Preserving Your Garden

How To Harvest Chamomile At Home

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What Is Chamomile – Harvest Chamomile – How To Harvest – What Part – Drying And Storing Chamomile – Using Dried Chamomile – Chamomile Tea – Fresh vs Dried – Preserving Chamomile

Chamomile is a great and easy to grow flower that is great for making a variety of different things. Tea being one of our absolute favorites. It’s easy to grow and will quickly self seeds and provide you with many years of harvest and enjoyment.

But being able to harvest the plant properly and then enjoying the fruit of the labor is very important. Luckily you will get a lot of chamomile growing if you plant a small amount so there’s plenty of harvest to go around.

Chamomile Plant
Chamomile Plant

What Is Chamomile

Chamomile is a very common flower that can be found both wild but also cultivated. It has a rather distinct look to it. With a dark green stalk that is very thin. The flower petals are brightly whiet and a yellow center on the flower.

There are many varieties of chamomile out there and the biggest difference between them is normally the size of them. Some can grow almost a couple feet tall while others smaller. The flavor and aroma are normally the same though across the board.

The chamomile plant is a very hardy flower that can manage in most climates. It doesn’t need a lot of water but will prefer a place where there is a lot of sunlight. That way it has the chance to develop a lot of flowers during the season. 

When Can You Harvest Chamomile

The best time to harvest chamomile will usually be during the summer season. The plant will grow and develop new flowers all the time basically, so harvesting constantly during the summer is the best approach. That way we can pick the flowers while they are at their peak.

Try and just pick the flowers with the petals and the small bud in the middle. This is the most flavorful part of the chamomile. After being picked you can dry them either in the oven or in a dehydrator. This should be done at the lowest possible setting to not lose any of the flavor of the plant.

After harvesting chamomile you should also water the soil slightly to give the plant an easier time growing new flowers eventually again.

How To Harvest Chamomile

Harvesting chamomile is actually really easy. There are a few different things we want to look out for to not harm the plant. Firstly is to only pick the flowers that have actually developed properly. That means the petals are bright white and fully spread. If the buds are still sort of closed up then it’s better to just wait instead a bit longer. They will only really get more aromatic.

Take a sharp scissor when harvesting the chamomile. Clip of the flowers and leave as much stalk on the plant as possible. That way we increase the chance that there will be more flowers growing out afterwards.

Take and water the soil a little bit around the plant to give it an easier time to once again start growing and blooming.

Chamomile Flower
Chamomile Flower

What Part Of Chamomile Can You Harvest

The most aromatic and flavourful part of the chamomile will be the flowers. These are what we use when we make either tea or any form of infusion. They are intensely aromatic and very nice to use for a number of things. 

As for the rest of the plant, it doesn’t really contain that much nutrition or flavor for that matter. Instead it’s better to just let that part start decomposing at the end of the season and turn back into soil.

How To Dry And Store Chamomile

There are basically two different ways to dry and preserve chamomile for later use. The most important thing is to treat the chamomile very gently so we aren’t wasting any flavor of it. Lower temperatures are very important to keep the aroma of the flower.

Air Drying Chamomile

Air drying the chamomile is our favorite method. It is the one that takes the longest, but it also helps keep the most amount of flavor out of any method. We are basically harvesting the chamomile with some of the stalk attached to the flower. 

We then tie these stalks into a bundle and let them air dry slowly for a few weeks. They can stay out like this and when we want to use them we just clip off the flower.

Oven Drying Chamomile

Oven drying chamomile is the better option when we need to preserve a large amount of chamomile. We do this by taking the buds of the chamomile with the petals attached and lay them flat on a tray. 

Dry them in the oven at the lowest possible setting. It will probably take between 6 – 8 hours at least. Afterwards you can store them in an air-tight container to keep moisture out and increase the longevity of the plant. They will stay good like this for at least 1 – 2 years or so.

What To Use Dried Chamomile For

There are a number of applications for using dried chamomile. But there is a clear winner for us at least. That is to make tea from it. We do this by pouring some boiling water over some chamomile flowers and letting that infuse for a few minutes. We then strain it.

We sometimes add some honey to the infusion as well to have an even more floral and aromatic beverage. It’s noted that chamomile tea is very good for the body. It’s rich in antioxidants which helps prevent headaches and fevers.

How To Make Chamomile Tea

Making chamomile tea is very simple. If you have already dried and preserved your chamomile flowers then you are already halfway there. Take about a spoonful of the flower buds and pour some boiling water over. No more water than you want to drink basically.

Let that infuse for about 3 minutes. Strain away the buds and enjoy your newly brewed tea. We like to add some honey to the drink as well for a little sweetness. Honey is a much better option than adding just sugar. 

Chamomile Plant
Chamomile Plant

Fresh vs Dried Chamomile

Fresh and dried chamomile are rather different. The dried one is a lot better for making infusions like teas for example. The fresh chamomile is better for salads and eating instead. 

There is also a difference in the amount of nutrition in them too. The fresh chamomile will have a richer concentration of antioxidants and vitamins. The dried chamomile will also have these nutrients but not as many as some are lost when we dry the plant. Fresh chamomile is therefore a little bit better at helping keep headaches and fevers away then the dried one.

Preserving Chamomile

Preserving chamomile is very simple. Our favorite method is to air dry the flowers and use them whenever we want to. But there are other ways of preserving the flavor of the plant without drying it. 

You could make a syrup flavored with the flowers. We basically boil about 50 % sugar and 50 % water and infuse some of the flowers in this. They will give off a really nice and floral flavor to the syrup since we are heating the buds.

