Fresh herbs are great!! So much can be done in the kitchen and at home with just the essence of herbs in your salads, meats, sugars, teas, decorations, essential oils, and even food starches, like rice, potatoes, etc. Here is a list of questions to ask yourself when determining what herbs you would like to grow in your indoor garden, outdoor garden or in your greenhouse.
Fun garden quotes:
"Here's flowers for you, hot lavender, sweet mints, savory, marjoram" - William Shakespeare -
"Life begins the day you start a garden." – Chinese proverb
"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." – Henri Matisse
"More grows in the garden than the gardener sows." – Spanish proverb
"Gardening is cheaper than therapy – and you get tomatoes." – unknown
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What flavors do you enjoy cooking with?
- Do you prefer savory herbs for cooking or mints
for desserts?
- What spices do you like, coriander and white peppercorn?
- Do you have the space to grow herbs in the sun or just in the shade?
- Will your herbs need a lot of water and care?
And remember, it is your garden, so grow what you like to eat!
Some of the top 10 herbs to grow are:
- Basil (Cinnamon Basil
, Thai Basil
, Lemon Basil
, the list goes on and on)
- Thyme (easy to grow, usually grows back the next year)
- Chives - Perennial herb with onion-flavored leaves, frost-tolerant, and produces edible purple blooms. Non-GMO. Forms neat, grass-like clusters.
- Coriander, also known as cilantro, is the seed of the cilantro plant (see video below).
- Dill is great for salad, chicken salad, garnish, and salad dressings.
- Mint is a fabulous addition to your garden and kitchen. But beware: It is fast-growing and invasive.
- Parsley (there are 100's of varieties available, have fun!)
- Sage (a must-have for anything chicken-related, also good with potatoes and rice).
- Lavender is an up-and-coming herb, thanks to Trader Joe's (LOL). In Southern California, it is quickly becoming an easy-to-take-of ornamental for your yards and planters, so why not use it? In the home, a few possible uses include adding lavender to iced teas, making eye pillows for relaxation, and making lavender sugar (my favorite).
- We must remember GARLIC
. Everyone has an opinion about garlic. Some people don't like the "hassle" of fresh garlic because cutting it and cooking with it is a bit different than the standard dried granulated garlic. It is different, and so is the flavor, which is good! Fresh garlic, let me just say there is nothing like it; it deserves the top 10!
So, be sure to enjoy whatever herbs you may choose to grow in your garden this year. And if you end up with too much, fresh herbs make great gifts for your neighbors and friends.
So HERB ON, fellow gardeners!
Hydroponic and indoor herb garden ideas:
Enclosed planting is now possible year-round, without being limited by soil, air, water, or other forms of pollution. The temperature inside the box is intelligently controlled using sensors, and an automatic fan adjusts the air circulation and temperature. Plants receive oxygen through a smart air pump, according to their growth needs. Intelligent lighting provides the full spectrum of light necessary for plant growth, catering to the unique needs of different plants. With the use of less than 1 square meter, anyone can connect with nature at home, and enjoy planting and harvesting with their children. Here are a few of my favorite indoor and hydroponic gardens.
