Right now is the perfect time to pick herbs as they’re growing on strongly with plenty of fresh young growth packed with the essential oils that make them so fragrant and enticingly tasty.
The perfect time to pick herbs
The more often you cut perennial herbs like rosemary, oregano and mint, the more they produce – so regular picking is essential to keep your supply coming. Annuals, too, stay leafy for longer when you pick them over every few days.
Dry evergreens like sage, rosemary and thyme in bunches tied together with string and hung upside down somewhere dry and out of direct sunshine. Alternatively, chop your herbs finely and pack ice cube trays with it, then cover with water and freeze. It’s then easy to pop a herby ice cube out and drop it into your cooking for deliciously fresh flavours.
As you harvest your annual herbs, remember to sow a few more as well, so you’ve got more to pick later in the year. Herbs you can sow seed into pots or direct into beds outside include parsley, coriander, basil and chervil. Or just drop by the garden centre here in Athlone and pick up a few pots of ready-grown herbs to take home and enjoy straight away.
