We then end up resorting to buying pre-cut herbs, which can be quite expensive (especially when making heaps of Mojitos) and are almost always packaged in single-use plastic. Pot up herbs and move them into a frost-free greenhouse or sun porch. If you’d like to keep your potted plants growing for longer it’s essential they are re-potted with fresh potting mix. If you don’t have any old pots lying around, you can also use any other large plastic containers like ice cream or yoghurt tubs, as long as you make some drainage holes at the bottom. Note that you can store more than one roll in a gallon-sized bag. Put herbs in the right kind of pot. You can also follow us on social media to stay up to date with our journey, find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. This makes them kind of floppy if left to their own devices. Remove the tips from above a node. The mix should be rich in organic matter and free-draining. Remember to choose healthy plants, repot them into fresh potting mix in larger pots, split up overcrowded plants, water them regularly and harvest appropriately. Rosemary is an example of a "hard" herb, whereas parsley we'll classify as "soft." The key when buying potted herb plants is to pick the healthiest ones, they will grow faster and produce more for you in the long run. The compost has all of the organic matter and nutrients needed as well as moisture retentive properties. Which is why loosely covering the jars is the best way to store tender herbs, while wrapping in damp paper towels and storing them in plastic bags, but not sealing the bags, is the best method for hardy herbs. Sign up to our newsletter for tips on a healthy lifestyle and a round-up of relevant news. Watering and positioning then become important. Storing soft herbs in jars with water prolongs the life of the herbs by keeping them alive like flowers. Plant like a (gentle and careful) pro. Dried herbs can be used just like the dried herbs you buy at the supermarket; they're best reserved for applications like spice rubs or long-cooked stews and sauces. Fill your jars about halfway with water. Frozen herbs can be used in most fresh-herb applications in which the herbs are even slightly cooked. As the moisture from fresh vegetables evaporates, it remains in the drawer, slowing the rate at which those veggies dry out. Instructions. If stored in water, hardy herbs can become waterlogged. Fresh herbs don't carry illness-causing bacteria, but they can become tainted via cross-contamination. A green, tender stem puts it in the "soft" category, while a brown, woody or thick one makes it "hard.". Iâve found that quart mason jars make the best containers for keeping your living herbs alive. Coggins urges us to keep in mind that fresh herbs from the freezer contain water, so the flavour will be diluted. If you feel confident that the root masses are large enough with lots of intact roots, you can split it again to have four separate plants. To do this, we need to divide fresh herbs into two broad categories and look into the optimal storage method that suits each type. You have two categories of supermarket herbs; living plants and fresh cut. If you have used a nutritious compost mix, you may not want to fertilise your plants with additional nutrients. Leafy versus woody is one way you could describe it, but to make it simpler, we'll just say soft and hard. Now place the rolled-up herbs in the bag and, without sealing it, transfer it to the fridge. Basil, especially sweet basil or Genoa basil so popular in Italian dishes and used in pesto, is notoriously tricky to keep fresh. Step 1: Dig them up Dig up herbs before the first frost and plant them in fresh soil, allowing for a couple of inches around the root ball. Transplant them to containers that are deep enough for roots and that have drainage holes. Youâll find more information on using artificial lights to grow your herbs here. An ordinary glass jar will do, although you might want to split a bunch of herbs across two jars to avoid crowding them. If you use the right method and avoid harvesting too much too often, your plant will thrive. Here are some key things to look out for: Avoid buying plants with discoloured or wilted leaves. You can decide for yourself by looking at the stems. And since they're already on a damp paper towel, all you have to do is gently roll them up. Have you ever struggled to keep your herb pots alive? That will give respectable results. These will grow new large stems in 2 weeks which can be harvested in this way 3 to 4 more times. Figure Out What Kind of Herb You're Working With. Pro-tip: Donât wash these herbs until right before use. Keep them warm Although the windowsill is a popular place to grow herbs because of how much light they get, it can also be a chilly spot â something that ⦠It helps to try and find a place where the roots and soil easily separate into two masses. Ideally the pots or containers should be about twice the size of the supermarket pots. And now we come to the two storage methods, one for soft herbs and one for hard ones. Mint - Harvest the tips of the plants every two weeks or so. I find using a large tablespoon allows me to carefully add mix into hard to reach spots in the pots. You can certainly grow your own herbs and simply snip off what you need, but short of that, the best way to avoid waste is to store your fresh herbs properly so that they last as long as possible.Â. TIP: Check for insects which, if present, can be eradicated with a soap spray. Basil - Harvest only the tips of the basil plants every two weeks or so. For hard herbs, it's even easier. When following a recipe, âyou would use a tablespoon of fresh herb as opposed to a teaspoon of dried, because itâs more concentrated.