Article: This keeps the plant from going to seed and spreading too far. It can also make the roots more potent if you are harvesting them for a sleep aid. Use a sharp pair of shears and cut near the base of the stem. Valerian starts blooming early in the spring. You may get two or three blooms, depending upon the placement of the plant and its age. Harvest mature root systems in the fall for drying. Allow the plant to go a few days without water before you harvest so that the natural compounds are more potent. You can also dig up older plants for medicinal use and let younger volunteers grow for next year. Rinse the roots off with your garden hose before you take them inside. Wash them thoroughly by soaking them in a bowl. Let them dry in a cool, dry place for two to three months. They are extremely pungent, so they shouldn't be dried on a kitchen table. Simmer the roots for use as a sleep aid. You can also give the dried roots to cats, who love it like catnip. Use clean, fresh leaves as a nighttime relaxation tea or dry them to make a loose-leaf tea blend.
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Cut the blooms of the valerian plant to use for bouquets. Wait a full year before starting to harvest roots and leaves for medicinal use. Separate a large valerian plant in half with a spade. Dig deeply so that you can get the entire root system. Cut the roots into half inch and one inch (1.6 to 2.5 cm) sections with shears. Spread them out on a drying rack. Separate the leaves for use in tea.