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How To Dry Lavender At Home

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What Is Lavender – Varieties – How To Dry Lavender – When To Cut And Harvest – Prune Lavender – Best Variety – Does It Take Long – Storing And Using Lavender – Drying Lavender Leaves – How Long Does It Last

Lavender is a very fragrant and lovely plant to grow at home, but it’s also a great addition to add as decoration. We do this by air drying the lavender in bundles. They add aroma and beauty to any room they are in. 

Below we are sharing our tips and tricks for drying lavender and treating it right so as to not lose any of the aroma and flavor. But apart from using it for decoration, there’s also plenty of other uses. All from making tea to decorating cakes.

Lavender Plant
Lavender Plant

What Is Lavender

Lavender is a very common plant that has lovely purple flowers during the summer. It’s a very fragrant plant that has for many centuries been used in aromatherapy and herbal medicines.

It was often believed that the plant held on to some nurtoring properties that could aid in helping with sickness and ills. Nowadays lavender is mostly planted to have something nice and fragrant in the garden. But it also attracts a lot of bees since there will be a large amount of flowers on a rather small plant.

If you are considering getting some lavender for your garden then we recommend reserving a rather sunny spot for the plant. This will help ensure that you have a lot of flowers on the plant, but also a happy plant able to continually grow. Never let the soil dry out completely, try and keep it slightly damp instead.

Lavender Varieties

You can basically narrow it down to 3 different lavender varieties out there. They would be the English, French and Spanish lavender. There are some quite noticeable differences between them. Mostly in the way that they grow and the size of them. 

From this group of 3 there are many other sub varieties. Here they vary in size a bit. Some will grow rather small and narrow, while others might grow extremely large in size instead with a dense amount of stalks.

All the lavender varieties have a very nice and intense aroma, but there is a winner if you want the best one. The English lavender is often the most sweet and useful variety for culinary adventures and applications. 

Thankfully it’s rather easy to know which variety will be able to grow in your part of the world. The English one is the hardest when it comes to the cold. The french one can manage fine in mild climates, while the spanish lavender is instead better suited for places with high temperatures and a lack of water.

How To Dry Lavender

There are many ways you can go about drying lavender, but we like these three different methods because they are the best at preserving the flavor and profile of the lavender. A good rule of thumb is that the more gently you dry the lavender, or any herb or plant for that matter, the more aroma and flavor will be left in them.

Air Drying Lavender

This is our favorite method. Air drying lavender is a great technique to use when you want to both take care of your harvest but also to decorate a room and add some lovely aroma there. 

The method consists of taking some long lavender stalks or sprigs and tying them together. We then let them hang upside down with the flowers towards the ground. It will take a few weeks until they are fully dried up but the aroma and flavor of them will be really intense.

You don’t have to take them down after they have dried up. Instead you can leave them hanging and clip off whatever you need when you want. They store flavor and aroma very well like this.

Oven Drying Lavender

This method is very good for preserving and storing a large amount of lavender in one go. We do it by simply removing most of the flowers from the plant. Lay them out on a tray with some paper underneath. 

We then dry the lavender in the oven at the lowest possible temperature. This will take between 6 – 8 hours or more depending on how well hydrated the flowers are and the temperature you are using. We can store them like the air dried ones, so instead we should use an air-tight container to keep mice away.

Dehydrating Lavender

If you are lucky enough to have a dehydrator at home then this might be a great method for you to use. It’s very good for drying large amounts of lavender. We use more or less the same technique as the oven dried lavender.

Pick the flowers apart and then lay them in the dehydrator in the different layers. Set the temperature to the lowest. It will be a bit quicker than the oven dried ones. Between 4 – 6 hours or so in total. Just like before, we should try and store the dried lavender in an air-tight container to keep moisture away.

Lavender Flowers
Lavender Flowers

When To Cut And Harvest Lavender Flowers

The best time of the year to be cutting and harvesting lavender flowers are at the end of the summer. The plant doesn’t really bloom and let the flowers fall off that quickly. Instead they stay on for a rather long time.

So by the end of the summer when the temperature drops and the plant has had a long and prosperous time the flavor and aroma will be at their peak. Take a sharp scissor and cut off the flowers only if you are oven drying or dehydrating. But if you want to air dry, you can cut off some of the stalks as well to make it a bit easier tying them up.

How To Prune Lavender

Pruning lavender is mostly done when it’s one of the larger varieties. Those tend to grow rather quickly during the season and can look unpleasant by the end. So pruning them is good to keep them inline and also have a beautiful garden.

We normally prune them at the start of summer and a little bit during too. You just need to clip off the top to sort of keep the same length on all of the stalks. The clipped stalks will begin developing flowers eventually. At that point the entire lavender plant will have a more bushy appearance that we prefer.

Be careful to not prune too much though. Taking away more than 1 third of the plant at a time might cause too much stress to it.

Best Lavender Variety For Drying

We mentioned the varieties of lavender before and for us there is a clear winner. The english lavender is the most concentrated in aroma and flavor. It’s also great for almost any climate since it can handle both warm summers and cold winters. 

It’s our favorite and the one we are growing at home right now. It won’t grow that large either. Instead the plant will be about 1 foot tall and stay at that for most of its life. The flowers are beautifully purple and full of aroma and flavor. Best suited for air drying and letting fill the room with its perfume.

Lavender Plant
Lavender Plant

Does It Take Long To Dry Lavender

It really doesn’t take that long to dry lavender if you are using the oven drying method or a dehydrator. Then you can dry a large harvest in one day at least. The method we recommend however usually takes a lot longer, between 1 – 2 weeks. But then we are air drying them outside. We tie a bundle and let time do its thing. The benefit of this is that the flavor and aroma of the lavender will be so much more concentrated.

How To Store And Use Dried Lavender

Storing and then actually using your lavender is also a big part of taking care of your harvest. We have a number of different methods of using them, but only one way to store them. If you want to keep them for the long term then you need to have an air-tight container to store them in.

