Home | Environment | Cultivation & Gardening

Growing Organic Vegetables - Time to Harvest Your Herbs

By: Adam Granger


Read More About Cultivation & gardening

You may have just begun to begin growing organic vegetables and herbs or you could possibly be an experienced grower already. There exists one question that seems to pop up time and time again.

Ok I have my herbs, what next?

In this article I will cover some helpful tips for your organically grown herbs.

Many of us like to use herbs in a dry form.. To get the very best from your herbs you should always try to harvest them at the beginning of the day. You simply need to use a sharp knife or a pair of garden scissors to harvest your herbs and ensure that the stems are quite long.

1: Cleaning Your Herbs

Be gentle when you are washing your herbs, they are quite fragile and will not take kindly to being handled roughly. So be gentle with them and once washed put them on a piece of kitchen towel or a clean cloth. The herbs need to dry out once washed so the towel needs to be absorbent so that all the water can drain from your herbs.

2: Drying Your Herbs

You can then tie your herbs into bundles with string once all the surplus water has been removed. Then hang the small bundles up in an area out of the way but if possible moisture free. I find that the airing cupboard can be a excellent spot as its always slightly warm and of course dry. If you are hanging them near a window which has direct sunlight this will also be a very good place. Just remember however, that the sunlight will take some of the natural colour from the herbs.

3: Making Your Herbs Ready For Use

Get yourself some glass or stone jars and once the herbs are completley dried out it is easy to crush them into the jars.. I prefer not to use plastic as I always feel this effects the flavor of the herbs. Your herbs once dried will last for no less than nine to twelve months.

4: Freezing Your Herbs

As an alternative you can even freeze your herbs. To do this simply harvest and wash as above but when drying you have to make 100 percent certain there is no excess moisture. So keep turning them on the paper towel until completely dry. This is essential for the freezing process.

To get the very best flavor from your herbs when frozen keep the flowers and leaves on the stems. Once they are dry you are able to put them into freezer bags and place them into the freezer. One point to note here is to put a label or mark the freezer bag with the date. To get the very best flavor out of your frozen herbs I recommend that you use them within 6 months.

When you wish to use your frozen herbs simply take them from your freezer, crush a little that you need to be used and then return the rest to the freezer.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Get more information about Growing Organic Vegetables and organic herbs you can get plenty more information and advice at growingorganicvegetables.net/" >growingorganicvegetables.net Why not give it a go; you really will love the taste of your personal naturally grown vegetables and herbs.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Cultivation & gardening Articles Via RSS!

counter easy hit

Powered by Article Dashboard