Article: Drying 'extends' the season; Home-dried herbs

Herbs grown and dried at home are simply better than dried herbs purchased at the store, according to gardener Pat Carpenter, owner of Village Herb Shop in Blue Ball.

"When you dry your own," Carpenter said, "you can pick them at their prime. You get a better color, and the flavors are more intense."

Anyone who plans to dry herbs should pick them soon, she said, since the cutting season rarely extends much beyond September, especially for woody perennials such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme.

The first step is to cut sprigs of herbs with a pair of sharp, stainless steel scissors.

The ideal time to do this, Carpenter said, is when the scent and flavor of the herbs are at their peak.

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