Harvesting and Using Home-Grown Aromatics

If you grow aromatic plants in your garden, you probably want to capture all the goodness the plant has to offer. There are delightful and simple ways to bring the magic of your fragrant garden into your home all year long.

Besides enchanting the senses, your home-grown aromatics can settle an upset tummy, lull you to sleep, or calm a fussy child. Use your herbs fresh in the kitchen to add valuable nutrients to a dish, as well as promote good digestion.

Store-bought potpourri is a pale shadow of the wonderful mixtures you can make from your own dried herbs and flowers. Hand-crafted aromatic gifts are both inexpensive and priceless. Stuff tiny pillows with dried camomile and lavender for sweet dreams. Bottle fresh sprigs of rosemary with vinegar; it will steep into a gourmet treat.

WHEN TO HARVEST YOUR AROMATICS: You want to get them when their essential oil level (and the attendant aroma) is as its highest. This level varies throughout the day, but is generally highest at cooler times, morning and dusk. Just go out and sniff around at various times to determine the best harvest time for the particular plant. This means you are going to have to smell the roses morning, noon and night! A rough job, but someone has to do it.

HOW TO HARVEST: For fresh kitchen use, you may just want to pinch off a sprig or pick a few leaves. Add to your dish at the very end of cooking so you don’t cook off all the oils. For dry use (teas and potpourris) you will want to harvest greater quantities. Flower like roses and camomile should be individually picked. Lay them on paper towels or in a shallow basket (don’t crowd them) and slowly dry in a cool, shady spot. I like to store my dried aromatics in canning jars or recycled mayo jars. Label with contents and date. Pull them out the pantry next winter to bring back summer’s magic.

For bushier plants like mint, basil and lavender, cut off the top 1/3 of the plant and tie the stems in small, loose bunches. Hang upside down in an airy shady spot until completely dry. Nothing brings country charm to your kitchen like bunches of drying herbs. You can then strip and crush the leaves and store them in glass.

SPECIAL TREATS: Tiny sachets stuffed with your dried lavender can scent your clothes or your linens. Pop your freshly laundered sheets into a clean plastic bag with a sachet and leave for a few days before you put them on the bed. Home-made luxury!

For easy home-made bath salts, get a big bag of sea salt from the health food store. For each cup of salt, add 15-20 drops of lavender essential oil plus your dried lavender and rose petals. Mix well and store in clean jelly jars that let the beautiful rose and lavender shades show through. Pop on a home-made label and you have a wonderful gift.

Herbal teas are great health boosters. You will need a stainless steel tea ball. A teaspoon or two makes a cup, more for a pot. Try mints for headaches and upset tummies. Camomile is good for tension and fussy kids. Thyme is good for colds.