Everything for the autumn harvest

Autumn is here, and with it the time for harvest and processing of the yield. Together with our experts we've prepared a selection of tips, tools and procedures that may come in handy during this period. Before the plants signal that they are ripe, it's good to have all the necessary processing tools and storage containers ready. You can always improvise, but why underestimate the most important phase of the whole cultivation cycle and risk losing a valuable harvest?

Harvest Larger plants can be divided into smaller parts right away, but in any case you can cut the whole plant. Sturdy stems are easily handled with branch shears. For dividing the plant it’s appropriate to wear protective clothing or at least gloves. First, you avoid contamination, and second, you save a lot of work cleaning your skin. For cleaning hands and tools we recommend PoKling - mýdlo na odstranění pryskyřice.

Plant processing

The plants are already separated into individual branches or offshoots. We reach the first fork in the road of harvesting regarding the drying and processing method, because some prefer to dry whole plants and then trim the flowers to perfection, while another group of growers prefers to process the flowers immediately. We will focus on immediate processing after harvest and then drying.

After removing the leaves from the stem, the next step is tidying the flowers where several small leaves may still be hiding. Excess leaves retain moisture longer and keep a chlorophyll odor, which we don't want. Shears with small blades are perfect for trimming small leaves or making precise cuts on the flowers. For manual tidying it's more comfortable to leave the flowers on the stems and separate them only before placing them in the drying net.

Semi-professional and professional trimmers take care of perfect processing of herbs and flowers without the use of scissors. These trimmers can save you a huge amount of time. You can put whole flowers in the trimmers including smaller leaves (we recommend leaving only those up to the size of the palm).

Drying plants
The flowers are stripped of leaves and separated from the stems. Now spread the flowers into the net so that they, if possible, do not touch each other. Drying nets are a compact and practical solution for quick drying not only of herbs, but also fruit or mushrooms. They don't take up much space and, thanks to sufficient airflow, there is no risk of mold formation. We offer nets in various diameters and sizes. All nets can be easily hung in a space or tent and, thanks to multiple layers, ensure stable drying. Some nets also include practical clip fastenings that allow easy attachment or removal of layers as needed.

But back to the process. After the flowers are placed into the drying net we must ensure optimal conditions for proper drying. In our case that means a space without daylight, which degrades valuable material, and we try to gradually reach a humidity of 55%, while keeping the temperature around 21ºC. A small compact Teplo-vlhkoměr VF s externím čidlem will help you monitor this. Air should be regularly exchanged in the space using an exhaust fan with an odor filter (e.g. Prima Klima PK-Kombo 125-2S - 400 m3/h, ventilator and filter) and you can also add a smaller circulation fan, but place it so it does not blow directly on the herbs.

How do you know the herb is ready to move to storage containers? The simplest trick is to try to snap the flowers. If the stem cracks with a snap but does not break off, the herb is ready for transfer. Drying usually takes 5 to 12 days, depending on your conditions and the size of your flowers.

Storage and curing
Once your herbs start to snap, it’s the right time to care for the curing process. Storage containers must be clean. For storing herbs we recommend airtight containers that create a vacuum inside by using reduced pressure. Thanks to that the herbs do not lose moisture and aromas do not escape. Vacuum containers TightVac are made from food-safe plastic and are also a practical addition to kitchens for storing food (coffee, spices, loose teas).

Fill the jar or container to a maximum of 75% of its volume. This creates space for the release of so-called internal moisture. Close the jar and store it in a dark place at around 21ºC. The next day it may seem that the flowers gained a bit of moisture. This is caused by released internal moisture — what to do with it? Every day open the jars for 20 to 30 minutes. It's not a bad idea to occasionally shake the flowers in the jar. If you persist for at least a month, you'll be surprised by the aromas and flavors your herbs hide. Those who wait three or six months are true gourmets.

Maintaining moisture
Supporting curing has never been easier. Say goodbye to overdried yield or mold. Bags for maintaining moisture in an environment work so that if the surrounding environment is too dry, they moisten it to the desired value, and conversely, when the environment is too humid, they absorb water to reach the desired humidity.

Achieve perfectly balanced humidity and wonderfully preserved aroma and taste of your harvest thanks to Integra Boost bags, which are safe, salt-free and 100% non-toxic. Your herbs deserve nothing less!

All products needed for a full harvest can be found HERE.

If you have any questions or need advice with selection, our experts are available at info@higarden.cz.

We also recommend these products:

• Icer PF Pračka na separaci pylu + sada 3ks separačních pytlů
• Trim Bin Harvest Cut Tray, kompletní set

Read next?

• Don't underestimate air exchange and circulation inside the growing space
• How to increase terpene content in the harvest?
• Prima Klima - odor filters with activated carbon you can rely on