Preserve Your Herbs 

Growing herbs is just half the fun. Cooking with them and tasting the efforts of your work is icing on the cake! Here are some simple ways to preserve your homegrown herbs.

Long Stemmed Leafy Herbs

1.  Harvest them in the early morning just after the dew has dried off the leaves.

2.  Remove any soil/dirt/dust by rinsing them under cool water.

3.  Shake off excess water.

4.  Gently pick off any dead or discolored leaves with your fingers.

5.  Gather stems into small bunches & tie off with rubber bands. The rubber bands will hold as the stems dry & shrink.

6.  Hang bunches in a dark, cool, dust free, well-ventilated area.

7.  Take down bunches in 2-3 weeks , when they are dry.

8.  Strip leaves from stems.

9.  Store leaves in glass jars, plastic bags, bottles or even clean film containers.

Short Stemmed Herbs and Flower Petals

1.  Choose an area with good ventilation & no direct sunlight.

2.  Place a clean window screen on top of bricks or blocks.

3.  Strip fresh leaves from stems and place them in a single layer on the screen. For tiny leaves, place leaves still on the stems on the screen.

4.  Turn leaves often to ensure both sides of the leaves are exposed to the air and dry completely.

5.  Remove from screen in 7-10 days when leaves are completely dried.

6. Store for later use in plastic bags, jars, bottles, or clean film containers.

Pick herbs early in the day for the strongest flavor.