With an enviable tenacity, the dandelion conquers numerous territories and at the same time enchants with its sunny yellow cup-flowers. If you want to harvest it, for example to use it for tea, you should know how and when it works best.

After harvesting, the dandelion can be used fresh or dried

Harvest time for leaves, flowers and roots

The leaves are harvested in spring, shortly after they emerge (length of about 5 - 8 cm). The flowers are harvested during the flowering period (between April and June and a second time in late summer). Autumn is the best time to harvest the roots.

What is important when harvesting flowers and roots

The root of the dandelion likes to go far into the depths. It is a vigorous taproot that is sometimes easy to pull out in loose soil. However, it is better to lift the root out of the ground using a spade, digging fork or similar.

The flowers are best harvested as soon as they open, in the early morning hours. You can simply pluck them from the stems with your hands or cut them off with scissors. Important: So that they do not close again, they should be processed quickly.

Sensitive people should wear gloves

Since the dandelions contain a milky sap in their stalks that is slightly toxic and can cause skin irritation in sensitive people such as those with allergies, it is advisable to wear gloves when harvesting larger quantities of dandelions.

Dry or freeze the crop

If you cannot use the harvested plant parts immediately, you can preserve them. For one, you have the option of freezing the leaves and roots. You shouldn't 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:

  • Cut the roots into small pieces first
  • Remove leaves from stalks
  • Only dry flowers when they are open
  • in a shady and airy place e.g. B. on a baking sheet
  • never dry in direct sunlight
  • or in a dehydrator

tips

It is better not to harvest the dandelions on roads and in industrial areas. The level of pollution is usually high there.

Category:

Herbs