Picture this: it is a Friday afternoon and you are in-charge of cooking dinner for you and a few friends tonight. The dish is a pasta one that calls for a handful of ingredients that you do not have in your fridge which will require a visit to the grocery store. Closest to your office is a Whole Foods which works out perfectly because you can swing by right after work and make it home just in time to conjure up tonight’s meal. As soon as that clock strikes 4:30PM you are out of there and head over to buy your items. Going down your list you come across the need for a handful of basil leaves. A heavy sigh leaves your mouth as you stare at the overpriced herbs that sit in front of you. You have been here before and unfortunately are reminded of the many times you have bought packaged herbs to use them once and then let the rest brown in your fridge. Not intentionally of course, it just happens like this sometimes. $5 for a single-use item just seems absurd and in this moment you so desperately wish that you had a garden full of herbs at home to use instead.
This particular instance is the exact reason why we are both here right now. Unfortunately, this happens way too often and can total to a not so ideal amount over time. Sure, you can navigate this by shopping at cheaper grocery stores, but that doesn’t dissipate the issue of waste. If anything it will just lessen the overall cost. Another remedy could be to purchase an indoor smart garden, but not everyone has $100+ to casually drop on some herbs. So, let’s say you are going to take the old-fashioned route. You are going to dedicate a space in your yard or by a windowsill to growing herbs in order to avoid the dreaded game you play at your local grocery store every so often. Thankfully, self-growing will be cheaper, more convenient, create less waste, taste more fresh, and potentially turn you into a better chef!
Let’s walk through what the best herbs to grow at home are and how to take care of them.
Parsley
Parsley is probably the easiest herb to grow and maintain at home. Because it can grow at any point during the year and does not have a designated season, upkeep of this herb is as simple as watering a simple house plant. You are going to want to pot it preferably in the autumn or spring (but like we said, it doesn’t matter much) and keep it positioned in the sun. Really all you are going to want to do is water it when the soil feels dry. You do not need to maintain any sort of strict schedule.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a bit more difficult to grow as it requires slightly more upkeep than something like Parsley, but it is nothing too unmanageable for the typical person. This herb can survive on rainwater, so if you leave your rosemary outside it will be okay. It needs to be potted in a large pot and must receive ample sunlight. If you live in a place where there is little sunlight, Rosemary is not the herb for you.
Mint
Mint is another simple herb to grow. It requires very little water and can grow in either the sun or shade. You do not even need a pot for Mint as it can grow in something as simple as a plastic takeaway container. However, Mint goes extremely fast, so make sure that you are trimming it as often as you can in order for it to not overtake your garden.
Basil
Basil can be grown either indoors or outdoors in a garden or a container. Whichever holder you choose you must make sure it has an excellent draining system as the soil needs to be drained often. Basil prefers to grow in sunlight, so if you are growing indoors, set this herb by the window. If you are growing Basil outside it is important to know that it is a plant that is very sensitive to the cold and any amount of light frosting can kill it. It is best if you plant this during warmer seasons.
Chives
Last but not least we have one of the more difficult yet very delicious herbs. Chives can be used in a handful of dishes and are really worth it if you can get the growth down right. Chives grow best in direct sunlight and require a proper drainage system, much like Basil. The best way to grow Chives is planting rooted clumps in the spring. To grow them indoors you can place them in a bright and sunny location and harvest them often by snipping leaves from the base of the plant.
