Nothing melts a heart more than herbs that add new life to the kitchen and also liven up the dish. From stackable garden planters to vertical ones, healthy and great looking herbs can grow inside the home and give your meal a fresh flavor all year round. For me, the perfect place for an indoor herb garden is an empty windowsill that gets enough sunlight for at least five to six hours.
The article gives you insight into the best types of herbs that are low-maintenance and can be nurtured inside the home. Grow them today to have the best herbs at your fingertips in no time.
How To Grow Herbs
Growing herbs at home is a straightforward process. The most effortless way to sort herb is by warm weather and cold weather growers – the latter grows best in September through February, while warm weather growers can flourish best from February through September. The herb garden in a container can be more beneficial as you can conveniently move them out when necessary.
But make sure you are placing the herbs in a place that gets six hours of sunlight daily such as a windowsill or oak shelf in the kitchen. To see the sun’s strength, turn off and on lights to see how natural sunlight that area can have. Furthermore, all herbs need a pot with proper drainage. If you are concerned the drainage hole will ruin the surface, use the liner to catch the excess water.
In case you intend to decorate the place with cute planters along with ornaments, consider using a reclaimed oak beam and add two or three planters to give the hallway or a kitchen a nature vibe.
10 Herbs to Plant now
1. Bay Leaves
Place the bay laurel plant in a pot and put it in a direction where sunlight partially comes. The leaves of the herb look ike those of balsam, and mint. It is used mostly in long-simmering dishes and has a sharp and bitter taste. Make sure to add it during the cooking process and remove it before serving. It is naïve to the Mediterranean.
2. Chives
Chives is one of the low maintenance herbs that can thrive with less care. It is also considered the most delicate herb of French cuisine. It has been naïve to Asia, but people in different countries have used it in their foods since ancient times. It pairs well with fish, potatoes, egg, shellfish, salads, and soups. It is also super healthy and an excellent source of vitamin C and beta carotene.
3. Peppermint
Like any other mint, peppermint is famous for adding refreshing flavour and improves the digestion process. It has excellent health benefits and can be used to aid the symptoms of conditions such as IBS and nausea. It has been an excellent source of potassium, vitamin B and calcium and can be utilized as a natural pesticide.
4. Bee Balm
If you are a fan of fast food, you should consider growing bee balm. Apart from pizza, you can use it in salads, bread, and other food for a distinctive and delicious taste. It also has a long history of use in medicine as well. The Blackfeet Indian used it to treat wounds and cuts. A tea made from the herb is an effective remedy to treat mouth and throat infections as it contains high levels of antiseptic and thymol – critical ingredients in many renowned types of mouthwash.
5. Lavender
Lavender grown as a condiment gives dishes a slightly sweet flavor. Though it can survive in all environmental conditions, the sun with well-drained soil proves to be the best climate. It also has many health benefits; it can soothe insect bite and headaches and aid sleep. In the United States, dried lavender is used to flavour scones and marshmallows.
6. Lemon Verbena
Lemon verbena is a tasty and valuable culinary herb used for dressings, salads, and teas. It grows well both inside and outside. The multi-purpose herb has been employed everywhere, from soaps to medicines to perfumes and much more. It has a citrus fragrance and can be an excellent addition to herb pillows and potpourris. You can also use it as your freshen drawers, closets, or laundry.
7. Stevia
Stevia adds aesthetic beauty to your home and is known as a natural sweetener. The plant has been linked to the subtropical and tropical regions in the Western hemisphere. The herb, however, blooms best in the milder climate in North America yet can still survive in a much warmer environment. The leaves of the plants have a sweet taste and it is these that can be used as a sugar substitute.
8. Fennel
Fennel is not just a beautiful plant but also very flavorful and aromatic. It is native to the Mediterranean region and grows best in dry soil although it can survive in a cold environment if properly cared for. The intensely flavored leaves feel and look more like dill. Apart from having many health benefits, it looks unique and beautiful on any corner of your home. The bulb can be sautéed or eaten raw. And it can be used for garnishes or added to salads for the delicious taste.
9. Thyme
Thyme is a delicate and beautiful looking plant and is mostly used to flavor egg, vegetable and bean dishes in Italian and Provençal French cuisines. You can grow it in a hot sunny location with well-drained soil, and the best season to plant this herb is spring. It also has some ornamental and medicinal uses.
10. Basil
This is one of the easiest herbs to grow and makes your salads and sauces more delicious, especially when you used with creamy cheeses and acidic tomatoes. The herb has aromatic green leaves with little flowers and thrives in hot weather when watered regularly in well drained soil.
