![]() Collect these and store in envelopes for next year or share with friends and neighbors. The lighter, rice-like pieces are the seeds. To protect your fingers from the sharp spikes, use a knife or kitchen scissors to scrape them out of the seedhead. Removing the seeds from the head is the trickiest part of harvesting them. Cut them from the stems and let them dry further in a paper bag. Let the seedheads mostly dry on the plants before picking them. To keep your perennials going, or to share with friends, consider harvesting the seeds as well. Let them dry completely, which can take a few weeks, and then store in an airtight container. Clean the cut roots very well and cut them into smaller pieces. You can then cut the root back by about half and replant it. You will need to dig up the plants to remove the entire root system. Harvesting the roots takes a little more effort. You can then remove the dried flowers and leaves to store in sealed containers. ![]() Lay them out flat in a sheltered, dry location, or hang them in bunches until they’re entirely dry. You can remove the flowers and leaves to use separately or dry the entire stems. To harvest the flowers and leaves, cut stems above the lowest leaf pairs. The echinacea harvesting method depends on which part you want to collect and save. Wait at least two growing seasons to harvest the roots of echinacea plants and do it in the fall once they have gone dormant. When harvesting echinacea seeds, wait until the flowers are spent and the seedheads are totally dry but not yet falling from the plants. Harvest echinacea flowers while they are in full bloom. You can dry the flowers, leaves, and roots to create teas, tinctures using alcohol to extract the healing compounds, and decoctions to extract substances from the roots using boiling water. Many cultivars are available for varied sizes and colors. It may grow 3 to 4 feet tall and produce pinkish-purple flowers that mature in early summer through mid-fall. Modern research has determined that echinacea is useful in many medical preparations because it boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, and shows antibacterial properties.Įvery part of the plant is edible. Purple Coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that is native to central and eastern USA. Native Americans used it to treat bites, stings, and burns. This native plant has long been used in herbal remedies. Knowing how to harvest echinacea for tea, tinctures, seeds, and more, gives you many more uses for your pretty coneflowers. Purple coneflower, also known as echinacea, is a beautiful perennial.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |