Can You Provide Some Advice On The Harvesting Ans Storage Of Herbs?

The best time to "harvest" most herbs is when the flowers are just beginning to bud. Carefully pick the leaves and stems. Try not to bruise them, as this releases the precious aroma.

While fresh herbs are the best, you may want to store some for out-of-season use. They can be frozen, stored whole in airtight containers or dried.

Drying herbs is the most common way of preserving them. When drying them, do not expose them to sunlight. Rather, hang them upside down ("head" down) in a warming cupboard or on a shelf where no steam or dampness can reach them. Or try this method: Put each variety of herbs into a separate brown paper bag (sage leaves in one bag, mint in another, rosemary in a third), gather the bag up loosely, and tie with a string, providing a loop for hanging. With a sharp knife or scissors, slit two or three places in each bag for ventilation and hang them up in a warm room . Every day or so, shake the bag to turn the herbs over so they'll dry evenly.

Once the herbs are "crisp," you can put them into jars and seal these tightly. If any sign of water appears, take the herbs out of the jar and dry them some more. Also, if you have only clear glass jars, paint them to keep light out. Dried herbs keep best in a dark cupboard.