Harvesting, Using, & Storing Homegrown Herbs Frequent harvesting of your herbs will encourage steady growth, and keep your indoor herb garden looking beautiful year-round! Herb type Tender annuals, Woody perennials, such as rose- Parsley and other grassy including basil, cilantro, mary, sage and winter savory herbs summer savory and Other perennials, including sage and thyme. Harvesting Pinch back at base of Cut off at the point at which new Wait to harvest until roots stem. branches grow off a central stem; have developed and the harvesting a central stem slows plant is strong enough for down new growth. Perennials that regrowth. You can use a have flowered should not be har- scissors or a knife to cut the vested back to their branching herbs, or you may twist and growth. Instead, harvest fresh pull off with your hands. young leaves directly below the flowery tops. Storage Short term: Herb Bouquet Short term: Refrigerator. Short term: Herb Bouquet Long Term: Freeze Long term: Dry or freeze. Long term: Dry To clean fresh herbs, submerge them in a sink or bowl filled with cool salted water (about 2 tbsp salt per sinkful). The salt will drive away insects without damaging the flavor of the herbs. Remove the herbs from the saltwater, and dry in a salad spinner. Make sure they are dried completely prior to storage by blotting with paper towels. Short term Herb Bouquet:Place cut Refrigerator: Stack in Storage herbs into a container of loose layers sesparated Techniques water set at room temper- by parchment paper or Moisture ature, up to 2 days. towels to allow air flow in dense herbs, like a tightly sealed plastic container or ziploc bag. Basil, Chives, Mint, and Tarragon preservefreezing. better by Long Term Dry: Bundle 4-6 branches Freeze: Layer herbs in a , Storage and tie by their stems. tightly sealed plastic con- Herbs that don't have a high Techniques Place upside down in a tainer or ziploc bag, can moisture content, such as Bay cool, dry place for 3 be frozen for up to 4 Dill, Marjoram,, Summer Oregano, weeks. Once dry, store in months. Rosemary Thyme Savory and an airtight jar in a cool, You can also freeze into should be dried. dry place. ice cube trays with water, great for soups!.