When you start an herb garden you slowly learn the secrets of the plants and it becomes clear what you should do to keep them growing well and healthy.
Harvesting which may also be considered as a form of pruning is a very important aspect to do regularly for the good growth of your herbs.
You may not want to use an herb immediately but it is essential to prune it to keep new growth active and allow the plant to achieve its complete height and spread.
After you start an herb garden allow the plants to grow and get accustomed to the environment they have been placed in.
Plants will start to produce new leaves, stems and new shafts will begin to grow and some may even start to flower.
It is now that you need to start pruning.
Pluck off the tops of the stems.
This allows new off-shoots to grow from the sides and will result in more leaves and richer foliage.
When you are harvesting a plant never remove more than two thirds of its foliage as the plant requires the rest to grow back and it should have enough number of leaves left behind.
You also have to take care of plants that start to blossom.
The emergence of flowers at an early stage is not good as these flowers do not result in good quality seeds but the growth of the plants is stunted and they stop growing their foliage.
It is best to pluck off any new flowers you see and allow the plant to grow old enough for it to blossom and produce good seeds which can be used both in cooking and also to grow the next generation of the herbs.
When picking leaves from an herb after your herb garden is old and mature make sure you pluck the leaves at the right time.
Herbs taste the best when they have a lot of aromatic oils which provide the flavor.
Pick the leaves after the dew on the herbs has dried up and the sun has not begun to shine brightly.
This is the right moment to harvest as you get all the aromatic oils sealed in and ready to be consumed.
So harvest you herbs at the right time after you start an herb garden and regularly prune it to keep the plants growing well.