â 2. Unless your pot of herbs has only one or two stems, like some supermarket Basil plants, I would advise that you split it and make two separate plants. Avoid buying plants with broken or damaged stems. With fresh herbs you will need to put them into water, often in your fridge, changing the water frequently. For soft herbs, store them standing up in jars of water in the fridge. This will then grow laterally and you can repeat. Unfortunately, I don't get very much direct sunlight in my place and every attempt ⦠Even a single day in the fridge can cause fresh herbs to turn limp, wilted, discolored, even slimy. Stored this way, your hard herbs will last two to three weeks. Fill a glass with cool water, Trim the ends of the stems, and then place the bunch in the glass. If you have used a nutritious compost mix, you may not want to fertilise your plants with additional nutrients. How to Store Fresh Herbs And now we come to the two storage methods, one for soft herbs and one for hard ones. Your fresh herbs should be slightly damp, but not still soaking wet. The easiest potting mix to make is a combination of multi-purpose compost and perlite. I hope you find this blog useful, if you're looking for more tips or fun ways to grow at home, check out my latest blogs on growing plants in a. All rights reserved. The quart mason jars are just tall enough ⦠Happy growing! The good news: indoor herbs are relatively low maintenance plants. But rather holding your fresh herbs under the tap, which can damage leaves and break off delicate stems, fill a large bowl (or the sink) with cool water, dunk your herbs in and gently swish them around. Watch more Food Preparation Tips, Tricks & Techniques videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/410122-How-to-Keep-Fresh-Herbs-Alive-over-the ⦠Repot them with fresh potting mix and larger pots. It turns black and wilts at an astonishingly quick rate. To make your potting mix go further, you could add coco coir or peat moss to bulk it up. But if you use new ones, spritz them with water to dampen them first, as dry paper towels won't work as well. And because the leaves are so small, they can fall through the openings in the salad spinner basket. Most large supermarkets (and garden centres) stock a fairly good variety of potted herb plants, with the most common being Basil, Mint, Parsley, Coriander, and sometimes Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano and Sage. The air in the refrigerator is quite dry, which is why it comes equipped with crisper drawers, whose purpose is to create a small humid storage area within the fridge. Get it really down close if they're baby plant cuttings--nearly touching. Get a full-spectrum light bulb ("grow bulb"), install it in a small desk lap with a snakey arm, and aim the light on your plants at least a couple hours a day. Don't wash your herbs until you're ready to use them. Secure the bag with a rubber band and transfer the jar to the fridge where your herbs will keep for two to three weeks. Perlite is a volcanic rock, which creates pore spaces within the soil, increasing drainage whilst aerating your growing medium. This will keep them fresh much longer. Change the water every couple of days to keep it fresh. Next, grab a plastic produce bag and cover the whole top of the jar so that the herbs are completely enclosed. If the nursery pot is plastic, never pull the plant out from the ⦠Place the desired section into one of your pots and begin to add potting mix until the plant is completely supported. Which brings us to drying your herbsâthis step is important since storing wet, dripping herbs in your refrigerator is not a way to keep them fresh. Coriander has a tendency to bolt (go to seed) quickly so make sure you harvest routinely to get the most out of your plants. That's because the best way to store hard herbs is rolled-up in a damp paper towel inside a resealable plastic bag in the fridge. Coriander - Remove 1 or 2 of the outermost stems from each plant and allow the middle to grow for an additional week or two before picking again. We aim to bring people closer to food production and help to create a culture of healthy, sustainable living. Freezing herbs in water in ice cube trays is another popular method. Most herbs need a warmth in order to grow. In fact, lavender is the most difficult herb to keep alive, with 10,400 plant parents in need of help every month. These small leaves will produce sideways (lateral) growth, which you can harvest later. Helpful Gardening Videos How to garden. Once you have brought your plants home, you should get your growing medium ready. Herbs are difficult to keep alive and thriving, and it often feels like their survival is down to the luck of the draw rather than it being any reflection on the care you give your plant babies. You can dry herbs in the microwave following our guide to drying herbs. Fresh herbs are one of my favorite ways to brighten up recipes. Even though many herbs can survive at lower temperatures, they are unlikely to produce much growth under those conditions. These resinous herbs already have several defenses against desiccationâall you have to do is help them along to ensure their delicious perfumes are ⦠Square Mile Farms bring vertical, urban farming to city dwellers in their homes and in the workplace. Always go for herbs which have roots still attached to them. Most herb plants you will buy are multi-sown, this means multiple seeds are sown in the small nursery pot, which leads to overcrowding as they grow. If you donât have the intense natural light they need, consider hanging a 2-tube fluorescent lamp 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) above your herbs, leaving it on 14 hours a day. The truth is that all your efforts could be lost if you harvest your plants in the wrong way. They’re often sold in a plastic sleeve: I’d recommend briefly sliding the plant out of the sleeve to get a better view of it and inspect for any damage. For soft herbs, store them standing up in jars of water in the fridge.