Herb Gardeners, a Rookie Needs Your Help!?

I am growing herbs in containers on my patio this summer for the first time ever. They are doing very well, which is great, but I'm not sure what to do as far as harvesting %26amp; storing them goes. Someone told me you shouldn't pick them except for immediate use in cooking until the end of the summer, but if I wait that long to harvest, they may take over my patio! I am using what I can for cooking, but that barely makes a dent in them. Please enlighten me as to when I can harvest, how to do it, ways to preserve, etc. Specifically, I have sweet basil, Italian oregano, garlic chives, rosemary, sage, marjoram, mint, and spearmint. Thanks!

Herb Gardeners, a Rookie Needs Your Help!?
My mom, like you, uses them as much as she can in her cooking, because they grow sooo quickly, But sometimes if they're getting out of hand, she'll usually cut off about a third of each plant, and freeze it so she can use it during Christmas Dinner. She cuts off either a large stem or many leaves, and just sticks them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Even though they usually get freezerburt they still usually add lots of flavor in the cooking. Good Luck!
Reply:You can take the herbs, cut them up as you'd use them when you cook, and put them in ice cube trays. Add enough water to just cover the herb, and freeze. Pop out of the ice tray when frozen and put in marked freezer containers. Then when you want to use them in a sauce or something, you just drop it in and you have your still fresh herb taste. No freezer burn.
Reply:Spread the love dear! Make little herb bouquets for friends to use and enjoy, you could also make some into potpourri. I've frozen some herbs and dried some just to keep the plants manageable. But, like I said, sharing is the best!
Reply:Herbs best for drying: Basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, marjoram, mint and spearmint. The only herb you really can't used dried are the chives but you can freeze those. Drying is very easy. Just bundle them up and wrap a ribbon around the ends to make a pretty little bouquet. find a nice airy spot in your kitchen to hang them and let them dry naturally. If you still have too much then start sharing with friends and family. Oh, the mints can be frozen in ice cubes and then tossed into tea or lemonade.