How to harvest and dry aromatic herbs at home

Drying herbs is a very easy and simple process that can be done for any type of herb you choose to grow. September is the ideal month to plant and harvest your herbs before the arrival of cold weather.

The drying process is a natural one that requires a dry, well-ventilated place. There are several methods for drying herbs, but it's important to keep in mind that excessive heat or light can prevent the process from working properly and reduce the herbs' properties and aroma.

Next, we're going to show you 3 processes so you can dry your herbs properly, without losing properties or aromas.

Traditional method

First, we need to select the quantity of herbs/branches we want to dry, for example, basil or oregano. Once selected, we must gather all the branches of each species and tie them with string at the cut end. It's essential to leave an excess of string for hanging.

Secondly, we hang the branches with the excess thread in a dry, dark place for approximately 15 or 20 days.

What do we do after this period? The leaves should now be dry, so we'll rub the branches with our hands to remove them, leaving the branch clean. Once the branches are removed, we'll store them in a glass jar for longer preservation.

Microwave or oven

If we want a faster process and instant results, there's a suitable system for that. We'll use our oven or microwave, following the previous cutting process. We'll place the chopped leaves on a plate, leaving the central area free so it doesn't get misshapen, and we'll place a glass in that central area.

We'll microwave them on full power for about 6 minutes. Every minute, we should stop the microwave and stir the herbs to aerate and separate them, ensuring a similar level of drying throughout.

When the herbs are dry, remove them from the microwave and place them uncovered on a plate for two hours. Be careful to choose a well-ventilated spot, otherwise they'll blow away and you'll be left with none! Once the process is complete, place them in a glass jar and they're ready to use anytime.

If you don't have a microwave, you can also dry them in the oven. To do this, place the herbs on parchment paper and put them in the oven at the lowest temperature for approximately 20 minutes.

Into the pan

It's a simple method, but it requires some skill and experience. Simply place the selected herbs in a pan over low heat and stir them occasionally. How long? You'll need to eyeball it; when the herbs easily fall apart, they're ready to be removed. But be careful not to burn them! Excessive heat can damage them and leave you with no herbs at all.

As you can see, there are several methods for drying herbs, some more natural than others, but all with the same goal. We recommend using traditional natural drying methods, trying to avoid using an oven or microwave. In any case, it's all about experimenting, and it's up to you to decide which method to use. So, get started and join the urban gardening revolution!