Gathering Herbs
Growing herbs and using herbs are great, but you need to know how to gather, or harvest, them. It is not as easy as picking a flower or a leaf. Depending on what herb you are gathering, the timing and the methods are vital pieces of information that you need.
Wild or Garden
First, you need to know where you are going to gather your herbs. Many herbs grow in the wild and are easy to get. Others do better in herb gardens or indoor pots. This is important as how you gather is based on this.
Wild herbs are taken in small batches. This is traditionally called wildcrafting and is a way of treating nature with respect and only taking what is needed. Take an herb basket along with gloves and herb/garden shears and gently take what you need.
Herbs grown in your garden are for the taking. Many harvest their herbs at the prime potency time all at once. Others do it only as they need it. If your garden is close to your house, you might not need an herb basket, but the gloves and shears are important.
What Part of the Herb
Not all herbs have their leaves used. Not all have their roots used. You need to know what part you are harvesting.
For example, you would use the leaves of sage. Honeysuckle flowers are used, but the berries are poisonous. You would use the bulb or root of the garlic.
Research carefully or talk to a gardener or herbalist before guessing what to harvest. Many parts of herbs can be dangerous. So, you want to get the right parts.
When to Gather
Once you know what part of the herb you want to gather, you can then determine when the right time is.
Leaves are generally best gathered right before or during the flowering of the herb. If the herb does not flower, harvest the leaves soon after they have developed. This is when you can find the highest potency in the leaves.
Flowers are better harvested during the budding phase all the way until they are in full bloom. Once the blossoms begin to fade and wilt, their use diminishes.
Fruit should always be picked when it is ripe. Unripe fruit can be toxic or just not good for your health. Make sure you know what the ripe fruit looks like for your particular herb. Keep in mind that many berries are poisonous.
Roots should be gathered after the flowers, fruit, and leaves have begun to fade away. This is the perfect time to dig up the herb and gather the roots for your herbal needs.
Storage and Use
Many herbs are better used fresh. There are times when you might want to dry, freeze, or turn them into liquid form. Most herbs can be stored and used in a variety of ways. This can be the most fun part of having herbs.
Gathering herbs is a satisfying part of growing your own herbs and going out into the wild and harvesting your own. Know where you are getting your herbs, what part you want, and when to gather safely and most effectively.
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