This will keep moisture away and make it a lot less likely any form of bacteria and mold starts growing on them. We mostly use that though, when the lavender has been picked down to its flowers only. If we are air-drying a bundle then that can stay out without any problems.

Being able to use the lavender finally might be the best part. We like making tea from the aromatic flowers. It’s nice and sweet with a very perfumed aroma. But decorating a cake by sprinkling some flowers over the top is also a great way of using them.

How To Dry Lavender Leaves And Buds

The leaves and the buds might not be the most common part of the plant to dry. But they actually do offer quite a lot of flavor and aroma. We like to oven dry or dehydrate these parts of the plant. 

Pick the leaves from the plant and then lay them flat on a tray with the picked lavender buds too. Dry them at the lowest possible setting for about 6 – 8 hours. Try to store them in an air-tight container afterwards.

Lavender Plant
Lavender Plant

How Long Does The Dried Lavender Last

Once the lavender has dried then it can last for a very long time. Often between 1 – 2 years at least. It will all really depend on the type of storage you are using. If you keep them in an air-tight container then the lavender will be fine. 

The thing we want to avoid is mousitire as that makes it easier for mold to grow on the dried lavender. Once you have kept them for over a year, you might start noticing a lack in aroma and flavor as that can’t be kept up forever. So using it up while you can and then preserving next year’s harvest instead is probably the best way to go about it.

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How To Harvest Basil Seeds From The Plant

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What Is Basil – Harvest Basil Seeds – Storing Basil Seeds – Plant Basil Seeds – Keeping Basil Seeds – FAQ

Basil is perhaps the most grown culinary herb in the US, at least in the household. It’s so appreciated for the flavor and the aroma that it provides. We especially enjoy it fresh on salad during the summer.

But how can we preserve the plant and get the same enjoyment the next year? Basil is not a perennial plant, meaning that it will only live for about 1 year before wilting down. Because of that we need to preserve the seeds to be able to have new plants for the next year.

Basil Seeds
Basil Seeds

What Is Basil

Basil is an incredibly popular plant, not only in the US but also in a number of countries. In Italy it’s a staple herb that is found in a lot of dishes. It’s easy to grow and propagate making it a very popular beginner plant to start out with.

The flavor of basil can vary a lot depending on the variety that you have. There are some that are sweeter, some are more aromatic and then you even have those that are minty. Below is a short list of some of our favorites.

  • Italian Basil
  • Sweet Basil
  • Lemon Basil
  • Mint Basil

They all grow very similar, requiring a nice well watered soil with a good amount of sunlight on them each day.

How To Harvest Basil Seeds

Actually harvesting the seeds from the basil plant is very easy. We just need to wait basically. The plant will on its own accord start to flower eventually. These flowers once pollinated by bees will begin to develop seeds. 

Once the seeds have dried out they will begin to fall to the ground. Now it’s up to us to collect them. We usually lay some paper underneath the entire plant to make sure we aren’t missing any seeds falling off.

After collecting them we need to dry them on some dry paper for a few days indoors. This will help us be able to preserve them for later use, such as planting more basil plants.

Storing Basil Seeds

Being able to collect the basil seeds is one thing, but storing them properly afterwards is also very important to know. We always recommend using an air-tight container with some paper in the bottom. This is the safest way for a long term storage of the seeds.

We have the paper in there to attract moisture that might sneak in. In a humid environment the seeds could start sprouting without us knowing. If that were to happen we might have just lost a lot of seeds that we wanted for the spring instead.

How To Plant Basil Seeds

Planting basil seeds is thankfully a very easy thing. We need some small seedling containers first. Place some soil in them and water them well. Let the water drain out for a few hours.

Place a seed in each and cover with soil. They should rarely be beneath the surface to start growing. Lightly water all the containers again and keep in a warm spot. It shouldn’t take long until you are able to see small seedlings taking shape.

How Long Can You Keep Basil Seeds

Basil seeds keep for a pretty long time. Up to a year at least after being harvested. They might still be viable after this too, but the chance of them starting to sprout will begin to decline the longer time goes on.

Basil Plant
Basil Plant

FAQ

Will Basil Reseed Itself

Basil is definitely able to reseed itself. If you have a healthy basil plant that has been left to flower and develop seeds then there is a high chance you seed new basil plants popping for the next year. 

Should I Let By Basil Gone To Seed

It really is up to you whether you want your basil to start developing seeds or not. If you are picking off the flowers as they begin to appear then you won’t get any seeds and will most likely get more leaves instead.

So if you look at it like this, if you let the basil go to seed then you wont get as many harvestable leaves as the energy is instead going to the seeds and not further growth.

How Do You Separate Seeds From Basil In A Pod

It’s very easy to separate the seeds from the pods when it comes to basil. We simply need the pods to dry out properly. Then you can simply shake the pods gently and the seeds should come falling out rather quickly. Store them afterwards in a dry place where they won’t begin to sprout because of humidity.

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How To Harvest Cilantro Seeds

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What Is Coriander – Harvesting Cilantro Seeds – Dry And Store Coriander – Planting Coriander Seeds – Drying Green Coriander – FAQ

Coriander is one of the most commonly used herbs in the kitchen. In the US it might be known as cilantro however. So coriander and cilantro are in fact the same herb, just different names for the same thing. 

It’s a nice aromatic herb that grows in a number of different climates and environments. The seeds are perhaps a little underappreciated by most people, they are a hassle to harvest but provide a lovely flavor and aroma to whatever you are cooking. Below we share some of our tips and tricks for harvesting them.

Coriander Plant
Coriander Plant

What Is Coriander

Coriander is a very common herb that is found in a lot of households. It’s one of those herbs that you either really love or not at all. About 10 % of the population has a genetic thing against this herb, making it taste like soap to them, quite interesting really.

