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What to do with new herb plants?
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Ok gardener friends, my MIL just gave me a few new herb plants and really didn’t give much advice other than they will come back yearly, be nice for my garden and that’s that. So can you tell me ways of making the most of these wonderful herbs?
Thyme & Oregano: do you suggest dehydrating it or drying it? If so how, or just fresh?
Echinacia (Purple Coneflower): She said not to eat it, but the root can be used. but for what and how?
Russian Sage: Also told not to eat, just likes sun and attracts bees.
So any thoughts or website suggestions, I usually don’t have room in my garden but being pregnant we didn’t plant much this year so I thought why not add to my herbs which I have chives, they never make it in the house though the kids just pluck and eat!
Thanks Misty
Misty – Ok your friend is quite right about the Purple Cone Flower, Echinacea – the root is what is used to make the tincture and I would be inclined to tell you to just enjoy the plant as a flower – it attracts butterflies and bees, so is useful in the garden. Unless you really know how to make tinctures and things, it can be a very bad idea to try at home – I know you have a lot going on in your life, and at this point making safe tinctures would most likely be too much for you. However you can harvest the roots and tops and here is a link that tells you how to do it if you feel the needhttp://www.gardenguides.com/499-coneflower-echinacea-purpurea-garden-basics-flower-perennial.html
The Russian sage is actually just a perrenial plant, very attractive, I have two in my yard, again not a herb per se, just another great plant for attractring the winged creatures and it smells nice.
Oregano, great for tomato dishes, poultry, dressings,sauces and vegetables. I like to use fresh, but you could harvest some and dry it to store for later – fresh is far better for you though.
Thyme, a very strong flavor so use sparingly or to personal taste, great for poutry, fish, soups, stews, cheese, eggs and rice among other things, also can be used in sachets and potpourri.
A lot of herbs like the mint family can be very invasive in the garden – so some are better planted in pots, especially the mint families. All herbs or nearly all love full sun, and do not do well in shade. Also Coneflowers do not like wet feet, so don’t overwater. Hope that helps, I use loads of herbs and keep nearly all mine in pots by the kitchen so I can snip and use. I love to keep applemint, peppermint and German chamomile near the back door to snip and make tea with – delicious with manuka honey, or any honey. Good luck – Linda
Misty, as you are pregnant – always check to see if a herb is safe for you to use – people forget herbs are powerful and can be as dangerous as all medicines that your doctor prescribes, so check online before using any herb. You don’t want anything happening to that baby now. Blessings, Linda
Definitely use your thyme and oregano fresh, but dry some in you dehydrator for winter use. Store your dried herbs in air tight containers. Keep the dried herbs whole. Crush them when adding to recipes. Whole herbs keep their flavor longer than crushed or ground ones.
If you use the fresh herbs instead of dried in recipes, you will need to add more of the fresh herb than the recipe calls for dried. A general rule is to use twice as much but sometimes I use more than that.
Enjoy your new herbs!
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