A Budding Chef? Your Guide to Planting the Right Herbs for the Kitchen

Articles on Plants | Topics: plants, plant, planting

by Gerardo Jimenez

A Budding Chef? Your Guide to Planting the Right Herbs for the Kitchen

Whether your home is large, small, or you live in an apartment – an herbal garden can add not only variety and spice to your cooking but also a bit of decoration to your home. Herb gardens can be grown both indoors and out. It is relatively easy to grow an herb garden and handy to have those herbs you like within easy reach while you are cooking.

When planning your herb garden you want to pick a location that has an abundance of sunlight and warmth. Those who have enjoyed herb gardens usually choose to locate them in their kitchen. There are several reasons for this the first of which is how handy the herbs are during meal preparations. Usually the kitchen receives a great deal of sunlight and of course, the water is nearby when the herbs need it. Although the kitchen is not the only location for an herb garden, especially if you live in a high rise or an apartment where you have no windows or very small ones in your kitchen area, look around your home for an area where there is sunlight and warmth.

Before you buy your seeds or seedlings, you need to plan your herb garden. You can start with one or two herbs of your choosing or troughs with several different types along with edible flowers. You will enjoy how growing your own herbs transforms the delights of cooking. As you pinch off a bit of chives or parsley and add them to your dishes you will smile with delight at having used your own home grown herbs.

Deciding which herbs you want to grow is often times the most difficult part of starting your herb garden. The best way to decide the herbs to grow is to consider the meals you love to prepare the most, or the meals you have always wanted to try to prepare. Another consideration is to start with the herbs that are the easiest to grow. Although, most of the herbs are not that difficult to cultivate, as with any plant there are some that are easier than others. Another way to decide which herbs you may want to start with is to look in your cabinets and see the dried herbs you have purchased and start with those.

Historical Quote

Most men have like plants hidden properties, which chance discloses.

—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)

Choosing the pots to grow your herbs in depends on the type of herb garden you want. If you are going to use individual pots, instead of buying, them look around your home for any type of item you can use as a pot that you no longer utilize. Have you noticed a chip of two on a special coffee mug – this is a great "pot" for your herbs. Let loose your creative side and you will find some beloved treasures that you can turn into great pots for your herb garden. Using special items in your home is a great way to add your personal touch and style to a very functional herb garden.

Once you have decided on the location and the types of herbs you want in your garden do not simply plant the seeds. You first need to soak them in water for approximately two to four hours. While the seeds are soaking you can begin to prepare the pots, fill the containers with the potting soil mixture. If you purchased seeds, sprinkle them over the soil and then cover them with about a ¼ inch of soil. If you have purchased seedlings, create a small hole and bury the seedling roots. You want to bury them the same depth that they were in previously. Now that you have planted the seeds and/or seedlings, water them, place them in a warm place, and enjoy the effort you put into your own personal herb garden. Before long, you will be able to enjoy fresh herbs with your meals.

When your herb garden is thriving and filling your home with fragrant aromas, you may not want to snip them off but remember that there is no match for fresh herbs. If this is your first herb garden, it will not be long before you expand it to grow more herbs and soon will be enjoying the delights of a variety of flavors to choose from while you prepare special meals for friends and loved ones.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "A Budding Chef? Your Guide to Planting the Right Herbs for the Kitchen" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FlowersPlantsGardening.com.

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