[greenfingeredsarah]

I am forever buying and picking herbs which die within a few days.  Is there any way I can make them last longer?

[DD.]

Grow them in pots by your back door!

[gypsy]

Chop the herbs and 1/2 fill ice cube trays with them, just cover with water and put in the freezer, when they are frozen fill up to the top. They are the next best thing to fresh.

[Cazzy]

Put them into a ziploc style bag with a sheet of wet kitchen paper at the bottom and store in the fridge...... admittedly i've not tried this yet but my sister swears by it.

[Swing Swang]

I use cazzy's method for soft-leaved herbs - works well.
If you've huge quantities of basil then it will freeze well as a 'pesto' with some olive oil, I would guess that the young leaves of sage would work similarly.
Some of the hard-leaved herbs will dry well if hung up in a cool, dry, dark place - bay and oregano in particular.

SS

[Poolfield2]

I put parsley in a bag in the freezer and then when frozen I bash it about and when you tip it out it is ready chopped.

[mumofstig]

I've just done the same with the celery leaf that I just cleared from the greenhouse

[AnnaM]

I wash the herbs and remove any dead leaves. Then I put the stems in a container (jam jar) with a little water but without submerging the leaves. Then I cover it with a plastic bag/Zippo bag and put them in the fridge. It keeps them for 5 days to a week but you've got to change the water if it gets a bit murky.

ps: I find that Basil won't keep as long as anthing else.

[chopkins1313]

I pick my rosemary from my plot and tie it together in a bunch, i then hang this in my kitchen to dry out and just use as and when, lasts for ages

[greenfingeredsarah]

Thanks everyone for the great tips.  I'll definitely give the ziploc bags a try, it seems so wasteful to keep buying herbs which I have to throw away in a couple of days.  By the way, is it possible to kill a Rosemary plant? I seem to have managed with mine but I thought they were quite hardy?

[tosca100]

I have an old rosemary which always grows too big for it's plot but keep chopping it back and it grows on! However, I tried growing the creeping sort a couple of times and it only lasted one season. I'll be interested to see replies.
On the subject of fresh herbs, if I have to buy any, the polybag is great...except for really soft things like basil. If you're picking them, resist the urge to pick too much. When the parsley gets too vigorous, pick, rinse,dry and chop. It will keep in a locking box in the freezer all winter.

[rhythmvick]

When I've got some thyme, bay, parsley and outer leek leaves knocking around I pre-make some bouquet garni and freeze them in a Ziploc. Then I just chuck them into things that need a BG, from frozen.

[tosca100]

When I've got some thyme, bay, parsley and outer leek leaves knocking around I pre-make some bouquet garni and freeze them in a Ziploc. Then I just chuck them into things that need a BG, from frozen.

Brilliant idea!

[greenfingeredsarah]

When I've got some thyme, bay, parsley and outer leek leaves knocking around I pre-make some bouquet garni and freeze them in a Ziploc. Then I just chuck them into things that need a BG, from frozen.

What a great idea! I'm definitely going to be doing that! Thanks!  Sarah

[rhythmvick]

[

Brilliant idea!
[/quote]

What a great idea! I'm definitely going to be doing that! Thanks!  Sarah

Glad to help. Making and freezing them does make you feel very Capable Domestic Goddess