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If you are planning to use the herbs, you should harvest them first but before doing so, you should consider the time you will harvest a certain herb. The weather at a certain place affects the good harvest of a herb.

Some herbs are affected by the season especially during harvest time. Their essential oils can be dispersed by the wind and the heat. It is already a common practice that herbs are harvested during dry season because herbs have fewer oils during the wet season.

If you harvest a herb, you only get a certain part of it and not the entire plant. Harvesting the herb does not mean you have to use it at once at the time you picked them but you can preserve them by keeping it in the refrigerator. In harvesting, you have to inspect for insects and leaves that are damaged.

Typically the  owner of a home herb garden knows that there are three ways to preserve their herbs for later use; drying, freezing, or preserving them in a medium like salt or vinegar.

In order to dry herbs you need to bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems. You can secure the bundle with string. The home herb garden enthusiasts protects the bundle in a cool location away from sunlight.

If you are looking to dry individual leaves you can place them on a screen or a rack. Remember to turn them often in order for them to dry properly.

Some people who have a home herb garden have turned to using appliances like dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs as well although these are less satisfactory ways.

Freezing herbs is a fairy simple way to preserve herbs. Cut the herbs into 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 in home herb gardens 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 flavored salt and store it in an airtight container.

Of course, the home herb gardener often use herbs fresh right out of the garden. Take care cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.

In order to clean fresh herbs place them in a bowl filled with cool water. If there is a large quantity of herbs you can use the sink. Place about two tablespoons of 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.
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Herbs have different types. They also have different uses and different ways on how to harvest them. Whatever herb you have in your own garden, you should have the proper knowledge and background for them to be used and cared properly.

Jack Grant is an herb garden lover and improved his skills in Italy. Get the secrets on how to cultivate your own Home Herb Garden and get FREE tips. Click here.

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The sun-worshiping ancients built Stonehenge to accurately identify this time. The celebration at Stonehenge has been documented in history and held great significance to the participants.

Plants harvested on this day (mainly herbs) were believed to be imbued with special powers and healers of this time believed that herbs cut on this date would be more potent and help to heal the ill.

While gardening you may notice that the plants constantly change in color and strength during the season. If you notice this year even though the season is young for many there will be a subtle change in plants after solstice.

Before solstice, garden plants put their energy into growing roots and shoots and leaves. After the solstice, you’ll see a small change in the vegetables. The plants will shift their efforts to reproductive growth and set about developing flowers and fruit. The additional vegetative growth that was so apparent before will drop off.

For those who follow the solstice or plant and harvest by moon, these gardeners  plan for solstice and start their plants indoors not just to get a head start, but so they’ll be as large as possible by the solstice. These gardeners feel that the plants will peak on this day and want the plant to be as mature as possible.

Harvesting Herbs

Throughout history herbs have been known for their healing quality. Their prime harvesting is when the vegetative growth is most leafy.

The ancients harvested the leaves because they held the essential oils, which carry the scent and medicinal qualities. Many herbs also hold their highest oil content at this time. The heat of the summer causes the herbs oil to evaporate out of the leaves.

A cool, still midsummer morning is the traditional time to harvest herbs for drying and storage.

Herbalists try to cut the herbs all at once before the rising sun hits the leaves, to retain as much of the oil in the leaves as possible. The sun and wind can also cause oils to evaporate out of freshly cut herbs.

For this reason, you want to cut herbs and get them into the shade before sunrise. It’s better to cut some of the herbs and move them indoors, then go back out and cut more. You don’t want the herbs to wilt in the sun while you are harvesting more herbs.

It is best to cut most herbs with long stems. This makes hanging the herbs in bundles, upside down easier. You will also have a benefit of the plants being stimulated into growing more vegetation with a low, rather severe cutting.
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You can hang herb bundles in your kitchen, which will scent the air as they dry, if they do not receive any direct sun through the window. I dry my herbs in the barn, which is dark, cool, and dry. It also has excellent air circulation, which is very important for the herbs to dry evenly.

Herbs that do not have strong stalks will dry better on an old window screen. Oregano and clover are two examples. Space herbs on the screen so there is little to no overlap. They will dry faster and will not develop a mold problem from not having adequate air.

By watching your plants in the garden you will notice the effects of the seasons on their growth and this will also help you notice any plant disease or growing problems.

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They are beautiful plants that are hardy and easy to care for. They have crafting purposes, medicinal purposes, or culinary purposes. Their history goes back as far as records were kept and before. So when thinking about plants to add to your garden or flower beds include the herb.

What type of herb should you add to your garden? I personally think you should add a few of each variety. That would include culinary, herbal, crafting, annual and perennial. Each of these groupings are very general and your selection would be large. I would choose your favorites if you know herbs or go with the top three to five favorite varieties to begin with.

