Summer Solstice Is The Best Day To Harvest Herbs For Peak Flavor And Fragrance, Say Garden Experts
Why the longest day is also the most important one in your herb garden
The tradition of harvesting herbs on the summer solstice stretches back through prehistoric ritual and European pagan culture, rooted in the belief that when the sun was at its most powerful, herbs would be at their most potent too. And there's some science behind that idea.
Many herbs reach their peak concentration of essential oils (the compounds responsible for flavor and fragrance) in late June, just before they flower. The solstice also falls before peak summer heat and drought begins to stress plants and divert their energy into seed production. 'Harvesting them before they start to decline makes sense,' says C.L. Fornari, National Garden Bureau member and host of The Garden Lady radio program. 'Additionally, many of the herbs have not yet started to divert their resources into making seeds.'
Gardeners in cooler climates, including much of the Northeast, may find some herbs aren't quite ready by June 21st. So the date should be treated as a guide rather than a strict deadline. If you do want to celebrate the summer solstice at home, these are the herbs gardening experts recommend harvesting first.
The Best Herbs To Harvest On Summer Solstice
From ancient ritual herbs burned in Midsummer bonfires to the culinary staples of the modern kitchen garden, the below plants all share one thing; they are either at or near their best around the summer solstice.
Some earn their place through folklore as much as flavor, while others purely because their essential oil content peaks at this point in the growing season.
1. St John's Wort
St John's Wort (Hypericum spp) is arguably the herb most closely associated with the summer solstice. Its name is tied directly to the feast of St John on June 24th, and the tradition of harvesting it during Midsummer runs deep through European culture and folklore.
Its very name reflects this history. Hypericum derives from the Greek for 'above an image'; a reference to the medieval practice of hanging the plant above icons to ward off evil spirits.
'The connection between an ancient sun herb and the saint born at the turning of the year was distinctive, and the two became inseparable in European folk tradition,' says Susan Betz, founder of Fresh Start Herbs, who has been growing and using herbs for over 35 years.
Harvest the flowering tops when the blooms first open and dry them quickly in a warm, airy spot.
Susan Betz is an author, garden communicator, lecturer, and conservationist specializing in herbs and native plants. She has been actively growing and using herbs to educate the public about gardening and the natural world for over 35 years. She is an Honorary Master Gardener and a member of the International Herb Association, Garden Communicators, the Ecological Landscape Alliance, and the National Garden Bureau. Susan is a life member of the Herb Society of America.
2. Lavender
The summer solstice is when lavender flowers are usually just starting to open, making it the most beautiful (and potent) time to harvest lavender.
Cut stems just as the buds begin to open, before the flowers are fully out, for maximum fragrance and essential oil content. Once fully open, the oils begin to dissipate.
'Classic summer plants like lavender were linked to this time of year, and were sometimes used by Druids in their ceremonial Midsummer bonfires,' says C.L. Fornari.
Hang bundles upside down in a cool, dark spot to dry - lavender is one of the easiest herbs to preserve and will hold its scent for months in a glass jar or linen sachet.
Where to buy: Buy herb snips from Amazon for around $10.
C.L. Fornari is the author of eight books, including Coffee for Roses and The Cocktail Hour Garden. She is a National Garden Bureau member and the host of The Garden Lady radio program on WCAI and WGBH. She has worked for a family-owned independent garden center for 25 years. C.L. grows vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees and numerous other plants at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod.
3. Rosemary
Rosemary has been building its essential oil content through the long days of spring, and by the summer solstice, it is at its most aromatic and flavorful.
'Along the sunny coasts of the Mediterranean, rosemary and lavender were burned in solstice bonfires, their smoke considered purifying for both body and spirit,' says Susan.
Harvest generously (rosemary responds well to cutting and will regrow thicker) and dry it flat on a rack or bundled and hung. It's equally well preserved by blending with olive oil and freezing in small portions for use through the winter months.
Where to buy: Cotton twine for bundling is available from Amazon.
4. Mugwort
By the summer solstice, mugwort is typically approaching flower, making it an ideal time to gather the leaves and flowering tops for drying.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is one of the many plants with mythical origins, that has long been central to midsummer celebrations across European traditions. People wore garlands of it, danced around fires with it, and then threw the garlands into the flames to ensure protection for the coming year.
'Chinese tradition holds that mugwort reaches the peak of its medicinal power at the solstice, and it is still harvested at this time as a burning herb in traditional medicine,' says Susan. 'Dried, compressed, and smouldered over acupuncture points to warm the body and restore circulation.'
