Harvesting and storing herbs

[AnnettStudent]

I am trying to build up my herb plant supply in on my property. It can get to be a big job with a large food garden also. Do you have any tips to share as to how to harvest quickly, cleanly, and store efficiently?

For instance:

Chamomile takes a looooonnng time to pop of the flowers.

I live in a place where the wind blows all the time. Many of my herbs are dusty so they need a rinse before use. And the roots of my Echinacea took a very long time to get clean.

The drying takes up a lot of room too, if put on newspaper on shelves. I understand that it’s best to leave the herb in its original form so it will keep it’s medicinal properties longer. Is that true? Or is it best to dry and then pulverize to store?

Also, how long does it typically take to dry herbs? I suppose it varies. How do you know when they have dried completely?

What are your thoughts on freeze drying herbs?

How much of nutrients and medicinal properties of plants are lost in drying? freezing?

How do I know if the herbs got too much light or not when dried?

Can I dry herbs in a pillowcase in the sun on my back porch or is that too much sun exposure? (This is important to me because of drying quickly and without dirt getting on them?

Do they all last about two years? If not, is there a chart I can access which shows how long each lasts?

[IdahoHerbalist]

Echinacea: USE THE FLOWERS.

Dry on a screen, they will dry a LOT faster. Keep air moving over them and that will speed the process as well. In a pillowcase the enemy is not Sun, it is HEAT. Another thing that will speed drying is to us a guillotine paper cutter to chop the herbs up some. I have done that and then run them through a food grinder. We use our herbs pretty fast in the clinic though.

We tell people that commercially purchased herbs will last 1 to 2 years. I have 2 year old home harvested herbs that still smell and taste better than newly purchased commercial herbs. Freezing does work (space) and we believe that freeze drying is the bomb. Freeze drying is a pretty expensive endeavor though: purchase and operation.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Terrific. Thanks.

So, if my herbs are in the shade on a hot day then it’s still too hot? What are the parameters for drying exactly? I keep reading to put them in a cool dark place to dry.

I thought that herbs were good if they stayed in temperatures under 120 degrees Fahrenheit and so they would be ok outside drying on a hot day. What is the temperature range for drying?

Does light destroy medicinal properties?

[IdahoHerbalist]

Cooler the better. Darker the better. Mitigated against the TIME it takes to dry. The shorter the time in combination with the previous is best. Humidity in the air affects all of this too. Air movement will be very helpful too.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

annett wrote: Terrific. Thanks.

So, if my herbs are in the shade on a hot day then it’s still too hot? What are the parameters for drying exactly? I keep reading to put them in a cool dark place to dry.

I thought that herbs were good if they stayed in temperatures under 120 degrees Fahrenheit and so they would be ok outside drying on a hot day. What is the temperature range for drying?

Does light destroy medicinal properties?

I think staying under 100 degrees is important. Light is the worst thing in the world for medicine.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[justin2016]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: Echinacea: USE THE FLOWERS.

Dry on a screen, they will dry a LOT faster. Keep air moving over them and that will speed the process as well. In a pillowcase the enemy is not Sun, it is HEAT. Another thing that will speed drying is to us a guillotine paper cutter to chop the herbs up some. I have done that and then run them through a food grinder. We use our herbs pretty fast in the clinic though.

We tell people that commercially purchased herbs will last 1 to 2 years. I have 2 year old home harvested herbs that still smell and taste better than newly purchased commercial herbs. Freezing does work (space) and we believe that freeze drying is the bomb. Freeze drying is a pretty expensive endeavor though: purchase and operation.

Exactly.

[Martha StanleyStudent]

I have a dehydrator that will let me dry stuff at 95 degrees F.

And maybe a little lower but I’d need a thermometer to confirm that.

Is that temperature death to herbs, all herbs/plant material or just some heat sensitive ones?

It sure is convenient…..

Martha

[IdahoHerbalist]

95 is fine. Set it as low as you can. Dry moving air, even if cool, will do most of the drying.

[Judyj55]

My dehydrator’s temperature is 130 degrees. Is this too hot to dry cayenne peppers & other herbs? If so can you recommend a dehydrator that has an adjustable setting?

Thanks for your help

[IdahoHerbalist]

If you can turn the heat off then do that. You do not need heat to dry herbs. Air flow is all that is needed.

[Judyj55]

I’ll give it a try but here in the gulf coast our humidity runs about 80-100%. I was not sure if they would dry or mold.

Thanks

[IdahoHerbalist]

If you do need heat then keep it below 110 for better results.

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

I wanted to buy some licorice and the COA (Certificate of Analysis) at Mountain Rose Herbs says, “Treatment: Steam Treated.” Because heat destroys medicine, I’m wondering why herbs are being treated with steam.

And where do I buy untreated-with-steam dry herbs that are less than two years old?

[IdahoHerbalist]

I found out recently that ALL plants brought in from foreign countries are steam treated to kill any buggies that might be hiding in the material.

Yes, heat is a concern. It does not destroy everything though. I guess it is the price we pay for not growing stateside or HomeGrown!

[AnnettStudentTopic Author]

Thanks! Good to know.

[Author]

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