But the plant itself will prefer to grow in a soil that is kept well watered and where water also drains away very easily. This will help protect the roots from starting rot very easily. As for picking a spot for the plant, try and find a very sunny spot. This will help the plant quite a lot. When you are growing coriander it really is about the balance between getting enough sunlight and also keeping the soil in a good condition.

How To Harvest Coriander Seeds

Let’s get started about the reason you even clicked on this article, actually harvesting the seeds. This is actually really easy, you just need to wait. As with most seeds on plants they will have a stage where they are green and fresh. But after a while they will begin drying up and turning either brown, gray or black, depending on the herb or plant you have.

As for coriander they will be slightly brown in color. At this point they are ready to be picked if they haven’t already fallen off the plant and landed on the soil. 

Gather the seeds and store them in a dry place. They will keep very well for many months, but planting them as soon as possible is recommended. Do this indoors then of course since outside it might be too cold for the plant.

To ensure you even have seeds developing on your plant you need to let the coriander flower and get pollinated. For this to happen you should keep it outdoors so bees can get in contact with it.

How To Dry And Store Coriander Seeds

It’s very easy to harvest the coriander, like we talked about above here. After you have gathered some you can lay them on dry paper and let them air dry in the kitchen for example. It might take a few days but afterwards they are ready to be stored for the long term.

After drying them, keep them in an air-tight container. They will store for years like this and are a great addition to anything spicy you might be cooking up at home.

How To Plant Coriander Seeds

If you want to plant the seeds instead then you can do so also. But we recommend you try to do this rather quickly after harvesting them. That’s because it will be more likely the seeds are beginning to root and develop then.

Place them in soil which has been well watered beforehand. They only need to be half an inch or so beneath the soil for it to start growing. Keep in a warm spot. have an eye on the soil so it’s never drying out. Try to keep it slightly damp all the time to promote the seed to sprout.

Coriander Seeds
Coriander Seeds

Drying Green Coriander Seeds

If you want to use the coriander seeds while they are still green and full of aroma then harvesting and drying them is really the only option here. 

Pick them when they are large and firm to the touch. Then lay them flat on a tray and dry them in the oven at a very low temperature. It might take many hours, but we do this to preserve them for the long term. They will store very well for at least 6 months before they might begin to shift in flavor.

FAQ

What To Do With Green Coriander Seeds

One of our favorite things to do with green coriander seeds is to use them in salsa. They add a very strong coriander flavor to the salsa but a very pleasant one. You could also add them to a pesto aswell to take it to the next level.

Can You Plant Green Coriander Seeds

You can’t plant green coriander seeds and expect them to start and sprout. For the greatest success you should instead try and harvest them after they have dried out by themselves on the plant. These are ready to be planted and grown into new plants.

Dry Coriander Seeds Benefits

Coriander is very rich in antioxidants and the same is for the seeds of the plant. They are a great addition to your diet. Antioxidants are very important for helping the body make it easier getting rid of or preventing inflammations like fevers and headaches.

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How To Harvest Chives – When Is The Best Time

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What Are Chives – Chive Varieties – Harvest Chives – When To Harvest Chives – Storing Fresh Chives – Preserving Chives – FAQ

Chives are one of the best perennial herbs to have at home. it will grow back rather quickly after being harvested from. The plant can grow in a number of different environments and still be able to flourish.

Below we are sharing some of the methods we have developed during the years of growing this fantastic herb.

Chive Plant
Chive Plant

What Are Chives

Chives are a very nice culinary herb that has a nice spicy garlic flavor to it. It’s not that common among gardeners, which is a shame since it’s so easy to keep and care for.

Chives are a perennial plant that comes in different varieties. But the most common one will grow dark greens that eventually start budding and flowers into a pink color. 

Once you cut down the plant, it will continue growing back almost immediately. Often growing in a large bundle it’s very efficient at providing a large harvest from small amounts of land planted.

Chive Varieties

There are some different varieties of chives out there but there is one winner that stands at the top of popularity, that one being the common chive. Growing dark green with pink flowers, it’s a staple for some gardeners.

But there are some other varieties worth mentioning too. Below is a short list of some of our favorites.

  • Chinese Chives
  • Blue Chives
  • Hookers Chives

How To Harvest Chives

Harvesting chives is very easy. We need first and foremost a very sharp scissor. This is important because we want to clip the chives off and not leave a bruised area. It will make the regrowing quicker and more efficient.

Hold a bundle of the chive plant with your hand and then cut it off. It’s super quick and easy to harvest large amounts of chives. But make sure you have a plant for them as well. There is a big difference between fresh chives and those lying in the fridge for one day. The fresh one has a bite to them and the flavor is so much better.

Since the chive plant is so hard, you can just lay off harvesting too much and instead leave it for another time when you might need to instead.

When Should You Harvest Chives

The best time to harvest chives is before it starts flowering, that is if you want stalks of course. This time will mostly be during the spring and early summer. If you hold off on harvesting then you will quickly notice that the plant starts flowering. Then the flower will be stronger in the flowers instead of the stalks.

Water the soil a little bit after harvesting large amounts to help the plant regrow more quickly. Since we can’t really move the plant, then this is the best we can do to aid the plant.

How To Store Fresh Chives

After you have harvested chives it’s important that we store it the right way to help it stay fresher for longer. We recommend you take the chives and place them in an air-tight container with some paper in the bottom. 

Leave that box in the fridge.It will keep the temperature down obviously, making it harder for bacteria to start growing on the herbs. Kept like this they will stay good for at least 1 week before beginning to wilt a little bit.

Chive Plant
Chive Plant

How To Preserve Chives

There are many ways you could go about preserving chives for the long term. Some of the ones we are doing at home are either drying it or freezing it. They stay nice and green with both methods.

