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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cambourne7 on September 29, 2007, 19:02:29

Title: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: cambourne7 on September 29, 2007, 19:02:29
Hi Guys,

I need some advice.

I want to harvest some herbs so i have some in the house over winter, i have not got the foggiest what i can keep and how.

Any advice??

Cambourne7
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: Georgie on September 29, 2007, 19:19:05
I'm sorry but I'm not clear what what you are asking.  Have you grown some herbs and want advice on how to store them over winter?  If so what do you have?  Or do you want to grow some herbs indoors over winter?   If so what do you want to grow?  In my experience it's rather late now to be havesting herbs for freezing/drying but you can keep some herbs in pots indoors for winter use such as Parsley.

G x
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: cambourne7 on September 29, 2007, 19:37:04
Quote from: Georgie on September 29, 2007, 19:19:05
I'm sorry but I'm not clear what what you are asking.  Have you grown some herbs and want advice on how to store them over winter?  If so what do you have?  Or do you want to grow some herbs indoors over winter?   If so what do you want to grow?  In my experience it's rather late now to be havesting herbs for freezing/drying but you can keep some herbs in pots indoors for winter use such as Parsley.
G x

DOH sorry hon, yes i want to know how to harvest and store some of my veg over winter. I have sage, thyme, lemon balm and mint.
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: silverbirch on September 29, 2007, 19:59:03
You can either dry them, or freeze them.

To dry, cut when they are not wet, and hang upside down in brown paper bags indoors somewhere warm (I do mine next to the CH boiler) until they go crunchy.
To freeze, wash and put in freezer bags.  Or, make up cubes in the ice-cube tray.

If you dig up some mint and pot it, then bring it on to a windowsill in early November, there is a good chance you'll have it growing fresh for Christmas.

All of those you mention keep a good flavour when dried, but I tend to pick earlier in the summer.  They're going a bit over now.
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: cambourne7 on September 29, 2007, 20:02:57
many thanks for the advice :)

I am going to have a think about what i am going to do :)
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: Emagggie on September 30, 2007, 00:12:44
Cam, if you haven't got parsley this year, grow it next. I harvest it, wash it and squeeze it dry in paper towels, it pops up undamaged, chop it in the processor, bag it and freeze it. Marvelous for everything. ;)
Others I have dried in the microwave on kitchen paper and stored in jars. You should only crush them before using. Apparently this method doesn't affect the flavour, but may affect the therapeutic qualities.
Title: Re: keeping herbs over winter
Post by: cambourne7 on September 30, 2007, 00:16:55
cool the slugs got most of it this year.