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Post by alpacasock on May 24, 2023 15:05:37 GMT -5
I am guessing a lot of y'all cut your herbs as you need but for those of you who tend to keep some in the fridge do you have any tips to share to keep them fresh longer? I have noticed that things like dill and chervil wilt very fast if you wash them before storage even if you try and dry them right away but that isn't the case for things like oregano, savory etc... I keep my herbs in the crisper drawer sometimes wrapped in paper towels, not sure if that (the paper towel) does anything but that's what I do... I have noticed with carrots as well that they go limp rather fast if not stored down below.
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Post by breezygardener on May 24, 2023 15:24:22 GMT -5
I keep most cut herbs either wrapped in slightly-damp paper towels &/or in open plastic bags in the crispy drawer. However, basils get their stem ends trimmed & are kept in glasses of water on the counter, as one would do with flowers. They'll even grow roots that way & can then be potted up!
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Post by alpacasock on May 24, 2023 16:10:47 GMT -5
However, basils get their stem ends trimmed & are kept in glasses of water on the counter, as one would do with flowers. They'll even grow roots that way & can then be potted up! That's a great tip. Is basil the only one which is good to do that with?
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Post by breezygardener on May 24, 2023 16:23:57 GMT -5
Is basil the only one which is good to do that with? Basil is the only one I've ever done it with, but I also understand that mint can be kept that way as well. I imagine you could try it with others in a limited way at first, & see what happens.
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Post by alpacasock on May 24, 2023 16:41:10 GMT -5
breezygardener, my mint is so out of control I end up just using it to make tea when wilted or don't feel too bad to discard it. Do you dry much of your herbs? I usually lay them out on a plate by a window but am now wondering if there is a way to dry them in the crisper drawer and often that's what happens when I forget about some of them. Also, been thinking about those hanging mesh baskets to do so but wonder if they can be used to dry things like okra as well. I rather not invest in a dehydrator.
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Post by desertwoman on May 24, 2023 18:17:57 GMT -5
alpacasock, I dry all my herbs that I don't use fresh during the growing season. I learned from Rodale's herb growing book. They state the first rule for harvesting is to pick them early in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun warms them up (because the essential oils lose their quality when exposed got heat). Wet leaves require longer drying times. No real need to buy a dehydrator for herbs. Hang bound bunches upside down so that the oils concentrate in the leaves. I hang my bunches from a beam at the edge of the kitchen. If there is high humidity some people use fans , dehumidifiers, or air con to help speed the drying. (I don't have this problem, living in the desert) You can also oven dry them which drys them more quickly and is said to be a good way to retain the oils (flavor). I have my herb garden right outside an entry door so I just pick them fresh, as needed, but with your garden some distance away that might not be a possibility for you unless you have a balcony at home that you could grow potted herbs in. There's nothing like fresh herbs- we are already picking fresh tarragon, oregano, parsley, fennel leaves and thyme!
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Post by alpacasock on May 25, 2023 10:12:32 GMT -5
desertwoman, those are some very interesting tips re: harvesting the herbs. That book looks just up my alley- going to try to find an old edition as the current one is really really ugly looking. Like an "herbs for dummies" book. Anyways, thanks for sharing...
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Post by desertwoman on May 25, 2023 12:07:00 GMT -5
alpacasock, This is the one I have... published 1993
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Post by alpacasock on May 25, 2023 13:14:12 GMT -5
desertwoman, that looks nice. The current paperback edition on Amazon looks kinda cheap.
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Post by desertwoman on May 25, 2023 13:41:07 GMT -5
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Post by alpacasock on May 25, 2023 14:16:59 GMT -5
desertwoman, perfect- and a book I'll likely actually finish!
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Post by gardendmpls on May 25, 2023 16:02:14 GMT -5
Try bookfinder.com. It's a book search engine. You type in the title or author and they print a list of every site that has the book, its condition and the price with shipping. They have a separate column for new books and they can also sort by hardback or paperback. You click on the one you are interested in and they take you to the site. I always check there before buying a book and have gotten great deals on books in very good condition without having to check out all the sites one by one.
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Post by alpacasock on Jun 1, 2023 14:39:36 GMT -5
gardendmpls, thanks for the heads up. I am going to order a copy this weekend. In the meantime desertwoman, does the book advise against washing the herbs before hanging? I reckon as much considering the advice you relayed regarding harvesting. Also... what do you (as in whoever is reading this) with herbs that you have growing in a bed which want to bolt early despite your best efforts? My chervil got so many flowers in a matter of days and I am resigned to letting it go to seed and hoping it grows in places in the bed which have room for it.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 1, 2023 16:29:35 GMT -5
alpacasock Chervil is one of those things I gave up on growing, as, like cilantro around here, it would bolt, before it had much to harvest. I couldn't grow it inside, either - it attracted spider mites.
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Post by alpacasock on Jun 1, 2023 16:46:22 GMT -5
pepperhead212, I had the same issue with cilantro last year which is a shame as I was growing an Indian variety. Have you tried a bunch of different ones? Btw, have you tried growing Mexican tarragon? That looks like a really pretty plant...
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