Several options for drying the herbal plants are available in the Northeast. I have my favorites. Even though I have a very big electric dehydrator I don’t use it as much as I do my car and paper bag method. I put most herbal plants that I have picked in a paper bag and leave it in my car for several days checking the plants daily until the plants are dry. I usually put my harvested plants right into a paper bag from the garden. Never a plastic bag. That way if I leave them in the bags for a coule of days they do not rot.
Several years ago I left some plants in a paper bag in the car and forgot about them, when I finally went get them they were perfectly dried. I have been doing it ever since.
I highly recommend writing the name of the plant on the bag. It saves time and helps remember what the plants are. Believe me, everything looks alike when dried. Except perhaps Chamomile and Calendula flowers. I have been doing this for a long time and many times I get confused trying to figure out what dried plant is what. Especially hard with little pieces of roots. Dried green plant matter all looks the same.
Not sure of what this great drying rack is called but it works great. I have it in a hanging in a warmer room in my house. They plants dry very well. I have seen other versons that have a solid bottom which doesn’t allow for air flow. Label your plants !
If you buy one of the the electric dehydrators that are on the market make sure it has a thermostat. Several models do not. The optimal drying temperature is 100 degrees. Plants dry quickly at that temperature.
Light and heat will affect the drying process. People hang plants up but for me that is a chore and I don’t want dust on my herbal plants. Also people tend to forget the most important step of drying which is to store the plants in glass containers after they are dried. Again away from the heat and the light. Be consistent about storing your herbs and they will last several years and feel as fresh as the day you picked them.
