Digging Roots

October 2, 2020

Gardening, Harvesting, Herbal Plant Preparartion, Herbal Plants

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Digging Marshmallow Roots. Using a long bladed shovel, push the shovel blade straight down making a big circle around the entire plant. Then dig it out being careful not to lose the roots.

The Fall is the time to dig roots. The energy of the plant is no longer at the top making flowers and seeds. It is in the roots storing the nutrients for next years growth. Most herbal plants are perennials. When you dig up a plant for its roots, you kill the plants, so it is important to plan for that and not dig up all your plants at once. Plan ahead.

Trim the stems to see where to dig. Dig up the roots making sure you make a big enough hole. It is helpful to know what type of roots you are digging.
Marshmallow Roots.
The best shovels for digging roots. They make it much easier to dig the roots.
Elecampane Roots
Elecampane Roots – Trim the roots and plant the crowns back into the ground
Trimming the roots and saving the plants.
Solomon seal roots
Teasel roots from the first year plants
Soaking the roots to clean off the dirt. I also use a hose to clean off the dirt.
Soaking valerian roots to clean them. I grew these roots in a clay soil so the best way is to soak them to remove the soil.
Valerian roots harvested from sandy soil in my yard.
Burdock roots. First year plants
Dandelion roots
Yellow dock root
Sliced burdock root and dandelion roots. I sliced them into small pieces before I dry them. If you leave them whole it is very difficult to cut them up when dried. The roots turn into stone like pieces.

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