Content
- Harvesting dandelions: when, how and why?
- Harvest time for leaves, flowers and roots
- What counts in the flower and root crops
- Sensitive people should wear gloves
- Dry or freeze the crop
- Tips
After harvest, the dandelion can be freshly used or dried
Harvesting dandelions: when, how and why?
With an enviable stubbornness, the dandelion conquers numerous territories and at the same time enchants with its sun-yellow cup flowers. Who wants to harvest it, for example, to use it for tea, should know how and when it works best.
Harvest time for leaves, flowers and roots
The leaves are harvested in spring, shortly after they are expelled (length of about 5 - 8 cm). During flowering (between April and June and a second time in late summer) you harvest the flowers. The optimal harvest time for the roots came in the autumn.
What counts in the flower and root crops
The root of the dandelion likes to go deep into the depths. It is a strong tap root, which can sometimes be easily pulled out in loose soil. It is better, however, to lift the root out of the earth with the help of a spade, a digger fork or similar.
The flowers should ideally be harvested immediately after blooming in the early morning hours. You can simply pick them off the stems with your hands or cut them with scissors. Important: they should be processed quickly so that they do not close again.
Sensitive people should wear gloves
Because the dandelion in its stems contains a latex that is slightly toxic and may cause skin irritation to sensitive people such as allergic persons, it is advisable to wear dandelion gloves when harvesting large quantities of dandelion.
Dry or freeze the crop
If you can not use the harvested plant parts immediately, you can preserve them. First, you have the opportunity to freeze the leaves and roots. You should not do that with the flowers. On the other hand you can dry the leaves, roots and flowers.
This is to be considered when drying dandelion:
Tips
On roads and in industrial areas you should rather not harvest the dandelion. There, the pollution is usually high.