Echinacea is a native North American flower with beautiful blooms. The flowers are valued for their beauty, and they are sometimes used as herbal medicines to treat the common cold and other minor illnesses. You may utilize the entire plant in the same way. You can collect echinacea blooms, stems, and leaves only, or harvest the whole plant with its roots intact. After that, dry and store your echinacea so that you may use it whenever you need it! So, how to harvest echinacea? Well, I will explain it here. In addition, I will round off some other essential aspects.
Harvesting your echinaceas is so fulfilling! You can obtain flowers, stems, and leaves from the echinacea plant. I harvest echinacea throughout the growing season. Simply cut the flowers and leaves. In addition, cut the stems. above the lowest pair of leaves.
Growing Echinacea
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower or coneflower, is a perennial plant that thrives in zones 3 to 9 and blooms in the middle to late summer. E. Augustifolia, E. Pallida, and ELower are three distinct types of Echinacea used therapeutically. The properties of E.
Echinacea is a threatened plant, which means that producing or purchasing your own is preferred to overharvesting from the wild. At United Plant Savers, you can learn more about endangered plants.
To produce Echinacea from seeds, you must artificially stratify them unless you live in a region that experiences consistently cold weather. You can sow seeds in the late fall or early spring if you have frequently chilly winters.
Plant them closer than they are now, about 12 inches apart. Augustifolia may survive in poor soil with regular watering. E. Purpurea and E Qualitatis prefer richer soil that is moistened on a regular basis. All thrive best in full sun. In mud, they will grow but the qualities will be lost. They can grow in the soggy ground if the conditions are right, but the properties will be reduced.
How To Harvest Echinacea?
The Echinacea plant’s roots and aerial portions are utilized. The aerial parts are most often used to make herbal teas, but the roots hold the most potent medication from the plant.
Now, you can obtain the following from an echinacea plant.
- Blooms
- Leaves
- Stem
The twigs, stalks, and leaves of plants in the first year of growth may be harvested. The stems may simply be snipped above the lowest pair of leaves to harvest them.
Remove all of the leaves and flower buds from the stem, lay them flat to dry, and then throw away any remaining stems. This may be completed at any time throughout the growing season. When pruning Echinacea, this is a great time to do it.
In the spring or fall, dig up the roots of a 2-3-year-old plant. E. Augustifolia has fibrous roots, while E. Purpurea has a taproot. To take Echinacea, use a shovel or garden fork to extract the roots from around the Echinacea plant in the earth.
I use a huge shovel to dig up the entire root ball of the plant. You can take pieces of the root from the root ball or remove the whole plant to harvest roots now that I’ve dug up all of it.
Moreover, you can prune Echinacea to make it more manageable. You may thin out your Echinacea patch by removing the whole plant. If you only want to remove portions of the root ball, reinsert them into the ground and replant them.
Preserving Echinacea The Right Way!
Simply take the dried portions and store them in a dark location in an airtight container until you’re ready to brew some tea.
You may dry your roots to use in decoctions later, or you may begin a tincture. Echinacea tincture is one of my favorite things, so that’s where I tend to store most of my roots.
After you’ve taken your roots out, you’ll want to shake off the dirt. Next, rinse them under cold water and pat them dry. Outside, I use a hose with a spray head to really get the grime off; then I put them in a pail of water to remove the rest of the filth.
You may dry or tincture the roots once they have been washed of dirt. Both choices will need you to cut or chop the roots into little pieces. Kitchen scissors are ideal for this!
Take the sliced roots and lay them out on a screen in a well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight. Allow them to sit for at least two weeks. Place them in an airtight container, away from direct light, once they’re dry.
Drying Echinacea Roots
Echinacea roots can be collected from plants that are 2 to 3 years old.
In late fall, when the plants have finished producing flowers, is the finest time to dig up the roots. Dig around the plant’s base with a shovel and remove the root ball.
You may cut the roots in half and re-plant part of them so they will grow again in the spring.
Soak the roots in water for 10 minutes and then drain them. Rinse off the soil and dry the roots with cold water.
With a pair of sharp kitchen scissors, cut the roots into little pieces, about half-inch (1 cm) long. Place the roots in a tray and keep them somewhere dry and well-ventilated.
It will take approximately two weeks for the roots to dry fully. To prepare a decoction, add 2 teaspoons dried echinacea root and 2 cups water to a saucepan and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Allow the decoction to cool somewhat before serving.
Making Echinacea Tea
Echinacea tea is prepared by pouring a spoonful of dried flowers and leaves into one cup of boiling water.
If you’re using a teapot, add 2 teaspoons of dried echinacea to the water.
To make the tea, bring about 6 cups of water to a boil in a large teapot. Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves and let them steep for three minutes before straining and drinking.
If you prefer a stronger tea, leave it steep for a longer time.
You might also make an immune-boosting herbal tea out of dried echinacea and elderberry, or flavor it with honey for a subtle taste.
Echinacea flowers are high in antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, and especially vitamins C.
Echinacea tea has an earthy, tingly flavor that makes your tongue numb.
Bottom Line
It is simple to harvest echinacea. You can dry them off and preserve them. You can harvest them at any given time in the growing season.
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