How To Freeze Chives

Freezing chives might be the easiest. Just take a scissor and cut down the stalks into more manageable pieces and then freeze them in a container. That way you can just scrape out the amount that you might need.

How To Dry Chives

Drying chives is a lot more time consuming. It’s because we need to thinly slice the chives before drying them. We do this to prevent any chewiness when they are later used. Thinly slice the chives and lay them flat on a tray with some paper. Dry them in the oven at a low temperature for about 6 – 8 hours in total.

FAQ

How Do You Pick Chives So It Keeps Growing

There really isn’t any specific technique for picking chives to promote growth. Just clip them off as close to the soil as possible. That way you will continue having long and beautiful stalks growing from it.

Do Chives Regrow After Cutting

Chives might be one of the best herbs to keep at home for regrowing. They will quickly start regrowing after being harvested. Therefore you can take as much as you want without worrying about the plant being harmed.

What Part Of Chives Do You Use

There are a number of parts of the chive that you could use. We prefer the green stalks before it’s begun to flower. But the flowers and the flower buds are also great sources for flavor. They are insanely spicy and flavorful.

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How To Harvest Rosemary Sprigs And Leaves

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What Is Rosemary – Harvest Rosemary – When To Harvest Rosemary – Storing Fresh Rosemary – Preserve Rosemary – FAQ

Rosemary is one of the most widely grown culinary herbs in America. It has a very pleasant aroma to it on top of being a very simple plant to grow at home. It requires little work and will provide some pretty stable harvests throughout the year.

Below we talk about the best practices when it comes to harvesting the plant and maintaining the health of the plant. The rosemary can live on for many years so treating it right is very important.

Rosemary Plant
Rosemary Plant

What Is Rosemary

Like we mentioned, rosemary is a very common culinary herb that is grown in a lot of gardens. It has a very nice aroma of almost eucalyptus and citrus notes. It grows very slowly compared to basil for example, but you will instead have a herb that can live on for decades if treated right.

There are several varieties of rosemary out there that differ a little bit in the way they grow. Some will grow taller and skinnier while some other ones are instead growing more bushier and smaller. Because of this you can easily find the variety that will be right for you. 

As planting the rosemary, try and have it in a very well draining soil where the water can easily escape. This way we can prevent the roots from drowning. Find a nice sunny spot as well for the plant to promote growth.

How To Harvest Rosemary

Harvesting rosemary is very easy. The herb is known to be one of the hardier varieties out there that can manage some pretty harsh cuttings and prunings. Below we share some of our tips and tricks.

Cutting Rosemary

Cutting rosemary should be done rather carefully. Not because the plant can’t handle it, but because it takes a long time to grow back. So having a pretty plant for as long as possible is at least important to us. 

We therefore recommend that you try and remove smaller parts of sprigs to promote a bushier growth style. It’s basically that you cut off one sprig to then have two new ones grow out from there. 

Cut the springs with a sharp scissor to get a clean cut and avoid bruising the open wound that comes with pruning. That way it’s easier for the plant to regrow and seal the affected area.

When To Harvest Rosemary

The best time to harvest rosemary will be during the time that it grows the most. That would be during the summer and especially byt the end of summer. At this point it has had many months for growth and development. 

We often take some small cutting during the summer season before doing one large harvest by the end. That way we can enjoy the plant for longer and more. We also make sure we have a plant for what we will do with the harvest. Mostly it ends up just being dried and then stored in a cabinet to be used later on.

How To Store Fresh Rosemary

Storing fresh rosemary is very easy. We just need to eliminate the chance that some bacterias would begin growing on the herbs. To do this we need to keep moisture to a minimum.

After harvesting or buying fresh rosemary, take some paper and place it in the bottom of an air-tight container. Place the rosemary in there and then in the fridge. This way we are able to keep the rosemary nice and fresh for at least 1 – 2 weeks in total.

How To Preserve Rosemary

Preserving rosemary to be able to enjoy it at a later date is a big part for us when it comes to gardening. There are basically two ways to preserve rosemary, either freezing it or drying it. Both come with their own benefits and negatives.

How To Freeze Rosemary

Freezing rosemary is probably the least common way to store and preserve the herb. We often do iy by first removing all the leaves or needles from the sprigs. Store them in a container and then freeze them. Shake the box a little bit after taking it from the freezer to release the needles from each other.

How To Dry Rosemary

Drying rosemary is probably the most common practice for preserving the herb for the long term. Here there is more or less just one technique that we like to use. That’s one involving tying a bundle of the herb and then hanging that freely. It will take between 1 and 2 weeks to fully dry out. But the flavor and aroma of the herbs will stay persistent.

Rosemary Plant
Rosemary Plant

FAQ

How Do You Pick Rosemary Without Hurting The Plant

The best way of picking rosemary without hurting the plant is by not taking too large of amounts at a time. We recommend never taking more than ⅕ at a time. That way we can help the plant regrow even larger within a reasonable timeline.

How Do You Pick And Preserve Rosemary

We recommend taking small amounts of the rosemary at a time and then tying that in a bundle and air drying it. That way we can preserve small amounts at a time and still keep the plant very happy and thriving.

How To Dry Rosemary In Oven

It’s very simple to dry rosemary in the oven. Start off by picking the leaves of the sprigs and lay them flat on a tray. Dry them at the lowest temperature your oven can go to and then store them in an air-tight container.

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How To Harvest Cilantro And Store It

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What Is Cilantro – How To Harvest Cilantro – Storing Fresh Cilantro – Preserve Cilantro – Harvest Cilantro Seeds – FAQ

When it’s finally the time to harvest your cilantro then it’s very important to be able to know how you should do it. Thankfully harvesting cilantro is a pretty easy thing to do. The herb can manage some pretty harsh pruning. 

