Question
I wanted to grow my own italian herb mix and started last year with potted herb plants which only rosemary did well. I dried what was left at the end of the season, and was amazed how well it tastes and how little it takes. Store bought just can not compare.

So, I am back at it again this year except planted small in ground garden for herbs. I have the following herbs and am having a heck of a time finding any information on how to prune & harvest them. I am not sure if it matters with our climate - but I live just outside Nashville Tennessee.

Basil, Thyme, Sage, oregano, cilantro, & the roasemary which I do pretty well with. Any help you can provide is much appreciated. Especially the cilantro as it has grown to 2-3 feet tall in just 4-5 weeks that the garden has been out.

Just trying to keep healthy and tasty with fresh seasonings.

Thank You,
Sherry O'Rick

Answer
Sherry:

How & When to Prune Your Herbs

www.askthisherbman.com                      [email protected]

There seems to be very little info on when and how much to prune our herbs.                                

I have a little formula that I now use that may help you to have healthier and productive plants.                                                  To tell you the truth, I did not practice this myself until I started to experiment with pruning the rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme. What a difference I saw in this timely pruning!

As new growth begins in the spring and gets to 6 to 12 inches, cut 1/3 from the top down on each stem, SPARE NO ONE! This will be done every 3 weeks or less, depending on how much you use the plant.

Don't go over 3 weeks without cutting it, even if you don't need to use it!                                                                      

Make an herbal vinegar, freeze, give away or if scented, place in old stocking, tie in a knot and put into your dryer, clothes drawers, closets, car ashtrays, car pillows, etc.

Basil is a must for constant pruning. It also keeps the plant from becoming too woody.

Don't let it flower for more flavorful leaves. You can slow the flowering down a little more (especially basil ) by cutting 3 pairs of leaves below the flower heads.
The cilantro must be cut regularly to keep from going to seed so quickly. The best varieties are "santo and slo bolt". They will give you more leaf production. It also hates too much water and high humidity, They like early morning sun and evening shade.

Leroy