Harvesting Guidelines: 5 Summer Herbs

Summer is a busy and a beloved time for any herbalist - the plants are out in full force and it is time to garden, grow, harvest, process and preserve the abundance of fresh herbs for use throughout the rest of the year. It is a time that I always eagerly await, but it is also a season that passes very quickly. Many plants have a short window of time that is optimal for harvesting, and even if I plan on collecting certain herbs, sometimes I don’t get to everything on my list. The rhythm of the seasons is an important teacher, and I always keep in mind the line of poetry, “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying….”

To help you gather your rosebuds and other delightful plants while they are still in their prime, here is a quick list of five of my favorite herbs to collect and use at this time of year. Take a look around your neighborhood and see if you can spot any of these wild or cultivated beauties:

Red Clover blooms abundantly throughout the summertime. Look for flowers that are vibrantly colored, and skip those that look wilted or tired. To dry, place the blossoms on a window screen so that airflow can reach all sides of the flower; also make sure the flowers do not touch one another. Use dried red clover blossoms in nourishing tea blends; it mixes well with other herbs like nettles, burdock or dandelion.

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Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Calendula is a prolific garden bloomer throughout the whole growing season, hence it’s name, which relates to its ability to flower in every calendar year (if grown in a warm environment). Collect the flower tops when they are freshly opened, and be sure to keep the resin-filled green sepals which surround the petals. Save dried calendula flowers to throw into your fall and winter soups for an immune-supportive addition.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Mugwort can be found growing in disturbed areas and along roadsides (but be sure to avoid collecting near traffic-laden roads.) Clip the tall stalks so that you are harvesting the upper third of the plant. The best time to collect mugwort is right before its very tiny flower buds open. Hang a bundle of the stalks upside down to dry. Use mugwort leaves in bedtime teas to stimulate vivid dreams (really!), or blend with herbs like mint, sage and fennel for a nice digestive tea.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

Mullein is another wild-growing plant, and one of my favorites. I love spotting its fuzzy leaves and tall, majestic stalks throughout the cityscape. Collect the basal leaves from first or second year plants (mullein is a biennial), or patiently collect the lovely yellow flowers as they emerge. The leaves can be dried on a screen or on brown paper bags and used in an old-fashioned steam to support respiratory health. The flowers are traditionally infused in oil to alleviate ear aches.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Dandelion leaves can be collected throughout the growing season. As the summer wears on, the leaves will become more and more bitter, but I find them delicious at any time of year. You can either harvest fresh dandelion leaves to dry and use for tea or you can incorporate them into your food. I love to sautee fresh dandy leaves with some onion as a lovely and nutritious side dish.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

If you are new to harvesting herbs here are a few tips to get you started:

• Make sure you have positively 100% identified the plant you are collecting. Use regional botanical field guides (see below) or reliable websites to ID the plant. Be familiar with any poisonous look-alike plants. If in doubt, do not collect or use the plant.
• Never collect in protected areas or on private property.
• Do not collect near busy roadsides, or in places where the soil/water quality is in question. Be aware that heavy metals and pollutants can accumulate in the soil. If possible, have a soil test done of the area where you regularly collect.
• Collect your plants on a dry and sunny day. Usually morning is the best time to harvest plants.
• Look for healthy, vibrant looking plants. Keep in mind that for leafy plants, it is generally best to harvest the upper third of the plant. Research the best time of year to harvest the plant material you are interested in (leaf, flower, root, seed).
• Respectfully gather only what you need, and never collect a whole population of plants, even if they are abundant. Leave plenty for the plant to flourish and reproduce itself.
• Process your herbs immediately - whether drying, pressing, tincturing or infusing. Be sure to label your plants with the date they were collected and their origin.
  

I hope these tips inspire you to do some of your own herb harvesting this season. I’d love to hear what you are collecting - please be in touch! To learn more, consider joining me in one of my upcoming herbal classes. Happy harvesting!



Resources:
Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Peterson Field Guides) by S. Foster & James A. Duke
Edible Wild Plants (Peterson Field Guides) by Lee Allen Peterson
A City Herbal by Maida Silverman
Edible and Medicinal Plants by Steve Brill
Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast by Peter del Tredici