If you haven’t grown herbs before they are very easy to grow. Most herbs require less water than other plants and seem to grow in most soils. They also tend to have less insect problems, so herb gardening is a perfect choice for the beginning gardener.
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Culinary herbs are an easy choice. What are your favorite herbs and seasonings? Oregano, Basil, Thyme and Sweet Marjoram are a few popular culinary herbs that many gardeners grow. You can try sesame or cinnamon but they are herbs that take a different climate and need more care to grow.

Medicinal herbs are plentiful but one that is beautiful and a wonderful addition to any garden is the perennial flower, Purple Coneflower. Many people grow St. Johns Wort, a delicate small flowered plant that grows into a small shrub. The list of medical herbs is long and which you choose depends on whether you are planting for the flower or for the medicinal herb properties. One word of caution if you are using the plants for medical reason, do a lot of research.

Crafting herbs also take in a large selection. It all depends on your crafting needs. Are you making soap, homemade paper, or natural dyes? So many of today’s popular crafts have an herb in the background. I must admit I grow more crafting dyes than any other herb. Lavender, rosemary, rosehips and roses, and horsehair are a few of my favorites.

You will also find a large selection of annual herbs and perennial herbs. I tend to mix the two and I grow them indoors and outdoors. They can be in the flower garden, vegetable gardens or herb garden

And one other area often overlooked with herbs are natural wild herbs. Plantain, Yarrow, Boneset, and Dandelion are a few of my favorites. Collecting wild herbs growing on my property is one of the most relaxing ways to spend a day.

Herb gardening is rewarding and a learning experience.  They are easy to grow both indoors, outdoors and in container gardens. Between their ease to grow and their many unique uses you will find that the herb is a must in any yard and garden area.

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6. Garlic Chives
This herb has chive type stems with delicate, pretty white flowers that dry well but remain fragile. It grows from a bulb and is a hardy perennial. While it prefers sun, Garlic Chives will still grow in some shade. Flowers are edible with a mild garlic flavor and the stems can be used like chives. Garlic Chives will disappear in the winter, so remember where you planted them. I usually have garlic chives growing on my windowsill in the winter.

7. Pineapple Sage
The beautiful, red spiky flower has a delicate presence in the garden and dries well for ornamental use. It is a tender perennial that will not make it through most winters unless moved indoors or protected. It will grow two to three feet tall and the leaves can be used in the same way as mint.

Tip: Pinch back the growth on the Pineapple Sage at times to retain a bushy look.

8. Lamb’s Ears
This is a hardy one to two foot tall perennial that will grow nearly anywhere. The soft, wooly gray to white leaves are elegant and beautiful and dry very well, and are the main reason this plant is grown. It is best not to water this plant from overhead or rust may develop. In a mild winter it will continue to grow, but it may become necessary to cut back unsightly long stems, which incidentally will flower and are very interesting as dried ornaments.

9. Borage
This large stemmed plant is one to three feet tall and adorned with lovely star shaped flowers. It will grow in the sun. If you wish for it to stay smaller, grow in a pot in partial shade. Borage will self seed and return each year in many areas. The flowers may be frozen in ice cubes for drink garnishes or sprinkled on salads or treated as any other garnish. Borage will continue to bloom well into the season if the dead flowers are removed.

Borage used to be grown in all gardens many years ago. It was used to help keep bugs out of the garden. It was also candies with sugar and used for cake decorations.

10. Ginkgo Biloba
This is a hardy and attractive deciduous tree with interesting leaves and is very attractive in the yard. It is important to buy male trees only. They can grow up to 70 feet and are a nice highlight and conversation piece wherever they are grown. The trees can be grown in a tub, but they do not like to be crowded, so give the roots plenty of room.

This information came of the J. G. Jance and Company website

For some reason Lambs ear is my favorite herb out of this group. It accents cut flowers so well, dries fast and has many crafting uses. It does spread thought so make sure you keep this herb contained.

I also really like the pineapple sage but in my area I have to grow it in pots and overwinter it in a greenhouse. So it’s more work…. but it’s a fun plant!

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Herb Tip: Make sure your soil is well drained if you want successful plants.

1. Echinacea: This beautiful perennial will tolerate both light and shade, and is also known as the Coneflower. There are several varieties, all of which are a nice addition to your herb or flower garden. Echinacea can easily be grown from seeds or plants. Fertilizing in the summer with a low nitrogen fertilizer (-0- Nitrogen) will encourage bloom. The seed heads are quite ornamental for dried arrangements.

2. Evening Primrose: The Evening Primrose, with its one to three foot tall, brilliant golden yellow flowers and spreading habit, makes a statement in the flower or herb garden. This perennial likes the sun and seems to thrive with little care once established. It likes room and “plantlets” will spring up if you allow the flowers to seed, however they are not difficult to remove when small.

