Guidelines for Gathering

When it comes to actually gathering those beautiful herbs you planted, you want to make sure you pick them at their peek of potency, or when they are fully ripe. Here are some general guidelines:

• 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, and ideal time to gather is in the early morning or late afternoon.

*Plants gathered in the spring and late fall generally reach peak potency during cool-weather spells.

  Examples are Violet, rose hips, dandelion root, sun tuber, and cattail shoots.

*Plants gathered during summer and early fall usually need heat to develop fully and create essential oils.             Gather these plants during hot spells. Examples are: Wild carrot seed, St. John's wort flower, chokecherry,  sage leaf, and mullein flower.

*Try not to pick for a day or two after heavy rainfalls. Likewise, try not to gather during a drought. 

Sometimes you may not always have these perfect conditions to gather your herbs. So listen to them. Believe it or not, your herbs and plants will speak to you and you will know and feel when the time is right. 

Happy harvesting!

E.