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How to Dry Fresh Herbs from the Garden

February 19, 2021 by RiggsCreekFarmhouse Leave a Comment

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How to Dry Fresh Herb from your Garden throughout the whole year by starting a herb garden and learning several useful preserving techniques.

What is a Fresh Herb from the Garden?

basket full of dry fresh herbs at Riggs Creek Farmhouse

Do you love cooking, baking and drinking teas with fresh dry herbs from a garden such as lavender and parsley. Do you find buying herbs can be expensive and a waste of money because often it is sold in large quantities.

How to Dry Fresh Herbs from the Garden Video

A herb is usually green and will grow annually, perennially and biennial. Herbs are valued for flavor, smell, dying and medicinal use.

Growing fresh Herbs are a great way to get started with gardening because to be honest all you need is good sun and proper watering.

I grow fresh herbs in a garden to enhance my recipes but, also for aromatic smells it provides in all my homemade beauty and health products.

How to Grow Fresh Herbs in a Garden?

First, I learned one thing about herbs you can jump in this season. The do not need years to prepare for a successful growing season however, if you keep with it your harvest will produce larger as years past. Next, honestly ask yourself what fresh herbs you will find use in growing within your garden.

herb seed packets

For Example, I do not grow Sage because I really do not use it. I use sage about one to two times a year so I do not find the use in bothering with growing.

Below you will find my favorite fresh herb to grow in the garden. I would recommend for beginners to choose two to three herbs their first year of growing and then expand each year after.

When you start planting your seeds, follow the instructions on the back of the packet. Mark your herbs so you will know what each herb is. I start my herbs indoors and transition them outdoors after my last frost.

Growing fresh herbs at Riggs Creek Farmhouse

Remember you want your soil to be firmed and moist. In the Winter months I do like to have some herbs I use frequently in my farmhouse kitchen. I place my herbs in individual pots and place by window sills or in hanging macramé by a sunny window.

Finally, I give fresh herbs when they are young and still indoors about 1 1/2 tablespoons of water a week.   

How to Dry Fresh Herbs from the Garden?

Now matter where you live or how much space you have a think anyone can start a spring garden with just growing herbs.  I love using fresh herb in my home to cook and experience with recipes.  Some herbs I use for beauty such as lavender for body scrubs and rosemary for soaps. You can also freeze and dry out herb. 

woman drying Fresh Herbs from Garden

I start my herb garden with many of my favorite herbs and plan on expanding it.

Recently I discover many herbs are perennials with means they come back year after year and they have amaze flower that will blow as well; “It is a Win, Win” in my Zone 5 area. 

Harvest your herbs in the morning and when your plants are just blooming.

When you dry fresh herbs from the garden remove all moisture from the leaves. Next. when hanging your herbs gather about 6-8 stems and tie together with twine. Hang herbs upside down in a warm, dry place. Drying time does depend on the herb and the humanity in the air. Most fresh herbs take about one week.

Another way to dry herbs is a screen try but, I prefer the hanging method.

As soon as your herbs are dry remove leaves from stem and place leaves in a mortar and pesto and crush to a grounded or flake. Store herbs in a air tight glass jar for a later use. Label your glass jar and store in a cool, dry place.

drying fresh herbs from the garden

Many fresh herbs from the garden can be preserve by freezing such as chives, and parsley. Cut leaves off of stems and pack a ice cube tray. Fill your ice cube tray with water, vinegars or favorite oil. Freeze for 24 hours, pop out of ice cube tray. Take cubes and place in a zip lock bag label with date and herbs name. Use these fresh dry herb from the garden ice cubes as favor bombs in soups, stews and sauces.

Riggs Creek Farmhouse Flavor Herb Bombs

Favorite Dry Fresh Herbs from the Garden

How To Dry Fresh Herbs from the Garden


Cilantro is a awesome herb in Asian and Mexican foods and is wonderful for detoxing the body from metals or any other foreign ingredient. 

Parsley has tons of Vitamin C and I try to sneak it in everywhere. These herb grows biennial which means ever two year. Very bright green in color and loves full sun parsley is something I love growing and having on hand.

Basil smells amazing and it perfect in salads, tomato sauces, and on sandwiches.  The light green annual herb will grow Mid summer a tall white or pink flower will grow so do not be alarmed it will provide a lot of color, however pink off young flower buds to prevent bloom and encourage more basil leaves.  Basil needs a drain soil and a lot of sun.  I plan on planting outside after Mother’s Day which I hope we have our last frost by then.

Oregano This herb will grow white flowers and is perfect to use in any Italian or Greek dishes and I like to use to season steaks.  I love dry Oregano because it looks pretty plus it is a wonderful herb I can use year round by cutting down to a few inches from the earth and hanging upside down to dry.  This herb needs full sun, well drained soil and does not due well in hot humid weather so beware, however I heard it is hardy in Zone 5 area and will grow up to 2 feet high!  

Lemon Balm is a herb I only have little experience with but, willing to expand this up coming growing season. This herb will grow up to two feet and is a perennial. Enriched with a strong lemon scent will be perfect for creating tea blends.

Lavender goes about three feet high and very aromatic. This deep purple herb is great in cooking, baking and self care. Do not over water your lavender, provide full sun and harvest in early to late summer.

Mint is a perennial and a herb I like to grow in multiple varieties such as pineapple and chocolate. Growing mint will expand and spread through the years so when planting make sure you have tons of room.

Chives is a hallow onion and a perennial. Growing ten inches high this herb flowers gorgeous pale purple flowers.

Garlic is a herb I do not know much about but, decide to learn this past fall. This perennial herb grows from a blub and breaks off into sections called a clove. I love using garlic in everything and a must have for any homesteader.

Dill is an annual and a must have for making a lot of delicious goodies in my farm kitchen such as fermented pickles. This annual herb will grow very high about three feet and I harvest tons in the fall.

Rosemary is a perennial that I adore for many reasons. This beautiful shrub smells amazing and I love not only cooking with it but, using it in homemade beauty.

Thyme is another perennial small in size. In the spring Thyme will bloom a pretty purple flower.


Chamomile smells like apple and is gorgeous; it reminds me of a cottage. With love and care this perennial will make a thick blanket in your garden. This yellow like daisy is great to form medical properties such as digestion, calm the nerves however if someone on your farm is allergic to ragweed keep them away.

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Filed Under: Simple Gardening Tagged With: gardening, growing herbs, herbs

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