3. Bee Balm: Striking flowers, from red to purple to white, this plant is very ornamental and a member of the mint family. This is a hardy perennial and will grow from two to five feet tall, and is loved by bees and butterflies. If you have no room for the “plantlets”, they pull out easily. Bee Balm prefers light shade, but will grow in the sun, and the flowers are unusually beautiful and dry well. You may find powdery mildew a problem, but a baking soda/water mixture or a commercial product will help. To help prevent the problem from ever starting, avoid overhead watering.

4. Saffron: Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and YOU can grow it. Some sources say it is difficult to grow, but that is not necessarily true. Saffron is a hardy perennial bulb and blooms in the fall. Be sure to plant your bulbs in the fall, and in harsh climates, mulch in the winter. The plant is a four to six inch tall lavender crocus type flower with orange stigmas (the saffron part). Mark the spot where they are planted for they will disappear in the winter. For harvesting, carefully and patiently pick the stigmas as soon as the flower is in full bloom and dry them on a paper towel. Store in glass. Saffron will multiply similar to other spring bulbs so be sure to divide to prevent crowding. Remember: Leaves appear in the spring and disappear in the summer, and the flower blooms in early fall.

5. Anise Hyssop: This is an easily grown licorice flavored plant. It likes partial shade and will send out “plantlets” for the next year. The unique spikes of lavender or white flower clusters dry easily. It grows three to five feet tall and is very attractive in the garden if it is growing with perennial white alyssum or other spring flowers. Anise Hyssop blooms in the summer.

This information came of the J. G. Jance and Company website

I have grown all of these herbs. I have either used them in teas or as dried or cut flowers. They all all top herbs and a welcome addition to any garden in my opinion. A few of these like to spread. I just make sure I have a break barrier and plant them by theirselves off to the side of the herb or perennial garden to help control spread.

Check out the next 5 unusual herbs for you herb gardens.

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To make this container garden more fun you may want to experiment with containers.

These are a few containers I have used before:

• Old punch bowl and I even used some of the punch bowl cups
• Old silver plate tea set
• Old teapots and
• Miss-matched teacups
• Terra cotta pots covered with moss
• Driftwood piece with pot set inside driftwood

Purchase or trade herb plants with friends. You will want to select healthy looking plants with healthy roots and soil that does not look diseased. Bring the plants home and lightly water.

Find suitable containers for your herbs and make sure they and clean and have proper drainage. This may mean adding a drainage hole in a cup or teakettle. Add fresh soil to the container and then add your herb plant. Press the soil in place and water.

Planting tip: Do not fill the container to the top with soil Leave a ½-inch area at the top of the pot to catch any excess water.

At this time I usually add a liquid fertilizer to help with any plant shock the herbs may have from being replanted.

I have started other herbs for friends in small glass punch cups and gave them as a gift. I have also done that with the miss-matched teacups. It makes a fast and cute gift idea. If the herb is a perennial, the gift will last for many years once planted in a larger container.
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Your own homemade tea blends have a fresh taste and can easily be changed daily for a change or for health purposes. A lemon tea blend always helps clear an oncoming cold.

Do you have any suggestions for a teapot garden container? I would love to hear them.

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You can plant Thyme seeds directly into your garden but I find starting them indoors is easier and I have more control over the plants. I plant too much on purpose and trade my additional plants for other herbs and flowers.

Indoor herb seed planting

I usually plant several seeds in each pot, water well and cover with plastic. It’s not necessary to use plastic but I find my plants germinate quicker and I water less often.
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Choose a sunny southern for your pots to set and sit back and wait. Once the thyme had germinated remove the plastic. Thin out the healthiest plants when the seedlings have two true leaves. Water when the plants are dry

Outdoor herb seed planting

Choose a spot with full sun exposure. Thyme grows best in light, relatively dry soils. I mix my soil with additional sand to get a drier soil for the plants. 

Plant your thyme seeds according to the packets directions. It will take about a week for the seedling to appear. When the plants have two true leaves thin out the plants leaving eight to 12 inches between the seedlings.

I mix thyme in with my drought resistant flowers to emphasis the flowers brilliant colors. I also grow them in the front of my house where the sun beats down heavily all day and most flowers don’t do well. Thyme also grows well and look great in hanging baskets.

Thyme is native to arid regions and will grow best with very little maintenance. It’s important not to over water them and they actually thrive with little attention. I usually only water my thyme if I am having a drought in the summer and then only once a week.

Thyme is used as a seasoning and also has many medicinal properties. It’s one of my favorite herbs to dry and I make my own tea blends with several different thyme varieties.

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