Best Herbs to Spice Up Your Kitchen Garden

26 May Best Herbs to Spice Up Your Kitchen Garden

If you love spicy flavoured dishes and can’t get enough of the sweet fragrance of herbs filling your house regularly, then you should consider growing herbs. Herbs are healthy plants grown for their medicinal properties, flavour, and aroma. Having herbs in your kitchen garden will be an excellent and health-conscious way of brightening your kitchen garden. If uncertain of the herbs to plant, Kel Lake Garden Centre will offer great advice on herbs that will suit your lifestyle and needs to kick start your herb kitchen garden.  Every herb has a unique background and is valued for various medicinal and nutritional values. With garden inspiration at your disposal, it is easy and fun to maintain a herb garden that will provide fresh twists to your meals.

Types Of Herbs You Can Grow

Parsely

Parsley is a biennial plant that is grown as an annual plant. It is slightly bitter but adds bright colour and unique flavour to dishes, especially stews. Chicken, fish, salads, sauces, and pesto are some of the meals made complete with this herb. It is a good source of Vitamins A and C, and medically, it aids indigestion.  Parsley grows well in mild climates and requires rich soil, moderate watering, and regular trimming for healthy growth. When fully grown, the parsley can be very bushy. 

Rosemary

Because rosemary is a woody and appealing herb, it may be grown not only in your kitchen garden but also on your compound to improve the landscape. It grows best from cuttings and, like other plants, demands ample sunshine and well-drained soil to thrive. Pruning the outside branches of the rosemary plant on a regular basis will restrict it from spreading. The leaves can be utilized fresh or dried in various dishes such as chicken, lamb, meat, potatoes, and sauces. It can also be used to spice your freshly brewed tea. If allowed to grow, the rosemary can mature into a full-grown bush.

Sage

This herb’s fuzzy leaves, which fill the air with a distinct fragrance, make it a lovely addition to the kitchen garden. Sage may be grown from seeds and planted indoors, in pots, or outside in the yard. It thrives in sandy soil, sunny areas, and dry circumstances. For hundreds of years, the fragrant plant has been utilized for its therapeutic benefits. It is stated that, in addition to being an anti-inflammatory agent, it also boosts memory and relieves wounds. It is widely used as a seasoning for meat dishes, vegetables, and soups.

Thyme

Due to its small leaves and stems that trail, making it look unique, thyme is one of the herbs that is considered to be a great houseplant. Thyme grows well in containers and can be planted from starts or cuttings. It prefers soil that drains fast and will thrive in a sunny spot. It is added to pastries, vegetables, and pasta dishes.

Unlike a number of herbs that require regular trimming to make them neat and prevent flowering, thyme does not demand pruning care, but you can trim now and then for a decent form.

Oregano

Traditional pizza has oregano as its signature ingredient. Apart from featuring in your kitchen garden only, this hardy plant can also be used for landscaping. It grows well in loose soil and being a member of the mint family, oregano requires the same growing care as mint plants; full sunlight and regular watering.

Chives

Chives, part of the garlic family, are famously known for their flavorful role in French and Asian cuisines. Rich in Vitamin C and beta carotene, chives are a perfect addition to eggs, salads, soups, and fish dishes. The flowers and leaves are used in daily meals. You can grow using seedlings. To maintain it, make sure you keep trimming it and, while at it, leave two inches of growth so that plants can keep growing. Chives love full sunshine and well-drained soil. 

Mint

This is a versatile plant as it can be grown in any place. Because of this, it is advisable to plant it in containers where you can control its spread. Mint is a perennial plant grown from seeds, division, cuttings, or starts. For mint to thrive, it needs adequate sunshine, good well-drained soil, and infrequent watering. Mint is said to help in digestion and acts as a breath freshener. It can be added to salads, meat dishes as well as in drinks. 

Basil

Basil is a common ingredient in Asian, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines. It is easy to grow this herb which blends well with the tomato plant. To maintain healthy growth, trim your basil regularly to avoid flowering. Space them five to six inches apart and place the seeds a quarter-inch deep in the soil. They thrive when exposed to full sunlight. Just like cilantro, basil does not last long, so you need to keep planting seeds every few weeks to ensure your meals do not miss out on their unique flavour.

Cilantro

This herb is linked to several cuisines from different parts of the world. Also known as coriander, it is trimmed regularly, and the leaves are used as a spice. Flowering is not encouraged in this herb. They do not last for long, so it is advisable to plant coriander seeds after a few weeks to ensure you have a fresh supply of cilantro for your everyday dishes.

Dill

Dill requires little care and grows best when planted in a garden with complete access to the sunlight. It blooms fast, which gives you a chance to harvest and enjoy the dill seeds and leaves within a short time. This feathery herb is an excellent addition to salads, fish, dips, soups, and peas. It helps in reducing cramps, aids in digestion, and freshens breath. 

How To Care For Your Herbs

The best thing about herbs is that they are easy to grow and care for, even as indoor plants. They are not restricted to the kitchen garden. You can grow the desired herbs in containers and place them on windowsills or the balcony of your home. Containers work best for herbs as you will be able to give each plant individual attention.

To ensure they remain as compact and neat as possible, trim or harvest your herbs regularly. The best soil for most herbs is the fast-draining soil that retains some moisture. Depending on the herbs you have planted, add some compost or fertilizer to improve the texture and boost healthy growth. 

Water your herbs and make sure they get enough sunlight. If you have placed your plants in one position, remember to turn them around every few days so that they can get adequate and complete sunlight and not grow slanted as they seek the sun. To keep your garden attractive and prevent stunted growth, make sure that you give sufficient spacing when planting. This will also facilitate airflow between the plants. 

Apart from adding zest to your daily dishes, herbs brighten and add freshness to your kitchen garden. Reach out to us if you need help in starting your kitchen herb garden.