How to collect and dry medicinal plants for the whole year

In the spring and summer, in nature there are many treasures to be found in the fields and along the roads. It’s time to collect to enjoy medicinal plants the rest of the year. Remember to do it with respect: take little, so that it is not noticed that you have passed.

The easiest way to preserve plants with all their properties is the drying It must be done correctly to avoid problems such as the appearance of mold.

Dry wild plants correctly

To dry the plants you have chosen there are several methods, depending on the type of plant, the place you have and the humidity.

As general advice, it is best to collect the plants from places away from roads and herd traffic so that they are not contaminated.

Air dry on trays

Many plants that do not hold much water can benefit from very easy drying by placing them on kitchen blotting paper and outdoors.

It is best to do it on warm days and covering the plants with a mesh hood, so that they do not fly away or become food for insects. If they are a good size they can be flipped a few times. Avoid direct sunlight because active ingredients can be lost.

This method works very well with plants such as plantain, elder, linden blossom, and woodruff.

In case you have little space, you can get a drying rack or build one so that there is good air circulation above and below. It simply consists of stackable mesh frames on which the plants are placed.

These shelves are very useful for plants with a higher water content, such as dandelions. If they are not dried well, brown spots may appear on the leaves and they lose their healing power.

dry in bundles

Another possibility is to dry the plants in hanging bundles. To do this, they are gathered in bouquets no thicker than a finger and preferably tied with a thin rubber so that when the plants dry and lose volume they do not fall from the bouquet.

This form of dried is appropriate for plants with little water content such as lavender, sage or rosemary. And also for hypericum, mugwort and motherwort.

Hang them upside down some distance away on a clothesline. The perfect place to hang bunches is a ventilated gallery, if possible in the shade. A garden shed or any other well-ventilated, dry and rather dark place are also optimal.

You have to pick the plants as soon as they are dry to avoid that they end up storing dust.

Wetter plants, such as nettles, are not suitable for this method, as the leaves and tightly packed branches rot quickly.

Dry in oven or dehydrator

If the environmental humidity is very high or the plants are particularly thick or humid, or you are simply in a hurry, you can dry them in the oven, at a temperature not exceeding 40 ºC, as essential oils and other active substances would volatilize.

If you frequently dry plants, fruits or vegetables, it may be a good idea to get a dehydrator.

How to store dry plants

When you notice that the plants are crunchy, they are already completely dry. Then the time has come to cut them up with scissors and store them in paper bags or glass jars or ceramic. Keep in mind that if they are not well dried, mold can develop.