Below we are showing off some of our best methods to pruning but also harvesting and taking care of the plant afterwards.

Cilantro Plant
Cilantro Plant

What Is Cilantro

Cilantro is a very common herb to use in cooking but perhaps not as common as growing at home in all honesty. The plant grows very well in pretty much any type of climate and environment.

It likes a soil that is kept rather warm but also well watered and never left to dry out. During the day the cilantro will want to get about 6 – 8 hours sunlight at least. That will help the plant keep on track with both the growth and growing back leaves you have harvested.

How To Harvest Cilantro

Harvesting cilantro is a very easy thing to do really. The plant is relatively hardy and can manage some extra pruning and harvest. But as a ground rule we don’t generally recommend taking more than 1 third of the plant at one time.

Start by getting yourself a sharp scissor so that you are getting clean cuts and not bruising the plant when harvesting. Cut the stems close to the main stem of the plant. Don’t leave an empty cilantro plant without any leaves and just stems. Instead take the stems too and use them in your cooking, they are in fact very flavourful too.

After cutting off the stems that you need, water the soil a little bit for the plant and find a sunny spot to place it. That way it has a very easy time to regrow any part that you took off.

How To Store Fresh Cilantro

If you aren’t about to use all the cilantro you just harvested then you might want to store it correctly quickly so that no flavor is lost from the herb.

We recommend using an air-tight container here with some kitchen paper in the bottom. Leave this box in the fridge to slow down any bacterial growth. The reason we use this method is that it’s important to keep moisture away from the herb. If it’s too humid in the box then the risk of mold starting to grow on the plant greatly increases. Stored the right way you can expect it to last at least 1 week before starting to wilt a little.

Cilantro Plant
Cilantro Plant

How To Preserve Cilantro

There are a number of ways to use and cook cilantro. But preserving it for the long term for us boils down to two different choices, either freezing or drying the herb. They both have their positives and negatives.

How To Freeze Fresh Cilantro

Freezing fresh cilantro is very easy. We have found that the most efficient way of doing it is to use ice cube molds. We layer leaves over each other in these molds and then pour some water over. 

Now we have cilantro ice cubes that are very easy to just plop out and use in your cooking. They defrost rather quickly and the flavor of the cilantro will still be there.

How To Dry Fresh Cilantro

Drying fresh cilantro is very simple too. We often tie a bundle of the herb and then let that air dry outside in a room. It will not only make the room smell lovely but the color and the flavor of the herb will still be there. 

It might take a long time, between 1 and 2 weeks in total. But stored correctly afterwards you can expect to enjoy it for at least 6 months before the flavor starts to disappear.

How To Harvest Cilantro Seeds

Harvesting the seeds from the cilantro plant is mostly an act of patience. We need the plant to start flowering and then afterwards begin to develop seeds. You need the flowers to get pollinated for this to happen, so keep the plant outside to make it happen.

Let the seeds by themselves develop and fall off. Taking them too early ight make them viable to planting and getting new cilantro plants.

Cilantro Plant
Cilantro Plant

FAQ

How To Harvest Cilantro That Has Flowered

Harvesting cilantro that has flowered is no different from one that hasn’t flowered. Cut off stems with leaves just as you normally would. You could even take some of the flowers too, they are really tasty and provide some nice spiciness to a salad for example.

How To Harvest Cilantro Without Killing The Plant

The best way of avoiding killing a cilantro plant when harvesting it we just need to adjust the amount we are taking. We often recommend that you don’t take more than about 1 third of the plant at once. That way we are keeping the plant able to grow back once again.

Will Cilantro Grow Back After Cutting

The cilantro plant will definitely be able to grow back after cutting the plant. Just make sure you aren’t taking too much at a time. Place the cilantro in a very sunny spot afterwards and water the soil slightly too, that way it will regrow rather quickly.

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How To Dry Chili Peppers At Home For Storing

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What Are Chilis – Chili Varieties – How To Dry Chili Peppers – Guajillo Peppers – Sun Dry Peppers – Hot Peppers – FAQ

Drying chili peppers is something that almost all people will want to do once the harvest season comes up. The chili plant is a very common one these days to either grow indoors or in a greenhouse.

Since it’s so easy for people these days to get a hand of a chili plant then it really has boomed. We are really happy about this since the world of chilis is so vast, with so many different varieties and options out there.

Chili Peppers
Chili Peppers

What Are Chili Peppers

Chili peppers are a pretty wide term for a number of different varieties. They are generally larger than regular chilis with a bright red color. They grow semi-long with some width to it.

The chili peppers have become very popular to grow at home either indoors or outside in a greenhouse. The plant requires some higher temperatures which is why they are grown this way. On top of that, the plant really enjoys getting a lot of sunlight.

From starting to ripen slightly to becoming fully ripened the timeline is rather short, which is why it’s so important to know beforehand what you are going to do with them, be that drying or using them in cooking.

Chili Pepper Varieties

There are so many different varieties of chilis out there with their own unique character and flavor to them. Below are some of the favorites we have grown at home throughout the years.

  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Serrano Pepper
  • Padron Pepper
  • Poblano Pepper
  • Banana Pepper

The flavor of these are really interesting with different levels of spiciness. They are all really great for drying as well. They dry quickly and the flavor and aroma of them are still great even after 6 months of storage.

Chili Peppers
Chili Peppers

How To Dry Chili Peppers

There are a number of ways you could go about drying chili peppers. Below are some of the methods we have tried throughout the years of growing them at home. We find that they all bring out different qualities from the chilis. But the main purpose is of course to preserve both the color and the flavor of the chilis.

How To Oven Dry Chili Peppers

Oven drying chilis might be the most common method to preserve them for the long term. This is simply done by either keeping them whole and just taking off some of the green part at the top. 

