blowball ( Taraxacum officinale ) is a perennial herbaceous plant in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9 . Although many people consider the weedy plant a pain in the neck , others prize its power to oxygenise and improve grime quality by deplumate mineral from deep in the dry land up to the surface , according toPlants for a futurity . By dry blowball blossom , you may make teas , soaps and unction . TheNorth Carolina State Extensionnotes that untested flush smack like honey , but older blossom have a blistering penchant .
Harvesting Dandelion Flowers
First , check that the plants have not been spray with pesticides or herbicide . If you ’re wild harvest home dandelions near a busy route or main road , pluck only those that are at least 500 base back from the road , to minimize the danger of residuary taint from petroleum - base oils and exhaust fumes . Similarly , if your harvesting reside on your own lawn , verify the flower have n’t been visited by your PET .
bridge player - pick blowball flowers on a dry , sunny day . Aim for the early to mid - good afternoon hour when the flower head are amply open and to insure that the morn dew has all evaporated . To harvest , simply grok the cornerstone underneath the flower with fingers and give a quick tug . Carry a bowl or bag with you to hold the flower as you collect them .
Preparing Dandelion Flowers
Inspect each blossom cautiously for insects . Small ants , in particular , have an chemical attraction for dandelion flowers and can often be obtain hidden in the bend of the petal . fortuitously , a soft tap on the side of the bud is enough to force out them .
rinse off each flower in cool water and lay on a kitchen towel or newspaper towels . Gently pat dry with a neat cloth or paper towels . Let prime rest for 30 minutes to allow any remaining droplets of water to vaporise before proceedings .
Drying Dandelion Flowers by Wilting
One way to reduce the natural water subject in the picked bloom is to allow the blossoms to droop in the open tune . This is the recommend method acting of drying dandelion bloom that will be infused in crude oil for use in making unguent or soaps – and it ’s an important step that should n’t be cut or rushed . Otherwise , if too much moisture is present , the bloom may ferment and become moldy .
distribute the flowers out on a tea towel , paper or cover in a single layer on a table or counter indoors . It ’s okay if the heyday touch , but they should n’t be piled on top of each other . The location should be loose of verbatim light and drafts to check all the flowers dry at the same pace . Let the flowers wilt naturally for several minute or overnight . In the dawn , they will be quick to infuse in petroleum for making decorative formulas .
Drying Dandelion Flowers by Solar Method
This is the recommended method acting for drying blowball flowers that will be used to make herbal tea blends . Wilting of the bloom is n’t necessary because the sun will do the employment of reducing the water subject in less metre .
circulate the peak out in a single stratum in a large bowl or tray and place on a untroubled open outdoors where they will get full Dominicus . reckon on the strength of the sun ’s rays , it will take anywhere from several hours to a 24-hour interval for the flowers to dry , possibly longer . You will know they are ready when the flowers shut down slightly and the petals calculate dry . Keep a sleepless eye , or you will end up with crispy flowers or else of dried . Note , too , that over - drying will cause the flowers to go to seed , which makes them turn white and " poofy " looking .
Dehydrating Dandelion Flowers in Dehydrator
you could use a food dehydrator to dry out blowball flowers . Arrange the flowers on the dehydrator tray , and point the dehydrator on a low place setting .
When the dandelion prime are dry , they may be mixed with gullible or black tea leaf , other dried herbaceous plant , flowers or fruit Sir Robert Peel , if desire , and stored in an airtight container in a cool dry place . To make a dried dandelion bouquet , harvest the flowers with their long stems attached . advert the corsage upside - down to dry out .
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