How to Grow Fresh Herbs in Your Kitchen

Would you love to have fresh herbs growing right in the comfort of your own kitchen? Just imagine always having the fresh herbs ready at your beck and call. While you’re cooking up your meals, you just cut fresh herbs from the plant, wash them, and add them to your dishes as desired. Not that hard, right? This article will teach you to grow fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs grown at home

Fresh herbs in the home is perfect. Not only can you use them for decoration and fragrance, but it’s also a way to always have fresh ingredients on hand and add more flavor to your cooking. Cooking is basically an art, and so is gardening.

There are countless aromatic herbs used in cooking. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Deal
• basil
• oregano
• bay tree
• parsley
• Rosemary

However, it is always a better idea to plant them outside, like in a garden, balcony, patio, or anywhere on the ground. Indeed, this is just the way to ensure that the plants get all the sunlight they may need to grow appropriately.

However, you can grow plants in your home and even in your kitchen . You just need to remember a few special steps to follow.

Proper Conditions for Fresh Herbs

light

Without light, herbs cannot grow or develop properly. That is why, if you want to place potted plants in your kitchen, you must first choose a good location that gets enough sunlight .

Basically, remember that herbs require a lot of light, about 6 hours a day . This is why it is good to place them in a bright place, such as on a windowsill.

Drainage

Herbs do not usually live long if their roots get wet. For this reason, drainage would have to be good. Thus, you need to buy a pot with holes at the bottom. Holes at the bottom of the pot will allow water to drain easily and continuously.

ventilation

Other than light and good drainage, herbs need good airflow. This is usually not a problem in open ground and gardens. But if herbs are planted in pots,   they may wilt due to insufficient airflow.

If there are holes in the bottom of the pot, this will prevent water from pooling and allow for ventilation.

This requires that you plant your herbs in a pot with holes in the bottom and place them on top of a bowl containing small rocks . This will allow air to circulate through the pot and reach the roots.

On the other hand, you could prefer a ‘vertical garden’ in your kitchen, where pots are hung on a wall panel. In this case, you cannot employ a bowl, but you can add small stones to the soil to better air circulation.

Other Tips for Growing Fresh Herbs

Group your plants according to their watering requirements. That way, you will remember how much water a plant requires and thus avoid overwatering.

Herbs that require less water include rosemary , thyme, sage , and lavender.
Herbs that require more water are basil, parsley, and mint.

Cut it appropriately

If you keep cutting your herbs, you will always see them growing, which is when they become more fragrant.

Pruning herbs can encourage growth , as it keeps them in a developing stage before they reach full maturity and flower . It also enhances their flavor and aroma.

However, do not cut too much, as it can wilt and die. Therefore, it is better to cut only as much as you need for each dish . In any case, you should never cut more than 1/3 of the plant. Basically, it is best to cut small amounts periodically.

On the other hand, it is best to cut the flowers when they are in bloom . This will maintain the growth stage of the plant, so you will have fresh, fragrant leaves for a longer time.

Kitchen decoration

As you can see, growing fresh herbs in pots indoors is not that difficult . Just remember the tips we have given so far.

But there is another aspect of growing aromatic plants that should not be forgotten. Fresh herbs can be used as part of the decoration. In this sense, the natural green effect, the scent, and the ‘living’ element of the kitchen play an important role in the decoration. It can really fill the kitchen with life and nature!

Therefore, special care must be taken when choosing the pots in which to plant herbs . For example:

• If you want a rustic feel, you can always choose a potting mix that has holes in the bottom to allow for good drainage.
• Meanwhile, if you have a modern kitchen, you can choose flower pots in bold colors or all-white colors.
• If you have enough space and light, you should know about wall panels that can bring life to your kitchen. It’s like having a vertical farm in your home .
• Upside-down planters have become very popular over the past few years. They are a very unique idea and are perfect for small spaces. Many of them also include a watering system.

Finally, always remember that when using herbs directly in cooking, you should wash them well before adding them to your food . So don’t hesitate to include fresh herbs in your kitchen for decoration, fragrance, and great flavor!