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Subject Topic: how to dry herbs? Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Syncletica
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Posted: June 16 2008 at 12:40pm | IP Logged Quote Syncletica
Can anyone tell me how to dry leaf herbs? Such as red raspberry, catnip, lavendar and lemon balm. My catnip is getting red and looks like it's starting to go to seed. I'm not sure when to pick it. It's my first year growing it. Also, I can't just pick stems b/c otherwise I'd have no plant left. How do I dry just leaves? They can't be held together with a string and hung upside down.
Also, would it be fine to pick them fresh and make tinctures? I just don't know when the proper time to pick them is, if there is a proper time. They aren't very big and I only got a couple of each plant which are growing in containers.
And one more question, does anyone know how to gather the seeds for planting more?
Thanks!
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Becky Parker
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Posted: June 20 2008 at 7:05am | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker
I can't answer all your questions, but I have dried herbs before. You can lay leaves flat on a screen. To be honest, my favorite way to dry them is in our food dehydrator. Laying them on a screen works, but it may take a long time, especially if it is humid.
As for gathering seeds, you need to wait until the seed pod it completely dry. I say that, but actually, with my lavendar, lemon balm and catnip, I never collect the seeds. I divide the plant. Lavendar can be woody, so it works best to bury a branch about half way down until it roots, then cut it, digging up the new roots and replant it. Lemon balm will spread like crazy if it has room. I think it is in the mint family(?). Catnip will spread on it's own too. So, maybe the answer isn't collecting seeds, but only cutting some of it to dry and leave some to spread?
I've not grown red raspberry so I'm no help there.

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