A Home Herb Garden… Cook's Paradise!
Herbs and a home herb garden are the cook’s best friends!
Anyone can roast a steak or bake a pasta dish… however the herbs and the spices are what magically transform adequate food into something delicious and enticing.
Don’t underestimate the value of herbs or think that processed foods contain all the herbs you need!
Improve your health
Herbs can help you and the family cut back on salt, fat and sugar, help improve the aroma and taste of meals, and some even contain antioxidants that can help prevent diseases from developing.
If you have ever moaned and groaned about the price of herbs or felt that store-bought herbs lack a certain natural goodness to them, then maybe you should consider starting your own home herb garden.
What should you know about planting your own home herb garden?
It’s not difficult, but will require some effort, and more importantly, some reminders, so that your plants continue to grow in a healthy manner.
For example, the time you choose to plant your herbs will be significant. Herbal experts suggest that you plant herbs after the last day of winter frost, right around springtime.
This can prevent the accidental loss of plants due to late freezes.
What’s great about a home herb garden is that you can put it almost anywhere in the house, from your kitchen windowsill to out on a patio.
Give them plenty of sunlight
One thing is for certain: your garden, regardless of its place, will require a great deal of sunlight, whether they lay outside or are in front of a window. If you are keeping the plant inside, then fluorescent lighting plus an occasional glimpse of real sunlight will suffice.
All you need in addition to a good place for the garden is the pots or containers as well as the soil. One decision you will have to make will be whether you want to put multiple herb plants in a longer pot or plant them individually in their own container.
Ask the nursery for ideas on what herbs grow best on windowsills or in the home.
For example, Oregano grows if it gets a great deal of sunlight, while basil grows best in an outside setting. Rosemary though, is a trooper and grows all year round with minimum care.
Make a conscious effort to water your plants just the right amount (not overwatering) and also make sure there is adequate draining to avoid soil disease.
If you notice that the herbs are struggling you may have to replace the soil or mix in plant foods, as all the nutrients have drained out.
A home herb garden is ideal for people who enjoy using herbs in every day life.
This option eliminates the need to buy herbs from the store and lets you experiment with various types of herbs for cheap. Furthermore, herbs contain the highest amount of vitamins and minerals when they are freshly picked.
Some cooks simply like the freshness of using herbs straight off the plant! You could easily use these herbs in seasoning, cooking, sprinkling or even making fresh tea.
A home herb garden overflowing with beautiful, fresh, full-flavored herbs… what a refreshing alternative.
