have asked before

[highclass1]

i have a big rosemary plant in yard. i had been keeping sprigs in my car for the nice fresh smell. in the summer heat they dry in 2 or 3 days, and the leaves fall off. do you think if i caught them on some thing clean, like a dish, they would be ready to put in a jar and cook with? i guess my question is, what is the difference in doing it in my truck and the inside oven?

[TexAnn]

Re: have asked before

I don't know why not. Do you ever use it fresh? I bet your car smells good!

[TexAnn]

Re: have asked before

You know...I was just thinking.... Pick you a bunch...tie stems together with rubber band, then thang upside down to dry. Easy. I dry flowers like this all the time. Silly but I didn't think of that while reading your post!

[Cindy]

Re: have asked before

I found this info:

Air drying is the easiest, most inexpensive method for preserving herbs. Moisture evaporates slowly and naturally during air drying, leaving the flavorful essential oils behind. Sturdy herbs such as sage, thyme, summer savory, dill, bay leaves, oregano, rosemary and marjoram are well suited for air-drying.

Tender-leafed herbs such as basil, tarragon, lemon balm and the mints have a high moisture content and will mold if not dried quickly, so these are not as suitable for air drying. A dehydrator is best for drying these high moisture herbs. A microwave oven can be used as a last resort for drying, but the microwaves literally cook the herbs, producing very poor quality.

http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/vegetables/drying%20herbs/dryherbs.htm

[shumway]

Re: have asked before

I think that you just gave me a great idea! I love the smell too. How about putting a pretty mesh of some kind around it to keep the leaves from dropping, tie it and then hang it? I think that a good idea for in the house too!

[beatlebette]

Re: have asked before

I think that you just gave me a great idea! I love the smell too. How about putting a pretty mesh of some kind around it to keep the leaves from dropping, tie it and then hang it? I think that a good idea for in the house too!

I think that's an excellent idea! And as far as drying in the truck as apposed to the oven, I think the temperatures are about the same this time of year! lol

[cheft]

Re: have asked before

I have an herb garden (thyme, sweet basil, tarragon, oregano, chives, rosemary, curly and flat parsley) and before the first frost hits us in September, I pick all of the leaves from them and dry them on paper towels in the microwave for a few minutes...Then I just put them in jars and use them all winter...I love fresh herbs

[highclass1]

Re: have asked before

ok. it's gonna be 100 degrees here in mississippi today. i'm gonna go cut some rosemary and put in my car to dry..

[highclass1]

Re: have asked before

my rose mary is drying nicely..

[TexAnn]

Re: have asked before

My whole plant has dried...LOL!