Dry them at the lowest possible temperature so that no flavor is wasted. This can take quite some time if you leave them whole. If you cut them in half instead and remove the seeds then we shorten the time significantly.

How To Air Dry Chilis

This is another great method to use for drying chilis. We do it by taking a needle and poking the chilis and tying a string through them. Then hanging this like we are drying clothes. 

It will take a few weeks for them to fully dry but the aroma and flavor of these chilis are really remarkable. They keep all the spiciness and seem to be even more concentrated. Keep them in a dry container away from the stove and fridge.

Microwaving Chili Peppers

This might be the least used method on this list. We need to basically microwave the sliced pieces of chilis until they lose all their mousite and water content. At that point they will be ready to be stored in a dry container.

Be careful about microwaving the chilis as that might instead cause them to burn and the flavor will be bitter instead.

How To Dehydrate Chili Peppers

If you are lucky enough to have a dehydrator at home then this is a great option and method to use. We lay the chili either whole or cut in half on the trays that fit in the dehydrator.

Dry them at the lowest setting to preserve the flavor better. This can take anywhere between 8  – 12 hours depending on the size of the chilis.

Chili Peppers
Chili Peppers

How To Dry Guajillo Peppers

These are perhaps not the most common chilis a few years ago but are quickly gaining a lot of traction and attention. They aren’t that large really and will dry much the same way as other chili varieties.

We recommend here that you tie some string between the chilis and then leave them to hang in the air. It will take about 1 – 2 weeks in total until they are completely dry, but the wait is worth it. The flavor that we are able to preserve is so much better compared to drying them in the oven.

How To Sun Dry Peppers

Sun drying peppers are becoming more and more common as people see some form of positives from the global warming we are experiencing. It’s also pretty well timed since the chilis will usually be fully ripened when the temperatures are at their highest.

We recommend that you find a flat tray and lay paper in the bottom. Cut the peppers in half and lay them on the tyra without touching each other. It will take several weeks until they are fully dried, but the flavor will be very interesting.

How To Dry Hot Peppers

Drying hot peppers is a very simple project to undertake. We recommend you to do it in the oven. Since the peppers are normally a little bit larger than we need the speed of drying to go rather quick so we aren’t seeing any unwanted bacterial growth on them.

Dry them at the lowest possible setting until completely dry to the touch. Keep them in an air-tight container in the cabinet. They will stay viable for about 6 months or so at least.

Chili Peppers
Chili Peppers

FAQ

How Long Does It Take To Dry Out Chili Peppers

It will entirely depend on the size of the chilis and the method you are using. Air drying them can take up to 2 weeks in total. While drying them in the oven instead can take about 8 hours or so for small varieties.

How Do You Dry Peppers Quickly

The quickest way to dry chilis would be in the oven or in a dehydrator. But you shouldn’t stress the time since that has a direct correlation with the flavor you are left with. Too high and the chilis won’t taste that much.

How Do You Dry Chilis At Home

Drying chives at home can be done with several different methods. We like to air dry them by tying string through them. It will take between 1 and 2 weeks in total or so.

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How To Dry Thyme – 4 Methods

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What Is Thyme – How To Dry Thyme – How to Store Thyme – Using Fresh vs Dried Thyme – FAQ – Summary

Drying and keeping your thyme for the long term is a very important thing to learn and know about. Thyme is a very herbaceous and aromatic herb. It’s a great addition to most foods and will bring up both the aroma and the flavor of whatever you are cooking. 

Here we share some of the different ways you could go about drying your harvest of thyme. 

Dried Thyme
Dried Thyme

What Is Thyme

Thyme is a very common herb that can be found in a number of different varieties with different aromas and flavors. It grows relatively slowly and will be able to handle hard periods and environments rather well. 

It likes to grow in a dry soil where it can get both some shade and some sunlight. Watering the thyme about once a week will be enough, even during some really warm summers.

Some of the most popular thyme varieties to grow at home are as following:

  • Common Thyme
  • Lemon Thyme
  • Creeping Thyme
  • Wild Thyme

How To Dry Thyme

There are like we said a number of different ways to dry thyme. Here we share some of the methods that we have tried and enjoy doing the most. The purpose is with all of them to try and keep the flavor and aroma of the herb as much as possible.

How To Air Dry Thyme

Air drying thyme might be the best method actually to preserve the flavor of the herb. We air dry the thyme by tying a bundle of it in the air and letting it dry slowly like this. 

It will take between 1 – 2 weeks or so for it to be finished. It will not only keep the flavor but also spread its aroma to the rest of the room. Make sure you keep something underneath to catch any leaves falling off.

How To Dehydrate Thyme

Dehydrating thyme is a very efficient way of drying a large amount of thyme and then using it during the colder months when you can’t get fresh harvests. Drag the leaves off the sprig from the thyme and lay them flat on a tray. 

Dry in the dehydrator at the lowest possible temperature setting. This will take between 3 – 6 hours before it’s fully dried. Keeping the temperature down will help maintain both the aroma and flavor very well. Store in an air-tight container afterwards.

How To Dry Thyme In The Oven

This might be the most common method for gardens to dry their thyme. Laying the sprigs or picked leaves flat in an even layer on a tray and then drying is a great option.

The downside might be that the light coming from the oven sort of changes the color a little bit of the thyme. It goes more brown instead of keeping its lovely green color.

How To Dry Thyme In Microwave

This is probably the least used method here on the list. We must first pick the leaves from the thyme and then put it on a plate. 

Microwave the leaves until they are dry in texture. This won’t take very long. The risk being that the leaves are instead starting to burn. Store them in an air-tight container afterwards.

Thyme Plant
Thyme Plant

How To Store Dried Thyme

Being able to store dried thyme in the best and proper way is just as important as being able to dry the thyme too. We always recommend keeping the dried herb, in this case thyme, in an air-tight container. 

