested them from your home herb garden.  You can preserve them to use later.   Just make sure to take no more than one third of the plant at a time.  The plant will need a good amount of foliage to re-grow well.  You should also inspect the plant for insects and damaged leaves before you harvest it.

There are three ways you can preserve your herbs after harvesting your home herb garden: by drying, freezing or preserving them in salt or vinegar.  Place herbs to dry by making a bundle of six to twelve stems together, removing any leaves left at the base of the stem.  You can secure the bundle with string.  Hang the bundle in a cool location away from sunlight.

Individual leaves can be left to dry on a screen or a rack.  Just remember to turn them as often as possible so that they will 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.

Freezing is another 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.  When completely dry, separate the brown herb from the salt then place it in an airtight container.

But people often would like to use herbs straight from their home herb garden.  Take care cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.  The best way to prepare fresh herbs is to place them in a bowl of cold water.  You can even use the sink to accommodate more of them.  Place two tablespoons salt in the water.  The salt in the water will drive away insects without damaging the plant.  Remove the herbs from the water and dry them in a salad spinner.

Different types of herbs in a home herb garden are used for many different uses.  Each type has instructions on its use, method of harvest, and preparation.  Learn more about each type of herbs so you can use them accordingly.