2. Harvesting Tips
The delicate flowers of St. John’s wort require special handling skills to ensure you don’t damage the leaves during harvesting, allowing you to benefit from the multiple flowering sessions of this perennial shrub every season.
When harvesting the plant – it’s best to pick the fresh buds and flowers in the evening or first thing in the morning.
By using this method, you supposedly let the buds and flowers yield more polyphenols and micronutrients in the oil extract.
If your plant id overdue for harvest, then you can also try the harvesting strategy of cutting off the entire top section of the plant. Remember to cut at a 45-degree angle, and use sharp shears, to ensure that the plant regrows its flowers next season. Take the top 2 to 3-inches of the plant, and then separate the flowers and buds from the stem. While some people have success cultivating this plant at home, many choose to harvest the wildflower.