Guidelines For Gathering

First of all it's important to pay attention to how the day and season affect the plant you want to gather. Basically, you will want to gather plants when they are at their peak of potency, or fully ripe. 

• Leaves should be gathered when they are tender and showing new growth, either before the flower buds appear, or after seeding, when new fall growth appears.
• Flowers are usually best before full bloom, in the mid to late morning after the dew has dried.
• Seeds should be gathered when ripe and dry, but before they fall to the ground.
• Roots are gathered in the early spring or late fall. Since sap rises and falls with the sun, an ideal time to gather is in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Inner barks and saps are best gathered in the spring when the sap is flowing, before the leaf is full size. The inner bark is gathered from the limbs of the tree, not the trunk (which can kill the tree). Mid-afternoon of a warm sunny day on the south-facing side of the tree is best.
• Shoots can be gathered year-round, though spring is the preferred and most abundant time. Gather from stands that benefit from thinning.
• Plants gathered in the spring and late fall generally reach peak potency during cool-weather spells: Violet, rose hips, dandelion root, sun tuber, and cattail shoots are some examples.
• Plants gathered during summer and early fall usually need heat to develop fully and create essential oils. Gather these plants during hot spells: will carrot seed, St. John's-wort flower, chokecherry, sage leaf, and mullein flower.
• Try not to gather for a day or two after heavy rainfalls. Plants will soak up the excess moisture and lose potency.
• Likewise, try not to gather during a drought, as the plant cells are stressed and, again, not as potent.

Sometimes you will not be able to follow these guidelines 100 percent of the time.  That is okay. Allow yourself  the freedom to explore simple and safe plants during different times in their growth. 

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Reference: The Herbal Home Remedy Book, Joyce A. Wardwell