What is harvested and when is the best time?

Harvest time for leaves, flowers and roots

The leaves are harvested in spring shortly after they have sprouted (about 5 - 8 cm in length). To the Heyday (between April and June and a second time in late summer) the flowers are harvested. The optimal one Harvest time for the roots came in autumn.

What is important when harvesting flowers and roots

The roots of the dandelion like to go far into the depths. It is a sturdy taproot that can sometimes be easily pulled out in loose soils. However, it is better to use a spade, a Digging fork or similar to be lifted out of the earth.

It is best to harvest the flowers immediately after they open in the early morning hours. You can easily pick them off the stems with your hands or cut them off with scissors. Important: To prevent them from closing again, they should be processed quickly.

Sensitive people should wear gloves

Because the dandelion contains a milky sap in its stems that is easy poisonous and can cause skin irritation in sensitive people such as allergy sufferers, it is advisable to wear gloves when harvesting large quantities of dandelion.

Dry or freeze the crop

If you cannot use the harvested plant parts immediately, you can make them durable. For one, you have the option of the leaves and roots to freeze. You shouldn't do that with the flowers. On the other hand, you can dry the leaves, roots and flowers.

Here are some things to keep in mind when drying dandelions:

• Cut the roots into small pieces beforehand
• Remove the stems from the leaves
• Only dry flowers when they have opened
• in a shady and airy place e.g. B. on a baking sheet
• never dry in the blazing sun
• or in a dehydrator