when can I pick my herbs

Discussion in 'Herb Gardening' started by newgrow, Jan 15, 2009.

  1. newgrow

    newgrow Seedling

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2008
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    I bout some cilantro and flat leaf parsley from a grocery store. They are not all that big now but wandering when I can pick them for use in the kitchen and how exactly how to do so. I hear to just cut the leaves and I heard to cut at the base for better growth. Not sure what to do.
     
  2. Loading...


  3. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    29,088
    Likes Received:
    6,282
    Location:
    Scotland
    I just pop outside whenever I need to use some herbs and snip off the amount I need. I always take new growth from my plants and they don't seem to mind. :-D
     
  4. newgrow

    newgrow Seedling

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2008
    Messages:
    238
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    OK but they seem kinda small I'm worried if I snip to much to soon it will die. Also my cilantro I don't think is doing to well, it only has about 12 leaves total
     
  5. CritterPainter

    CritterPainter Awed by Nature

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2006
    Messages:
    1,428
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Washington State
    Probably give them a few weeks, they are using their strength to get acclimated to their new digs. I usually pinch herbs like that off a little way down the stem from the bottom leaf. Herbs are beautifully designed in that they grow thicker and lusher if you routinely pinch off a bit here and there. But do leave enough leaves for them to do their photosynthesizing!
     
  6. ntjones

    ntjones New Seed

    Joined:
    May 12, 2009
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have never grown cilantro before, but I have grown curly and flat leaf parsley and my advice for these would be if that the plant is still small I would leave it for a while until a little bigger because if you take to many leaves off when the plant is to small the plant will not recover as well as it would if the plant was bigger
     

Share This Page