Herb planting in your backyard garden can be a fun and beneficial project. Not only will the herbs planted be available to eat, they can also be used in various ways from growing catnip for your feline friends to growing plants to use in craft projects. Regardless of the reason for planting herbs, once they beginning to bud, blossom or bloom, it's time to harvest and preserve the plants.

Herb Planting Harvest Time

Harvest the herbs only if the plant has enough foliage to sustain itself. Meaning, do not harvest a plant if it has not established itself. Always harvest plants in the morning after the dew has had a chance to dry and do not harvest plants in the middle of the day. Always use sharp scissors to ensure a clean cut. Snip flowering herbs once the first signs of buds appear and if they are to be used in crafts projects, snip them once the flower has begun to open.

Herb Planting Preservation

Now that the herb planting and harvesting portion of the growth cycle is over, it's time to decide what to do with the harvested herbs. There are several methods that can be use to preserve the plants and these include freezing, drying and microwave.

Freezing

Rinse herbs in cold water then use paper towels to remove excess water. Spread the herbs on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry completely. If you want whole herbs, leave them in tact but if you want smaller pieces, cut/chop the herbs into the size you want prior to freezing. Once dry, place the herbs into the freezer. Remove from freezer and place herbs in individual zip lock freezer bags.

Drying

Rinse the herbs, shake out the excess and lay them out to dry. Once they are completely dry, holding them by their stems, create small bundles of herbs and tie together with string. Take the bundles and hang them in a dark, cool, dry location such as a closet, basement, attic or anyplace where there will be no sunlight. The area also needs to have good air circulation. There is always a chance that even utilizing your best efforts, the plants might get moldy.

Microwave

Another option for drying the herb planting bounty is by microwave. Place the herbs between paper towels and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. The herb leaves should be brittle, if not, repeat the process. Place leaves in zip lock bags.