How to Harvest Jasmine

There are many different types of Jasmine. But one thing is for sure: they all smell wonderful. You can plant Jasmine in your garden for a beautiful climbing vine that makes your entire yard smell sweet or you can plant it with the intent of harvesting it. Some varieties of Jasmine are used in potpourri and perfumes. Other varieties are used in herbal teas. Follow these simple steps for harvesting Jasmine.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jasmine
• String for tying bundles of Jasmine
• Place to store and dry the Jasmine

1. Grow the Jasmine. You can choose any variety to grow, but find out what does well in your area. If you want to harvest the Jasmine for herbal teas, select Jasmine tisane and Jasmine sambac for this purpose.

2. Harvest the Jasmine early in the morning. The flower opens at night and is tightly closed in the morning. This is the best time to harvest the delicate flower.

3. Pull the flower from the plant. Gently pinch the flower and pull it from the plant. If you are too rough, you might bruise the flower.

4. Store the Jasmine flowers in a cool, dry place until you determine what you want to do with them.

5. Make flavored vinegars or oils. Place the flowers in a jar of olive oil or cider vinegar for a different twist. Use on salads or vegetables.

6. Dry the Jasmine by harvesting the flowers with the stems attached, tying in bundles and hanging upside down indoors for several weeks. After drying, you can pluck off the flower petals and use in potpourri or herbal tea.

Tips & Warnings

• There are varieties of Jasmine, such as Yellow Jasmine, that are poisonous; so be sure to find out about the variety you are planting.