5. Elderflower
The elderflower window is short. The blooms are at their fragrant best around the solstice and quickly begin to fade, making it one of the most time-sensitive harvests of the year.
Throughout plant folklore, elder (also known as sambucus) is regarded as the mother of herbs, credited with a special power to protect all plants growing near it. Ancient gardeners planted elder at the corners of herb gardens and close to the house, believing it watched over both plants and family alike.
'Its flat white flower clusters (umbels of tiny stars) were regarded as a portal to the fairy realm, most potent at midsummer, when the boundary between worlds grew thin,' says Susan. 'According to legend, sprinkling elderflowers, berries, or leaves on a person or place could make wishes come true.'
Pick the flower heads in full sun when the tiny flower heads are just open, and use fresh for cordials or infusions, or dry flat on a rack for teas.
6. Sage
Sage reaches peak aromatic intensity in midsummer heat, making the solstice an ideal moment to cut it back hard and encourage a flush of fresh growth.
Harvest stems before flowering for the strongest flavor and to encourage fresh growth through the second half of summer.
For a more versatile form of preservation, Debra Knapke, an experienced gardener and designer at The Garden Sage, recommends freezing sage as part of a herb-pesto blend. Her favorite is a mix of rosemary, basil, sage, oregano, and thyme, processed with olive oil.
'I do not add nuts or cheese to my pestos before freezing,' she notes. 'There are too many people who have nut allergies, and cheese in the freezer makes a gummy pesto. It is easy to add nuts and cheese later.'
Debra is a vastly experienced garden designer, author, and speaker in Central Ohio. She was previously the honorary president of the Herb Society of America and has co-authored six books on plants and garden design. Debra has grown garlic and harvested garlic scapes for decades.
7. Mint
Mint is best harvested before it flowers, where the leaves are rich in essential oils and the flavor is at its freshest. By the summer solstice most mint plants are full and vigorous but have not yet started to bolt, making it an ideal time to cut them back.
Harvest stems generously, trimming up to a third of the plant at a time. Mint responds quickly to pruning, producing a fresh flush of growth within weeks. If you grow mint in pots to contain its spread, the solstice is a good time to cut it back hard.
Cut stems can be used fresh, dried or frozen, but freezing tends to preserve the brightest flavor. 'The mint family contains many culinary and medicinal herbs,' says Debra. 'Most are easy to hang dry or preserve in salts, sugars, and pestos which I then freeze.'
Shop Harvest Herbs
These Non-GMO, heirloom spearmint seeds from Burpee can be grown in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses.
One of the most reliable lavender varieties to grow from seeds, it flowers in its first year when started indoors. Available in packs of 750 from Burpee.
These sage seeds from Amazon are ideal for planting in full sun herb garden beds or containers for home herb growers.
How To Harvest Herbs On The Summer Solstice
The best time of day to harvest herbs on the summer solstice is first thing in the morning, says Susan. 'In the early morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat builds, the leaves and flowers retain the maximum oil,' she says. 'On a hot afternoon, a significant portion has already been lost to the air.'
It's also worth remembering that the summer solstice isn't a hard deadline to harvest all herbs. Not every plant peaks at the solstice, timing varies by species, climates and growing conditions, meaning some herbs may reach their peak slightly before or after June 20th.
If you're already thinking about when to plant herbs for next season, now is a good time to see what's thriving and what you'd like to add. The solstice is better understood as the midpoint of a several-week window of peak potency rather than a single appointed day.
'What the traditional calendar got right was the season and the signal: full bloom, maximum light, the year at its height,' adds Susan. 'The legends and ceremonies grew from close observation, passed down through the regional traditions of peoples who had harvested these plants for generations.'
Shop Herb Drying Essentials
A collapsible mesh drying rack with four tiers, designed to air-dry herbs, flowers, and botanicals evenly. This one from Amazon hangs from any hook and folds flat for storage when not in use.
The classic mason jar in a generous size ideal for storing dried herbs. The wide mouth makes filling and scooping easy, and the two-piece airtight lid keeps contents fresh for up to 12 months.
A wall-mounted stainless steel rack for hanging bundles of freshly cut herbs and flowers to dry. Sturdy enough for heavy stems like rosemary and lavender, and sleek enough to display in a kitchen or utility room.
While the summer solstice isn't a strict deadline, it is a useful reminder that many herbs are entering their peak harvest window. Gather them now and you'll capture some of the best fragrance and flavor the growing season has to offer.
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