You might not have a green thumb but there are 5 herbs that you can easily grow indoors. If you love gardening but live in an apartment, then growing these herbs indoors is a good way to indulge in your hobby. These herbs are easy to care for and you can use them in your cooking too. This is also one way to add more organic produce to your diet.
1. Lemongrass
This herb doesn’t even require soil. Buy a stalk at your local market with a large stem part and with the base of the plant still intact. Trim the top of the stalk and place the plant in a tall container with 2-3 inches of water. The stalk will produce roots and dozens of new shoots. It’s one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors. This herb is very fragrant when added to your dishes.
2. Chives
This herb does not require much light to grow just start with an already grown plant. Place the plant with the roots in a small pot filled halfway with potting soil. Cover the roots up to the crowns with more potting soil. Cut about one-third off of the top of the plant to encourage new growth. Chives are popularly used as garnish but also to add flavor to dishes.
3. Mint
Spearmint and peppermint grow like weeds so they can choke out other herbs if kept in the same container so get these herbs their own pots. For indoors, peppermint is a better option. This herb should be planted as seeds in a small pot full of potting soil. Place it in a spot where it gets at least a little bit of light each day. Mint is one of the herbs you can grow indoors to add a refreshing kick to your beverages or desserts.
4. Parsley
Parsley is grown from seeds which need to germinate and may take up to 2 weeks to grow. This herb is a slow grower so your initial clippings will not be much. It doesn’t require much light and maintenance once you get started. Be sure to ask instructions from the seller when you buy the seeds so you can plant it properly. This is a popular herb that adds a hearty aroma to any dish.
5. Basil
This herb is the most difficult to grow among the five but it is a very popular herb for cooking. There are different kinds of basil so ask your seller which one to get and how to grow it properly. As with parsley, you will enjoy caring for it and cooking with it after your initial planting efforts.
Some Tips for Caring for These Herbs
As with any hobby, some patience is needed to grow some of these herbs indoors. You will find that they are worth the time and effort. Be sure to keep in mind some tips to ensure your efforts don’t go to waste.
- Plant herbs in separate containers so that they have room to grow and they don’t choke out each other.
- Water them minimally. Wet the base where the stem and soil meet and not the leaves. Let the base dry before watering again.
- Clip them regularly to promote more growth so use them in your cooking often.
- Always use high quality organic potting soil. Ask your seller for recommendations.
We hope you get your gardening groove on with these herbs and maybe boost your cooking skills in the process. You might also want to check out these tips on maximizing your food budget.
Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.04.01.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash.
