Even if you do not have a lot of space in your kitchen, you can still plant out a few pots of herbs to use when creating meals for your family. It’s a good use of a window ledge as herbs need a good supply of light to grow. Growing herbs in your kitchen adds a splash of color to the room and it’s a great way of making sure you always have flavor boosting herbs to hand.
It’s easy to start a kitchen herb garden, you just need to make sure you choose the right herbs and place them in the right position. Then, it’s all about watering and caring for the herbs, until they are ready to harvest. Once you have the herb garden in place, you have easy access to herbs that make food taste good and can also provide important health benefits.
Why herbs are good for you
There are many health benefits to be had from adding herbs to the meals that you cook. For instance, just taking a look at three of the most common herbs:
- Basil can help with conditions such as osteoarthritis and digestive issues. It has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties. It can be used to flavor almost any meal but is especially favored in Italian cuisine.
- Rosemary can also be used as part of cancer treatment. It can also help to reduce cholesterol. Most often, rosemary is used to accompany lamb dishes.
- Thyme contains powerful antioxidants and is excellent for use in a mouthwash, to get rid of harmful bacteria. It’s also popular in herb tea and when added to French and Italian dishes.
The health benefits you get make starting a herb garden in your kitchen a great idea.
Getting the light right
Most herbs that can be grown in your kitchen need around four hours of sunlight each day, in order to thrive. If you have a south facing window, the ledge is a good place to put your herb containers. Under a skylight is also a good choice. Natural light is best, but if your kitchen is dark, you can use grow lights if necessary.
What else do you need to think about?
There are several things that you should consider when you are starting a herb garden in your kitchen.
- Heirloom seeds are normally better than hybrids. These are seeds that have passed down the same attributes from plant to plant over the decades.
- Choose herbs that are hardy and that you use regularly.
- Use pots that have drainage holes and saucers.
- Water plants only when they need it. Check to see if the soil is dry when you touch it. Basil can stand to be a little damper, but some herbs die easily if over-watered. It’s one of the most common mistakes that herb gardeners make.
- Do not be impatient when harvesting. Wait until the herb is mature. Only ever take one third of the plant and wait for the same amount to re-grow before you harvest again.
If you take the right steps, such as maintaining regular access to light and watering correctly, you should have an ongoing supply of delicious fresh herbs to enjoy.