Keep some kitchen paper in the bottom of the container to soak up any liquid that might sneak into the box. This box should then be kept in a cabinet or just away from a stove or fridge. It will stay good for about 6 months at least before the aroma starts to diminish.

How To Use Fresh And Dried Thyme

Using both fresh and dried thyme is sort of different. Fresh thyme can for example be used when frying meat as a finishing touch, but using dried thyme herb would just give out a burnt flavor as the leaves get cooked too quickly.

Fresh thyme leaves would therefore be best used in places where it doesn’t have to soak up liquid, like of a salad or vegetables. Dried thyme would be better to use in soups and sauces instead where it can give a better concentration of flavor.

FAQ

Is It Better To Freeze Or Dry Fresh Thyme

In our opinion, drying thyme is the better option. With herbs like thyme and rosemary, they don’t contain a lot of water from the start. So drying them won’t really change the flavor that much.

What Is The Best Way To Keep Thyme Fresh

Keeping thyme fresh for a long time is very easy. Store it in an air-tight container with some kitchen paper in the bottom. If the box is kept in the fridge then you can expect to have fresh thyme for at least 1 – 2 weeks.

Can Fresh Thyme Be Dried

Fresh thyme can definitely be dried. One of the best methods of drying it is tying a bundle and letting it hang freely. It will keep the flavor and aroma very well if done like this.

Thyme Plant
Thyme Plant

Summary

There are a number of ways to dry thyme out there. The one we would recommend is perhaps the most time consuming one, to air dry thyme. Tying a bundle and letting it slowly dry. It will take between 1 and 2 weeks before it’s done. 

Store it in an air-tight container afterwards to help maintain the flavor and aroma of the herb.

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How To Dry Parsley – The 4 Best Methods

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What Is Parsley – Parsley Varieties – How To Dry Parsley – Storing Dried Parsley – Using Dried Parsley – Summary

Drying parsley is a great practice to keep since you will be able to enjoy your harvest for way longer than the season. Parsley is thankfully a very easy herb to dry and preserve for the long term. The flavor doesn’t change that much and the color will stay with it if you are following our methods below.

What Is Parsley

Parsley is a very common herb that a lot of gardeners are growing at home right now. The herb has a long history of being used in cooking but before that in aromatherapy and herbal medicine.

It’s a very aromatic herb that grows well in a number of different environments. If there is drought then the herb will still be able to grow and flourish. A lot of sun and the plant will still grow like normal. All in all, just a great beginner friendly herb to start out with.

Parsley Plant
Parsley Plant

Parsley Varieties

There are a number of different varieties of parsley out there. But below are some of the most commonly grown ones. They grow in moist climates and environments, making it a great addition to your garden at home.

Flat Leaf Parsley

The flat leaf parsley is perhaps the most common variety of parsley. The different varieties we have will more or less grow the same actually. Flat leaf parsley will provide a lot of harvest for the whole season.

The flavor is quite strong and aromatic. It keeps very well in the fridge after being harvested too. Make sure you keep it in an air-tight container away from moisture to prolong the longevity of the harvest.

Curly Leaf Parsley

Curly leaf parsley is perhaps the second most grown variety. It provides a lot of harvests throughout the whole season. The flavor is very similar to flat leaf parsley, very aromatic and flavorful.

The size of the plant will be smaller than the flat leaf one though. The curly variety grows more like a bush instead.

Root Parsley

One of the most underappreciated plants out there honestly. It might be a bit harder to grow at home since it’s pretty weather dependent. The root is what we are after here. It will look almost like parsnip. 

The difficulty comes when it’s growing in wet soil, since that can damage the root quite severely.

How To Dry Parsley

How To Oven Dry Parsley

Oven drying parsley is very easy. We are simply laying out the herb on a flat tray and then putting that in the oven. The temperature should be as low as possible. This will help keep the flavor and the aroma of the herb a lot better.

Something we have learnt over the years is that drying something at higher temperatures will obviously dry it more quickly, but the color and the flavor of the herb will disappear rather quickly.

How To Air Dry Parsley

This is a great method to use as it will also spread the wonderful aroma of the ehrb in the room that you are drying it in. We air dry our parsley by tying a bundle of it and then letting it free hang. 

It will take between 1 and 2 weeks until it’s fully dried, but the flavor and aroma of the herb will be great. Afterwards you should keep it in an air-tight container to keep as much moisture away as possible.

How To Dehydrate Parsley

Dehydrating parsley is a very efficient way of drying a large amount of parsley and then storing it for the long term. If you are lucky enough to have a dehydrator at home then it won’t take long to preserve your harvest.

Just like drying it in the oven, put the dehydrator at the lowest temperature. It will take between 6 – 8 hours or so, depending on how thick you layer the herbs.

How To Microwave Parsley

This might be the least used method. We are using the microwave to basically push out the water content as quickly as possible. Be careful that going too far will instead start burning the herbs eventually.

Parsley Plant
Parsley Plant

How To Store Dried Parsley

Storing dry parsley the right way is very important. Since we have taken all the water from the herb then we need to keep water away too. Rehydrating the herb will instead create a good environment for mold to grow on and bacterial growth.

In our house we use air-tight containers with some kitchen paper to store our dried herbs. The paper will attract any water getting in and protecting the herbs.

Using Dried Parsley

Once you have dried parsley then you have a lot of opportunity to use it in your cooking. We like to especially use it in sauces or soups. It will bring the flavor to a new level, adding a lot of aroma to the dish.

We would hold off on using it in salads, or “drier” dishes for example. You want something that can sort of rehydrate the parsley instead.

Summary

Drying parsley is a very simple task to undertake. We often use the air drying method in our home. It’s not the most efficient way to do it, but the flavor and aroma of the herb will be preserved, which we prioritize.

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