GINKGO
Homegrown Most medicinal leaves are picked in the spring, but the optimum gathering time for Ginkgo is the fall, when the plant's chemistry has reached its peak over the summer. The leaves should be picked when they are still green, just before they turn yellow, because any really yellow leaves mean that the falconoid content is past its best and will be only minimally effective. The optimum time of month varies, but generally falls between August and September - during this time it is very important to watch the trees daily. Pick the leaves one by one, nipping the little stalk between your thumb and middle finger to prevent damage to the tree. Once collected, the leaves should be dried thoroughly. One way is to place a few leaves at a time in a brown paper bag and hang it up in a dry place. Shake the bag frequently to make sure that enough aeration occurs.
Alternatively, place the leaves on a cake-rack with a layer of paper towels underneath them, and leave the rack in a warm, dry place, shading it from direct sunlight. Replace the paper daily until the leaves dry out. Either method should take only a few days.
When you feel the leaves is ready, check for moisture content by placing a leaf or two in a glass jar. Put on the lid and, leave the jar in the sunshine or near another heat source. If water droplets appear, there is still a moisture content and a risk of spoilage, for example, by spores appearing, in which case continue to dry the leaves by repeating the drying process. Once the leaves are fully dried, they are packed into burlap bags and sent on to their destination. So many Ginkgoes is used worldwide that growers are never short of sales and will always be able to pass on the leaves without delay. In Europe, especially in Holland, Germany, and France, certified organic plantations of Ginkgo are still a rare sight and because they grow so slowly, fresh tincturing is the preferred storage method. It is important to be choosy about the color of the leaves you intend to purchase from your herbal supplier. To gain the important chemical constituents that straddle two color stages, you need to look for a combination of two colors: dark, vibrant green and an autumnal or fall yellow. If have only one or the other, then you will receive only one set of major constituents. Some leaves contain colors, deep green and blotches of yellow, which are considered to be an optimum purchase. Never feel reluctant to send mail-order herbs back if they do not appear to be right in any way. However, talking to the supplier when ordering can prevent this situation. Of course, buying from a store means you can see and question at the time of purchase. Always ask how old the leaves are and make sure you are buying the most recent crop available. Plants will be growing happily and proper medication will make them grow stronger and healthy.
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