New to herbs

[mommy2two babes]

This year I have planted herbs for the first time.
I am not sure how to clip them to use them without killing the plant and also what to do with them.
I have oregano, sweet basil, dill, garlic and onion chives.
Any help would be appreciated.

[JamieCatheryn]

I wasn't aware there was a science or art to harvesting herbs, as far as I know you just cut some, just not way too much of the plant at once, and most of them like frequent trimmings.

Basil and oregano are great with tomatoey stuff, chopped and thrown in a sauce especially. Basil is also great on a dish of layered tomato slices and mozzarella, with a bit of good olive oil and salt.

I like cucumbers better if I marinate them in vinegar, salt, sugar, and dill, like a fresh pickle. Dill is also great with couscous and zucchini, I find.

I'm not an onion/chive person can't help you there. I hear it's good on baked potatoes and as a soup garnish.

[SagMom]

Originally Posted by mommy2two babes

This year I have planted herbs for the first time.
I am not sure how to clip them to use them without killing the plant and also what to do with them.
I have oregano, sweet basil, dill, garlic and onion chives.
Any help would be appreciated.

For the oregano and basil, when you've got two sets of leaves, pinch off the top. This will encourage the plant it to be more bushy. You can continue to harvest like this.

For the dill, if you want to use the leaves and not seeds, you've got to cut the plant when you see flowers beginning to form. Depending on where you live, you might get another harvest.

When did you plant your garlic? If planted in the fall, then harvest in the early summer when the leaves have begun to wilt and turn brown. If you planted it in the spring, you probably won't harvest until September or so. These, you'll dig up, like potatoes, then let dry.

I'm not sure about the onion chives.

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by SagMom

For the oregano and basil, when you've got two sets of leaves, pinch off the top. This will encourage the plant it to be more bushy. You can continue to harvest like this.

For the dill, if you want to use the leaves and not seeds, you've got to cut the plant when you see flowers beginning to form. Depending on where you live, you might get another harvest.

When did you plant your garlic? If planted in the fall, then harvest in the early summer when the leaves have begun to wilt and turn brown. If you planted it in the spring, you probably won't harvest until September or so. These, you'll dig up, like potatoes, then let dry.

I'm not sure about the onion chives.

The garil is not actual garlic but garlic variety of chives.
I never thought about planting actual garlic, next year.

[taramoon13]

chives i usually cut the whole clump at a time and leave a couple inches, they come back fast as long as they get plenty of water. oregano you can cut any way you want, it's pretty tough. basil should be cut to the next 2 leaves, it can be a little slower to come back, so don't chop too hard. dill can also be cut any way.