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Herbs
For Winter Use
By Barbara Pilcher, Winter 2001
Ideally,
most herbs for drying or freezing are harvested
during or just before peak flowering time.
However,
if this has not been possible, vigorously growing
herbs are still worth gathering into the autumn.
For
instance if you have cut back your tarragon,
new fresh shoots will be appearing and these
are ideal for freezing or for making tarragon
vinegar.
Late
flowering marjorams are often at their best
in September/October and may still be picked,
purple heads and all for ornamental or culinary
use.
On
the medicinal side, St John's wort is often
required at the stage of early seed setting,
so October can be the month for picking that,
and where roots are required, e.g. Angelica
or Echinacea, autumn is the best time to dig
them.
Many
seeds can be collected. Rocket, coriander, dill,
fennel and fenugreek for culinary or medicinal
use. It is a good idea also to put away some
of these for sowing next season.
Planting
a herb trough|
Compost
heaps, seakale and rhubarb | Harvesting,
drying and storage | Extending
the season for fresh herbs
| Autumn
Kitchen Garden
| Winter herbs |
February sowing
|
Soil
Preparation | April
Kitchen Garden
|
