HOW TO PRESERVE FRESH GARDEN HERBS
Garden Gate|Issue 173 - October 2023
THE GROWING SEASON MAY BE ENDING SOON, BUT YOU CAN USE YOUR HERBS ALL YEAR!
Marisa Reyes
HOW TO PRESERVE FRESH GARDEN HERBS

Instead of letting fresh herbs go to waste, preserve them. It's a great way to enjoy your favorite herbs all year, and the process is a lot easier than you might think. Here are four simple preservation methods you can use from spring until the first frost hits, and I'll show you which herbs work best for each approach.

HOW TO HARVEST The best time of day to harvest herbs, if you can, is in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the heat has started to strip away plants' natural essential oils. Plants with woodier stems will require a pair of pruners or scissors. Herbs with more tender stems can just be snapped off, no tool required.

Early harvests During the growing season, harvest branching herbs like basil, oregano or mint by cutting up to a third of a stem back to just above a leaf node. This encourages the plant to form new side shoots and continue to grow. You can harvest nonbranching herbs, such as cilantro, parsley or chives, by cutting individual stems at the base. But don't harvest all of them or they may not grow back. In general, try not to harvest more than a third of a plant at one time so plenty of leaves are left to photosynthesize.

Fall harvests For the last harvest of annual herbs in fall, go ahead and cut the entire plant to the ground, no matter which herb it is, as they won't return the next year. It doesn't hurt to harvest perennial herbs, such as rosemary, garden sage or thyme, lightly in fall, but do your larger harvests in spring and summer. If you cut them back heavily in fall, you could encourage them to send out tender new growth that's susceptible to winter damage.

この記事は Garden Gate の Issue 173 - October 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Garden Gate の Issue 173 - October 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

GARDEN GATEのその他の記事すべて表示
Spinach - Learn the secrets to growing this tasty green in spring and fall.
Garden Gate

Spinach - Learn the secrets to growing this tasty green in spring and fall.

If you're one of those gardeners who can't wait to get started in spring and hates to throw in the trowel in fall, spinach is the perfect shoulder season crop. This mild, earthy-flavored green comes in many varieties, ranging from crinkly-leafed savoys to slightly textured semi-savoys and the flat, smooth-leafed types. Colors can be dark green, light green and even red-veined. Here's how to get the most of it every year.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Why Bulb Depth Matters - Dig deep enough to ensure your plants stand tall and live the longest
Garden Gate

Why Bulb Depth Matters - Dig deep enough to ensure your plants stand tall and live the longest

When you're planting bulbs, it's tempting to just dig a hole as deep as your trowel will reach easily, nestle the bulb in, cover it up and move on. But the fact is, each type of bulb will flower best and thrive at a different depth.A good rule of thumb is to plant a bulb two to three times its height. One reason planting depth is important is because it helps to keep the bulbs protected from fluctuations in temperature that happen closer to the surface.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
GARDEN ESSENTIALS
Garden Gate

GARDEN ESSENTIALS

FALL GARDEN CLEANUP TOOLS

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Saving Seeds
Garden Gate

Saving Seeds

Saving flower seeds is a great way to get more plants with almost no investment. It's easy to do. Here's how to save seeds from some of your favorite annuals as the growing season winds down.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Cucumber Trellis Flop
Garden Gate

Cucumber Trellis Flop

I watched cucumber trellis growers online for several seasons with envy. What a brilliant way to save space in raised garden beds and make it look fancy! Finally, I was sold and decided to try it in my garden.

time-read
2 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
9 Tough Perennials for Clay Soil
Garden Gate

9 Tough Perennials for Clay Soil

Whether you garden in the nutrient-poor red clay of the Southeast, the calcium combined-with-clay caliche of the West or something in between, the common denominator is that clay soil is difficult to grow in. Why? Tiny particles of clay hold tightly together, slowing drainage and limiting the amount of oxygen that can reach plant roots. You've seen the resultsanemic-looking or rotting plants.

time-read
7 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Garden Fences
Garden Gate

Garden Fences

Discover the perfect blend of functionality, style, and materials for your ideal fence.

time-read
5 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
A GARDEN OF STORIES
Garden Gate

A GARDEN OF STORIES

Learn plant and project tips from a couple who's been gardening here for nearly 50 years.

time-read
7 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Switchgrass
Garden Gate

Switchgrass

Adaptable switchgrass goes with the flow.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 179 - October 2024
Establish a Monarch Waystation
Garden Gate

Establish a Monarch Waystation

Did you know that a single monarch butterfly can migrate up to 3,000 miles? That's a lot of ground to cover! This amazing insect makes a fascinating journey, unlike any other butterfly.

time-read
3 分  |
Issue 179 - October 2024