spoke with two experts to understand the worst time of day to harvest herbs, and how to set your harvesting schedule up for success when it comes to timing.

Meet the Expert
Sara Rubens is a certified garden coach and founder of Seed to Sanctuary, a company that supports people in becoming proficient gardeners.
Edwin Dysinger is an expert gardener and the co-founder of the garden planning app Seedtime.
The Worst Time to Harvest Herbs
The worst time to harvest herbs is in the afternoon, especially during the summer when the day hits its hottest point.

"This is when the sun is strongest and the plants are under the most stress," says gardening coach Sara Rubens. "During this time, essential oils—which are responsible for the herb’s aroma and flavor—tend to dissipate due to the heat."

In doing so, you potentially lose out on a lot of their unique taste and won't be able to experience the plant at its best. However, there is a single exception to the rule.

"If your goal is longer shelf life, rather than greater potency and flavor, it is ideal to harvest from mid-day to afternoon," says expert gardener Edwin Dysinger. "This is because during the day, as the herbs photosynthesize, they manufacture carbohydrates (sugars) as a byproduct. Higher carbohydrate levels in the leaves result in better post-harvest storage."

On extremely hot summer days, you may still need to adjust your harvesting time to earlier. Even if you're planning for storage as opposed to using right away, the sun can scorch or wilt the leaves.
Best Time to Harvest Herbs
The best time to harvest your herbs is in the morning, just after the dew has dried and before the sun gets too hot. While your culinary and DIY endeavors will benefit from the exceptional flavor, there are a few other reasons for this.

"In addition to having higher levels of essential oils in the morning, levels of vitamins, antioxidants, and polyphenols are also higher and decrease as the day progresses with prolonged exposure to the sun," says Dysinger.
How to Harvest Herbs for Maximum Flavor

Now that you have the time of day down, there are a few other factors to consider for an optimal harvest.

Dysinger notes that for leafy herbs that eventually flower, it's best to harvest before those blooms appear. Not only will it impact the taste if they flower, but leave production will decrease, too.

"Regular picking of leaves will help to prolong the time before flowering," he says. "If you want to do a larger harvest for preservation and storage, leave between one-half and two-thirds of the plant intact. This will enable it to have the strength to regrow quickly for more harvests."

Well-timed plucking and harvesting are imperative, as is giving your herbs the best possible growing conditions. Ruben notes that well-draining soil, ample sunlight, and the right levels of water are key—and so is pruning.

"Regular pruning encourages bushier growth and more tender leaves," she says.

If you have cooler patches around your garden, consider bringing in some herbs that grow in shade, like cilantro or sweet cicely. Don't forget to take a look at herb companion plants for successful growth and to overwinter your plants so you can keep the cycle going next season.

5 Tips for Flavorful Herbs
Here are a few expert-approved tips for keeping your herbs full of flavor:

Harvest in the morning. Do so after the dew dries and before the sun reaches its peak. This will retain flavor, antioxidants, and oils.
Watch the fertilizer. Ruben notes that too much fertilizer can dilute the flavor of herbs too. "Growing herbs in nutrient-rich but not overly fertile soil, and harvesting them at the right time, will help ensure they’re flavorful and aromatic," she says.
Understand your herbs' needs. Make sure that they're receiving the right amount of light or shade, water, and nutrients; even herbs that love the sun might need shade on extremely hot days.
Prevent bolting. Don't allow certain herbs (like basil) to flower if you intend to harvest—this can put a damper on the taste.
Know your herb. Learn which parts are edible for each herb type you have. You'll be able to make the most of every bit of flavor this way.