Garden ‘Glut’: NHS News
The hard work of planting is done, now begins the glorious glut in our gardens. The ideal time to harvest herbs is around 10 a.m. after the dew has dried and before the heat of the day. I have 9×13 glass pans with chamomile and calendula drying. The lavender, catnip and horehound are hanging in the basement to dry.
The harvesting and processing can get overwhelming while also caring for our garden. My buddy, Bob Henrickson, brilliantly advises to freeze or dry what can wait until winter to process when there is more time. Besides in the deep of winter the smell of elderberry boiling as it warms up the house is a welcome smell, and horehound lozenges harden faster in the winter as opposed to adding your sweat to mixture toiling over a hot stove in the summer. Ha!
Anise hyssop tisane is in my refrigerator to help me deal with the summer heat. Chive flowers mixed in butter are setting up in ice cube trays in the freezer ready for entertaining. Happy harvesting!
- Co-President, Jill Kuhel