Herbs at home , grown in pots, are a great way to always have fresh herbs at hand. Especially if we place the pots with herbs on the kitchen windowsill. Then you can add them to the dishes at any time and enjoy their taste and aroma. Seehow to grow herbs at home , when to sow and plant herbs in pots, and which herb species are best for growing in pots.
Herbs at home - growing herbs in pots on the windowsill
Growing herbs at homehas many advantages.It not only allows you to have fresh herbs always at hand, but also gives us confidence that the herbs we eat are grown without artificial fertilizers and other unnecessary additives. Many herbs have relatively low growing requirements, which is why they are good plants for people who do not have much experience in growing plants, but want to enjoy their own cultivation at home.
What herbs to grow at home
The vast majority of herbs can be grown in containers and pots. Not only on the sunny kitchen windowsill, but also on the balcony or terrace. We can grow them in containers placed on shelves against the walls or in hanging pots. Growing herbs on the balcony has the advantage that during the winter, pots with delicate herbs can be moved indoors and grown like any otherherbs at home
As for annual herbs, I recommend: basil, garden savory and marjoram. On the other hand, there is less fennel, which is sometimes capricious in pot cultivation.
Of the biennial herbs, leaf parsley is a must. Not only easy to grow, but also often used in the kitchen. It is also worth paying attention to the cumin.
From perennial (perennial) herbs it is worth planting lemon balm, mint, oregano, marigold, rosemary and thyme.
Just remember to plant the largerhome-grown herbsin separate pots as their roots take up a lot of space.
How to grow herbs at home
Dogrowing herbs at homechoose a sunny place. The best is a window sill (no north-facing window).
When and how to sow herbs at home?
Most herbs can be grown from sowing seeds. The end of winter (beginning of March) is an ideal sowing season. Then the day will be long enough for your seedlings to get enough sun. However, if you want a fresh supply of herbs during the winter, sow the seeds also in July or August.This way you will enjoy the taste of herbs all year round!
The seeds of the herbs are first sown in small containers (they can be small pots, yoghurt wrappers, etc.) with holes in the bottom. After watering, excess water will drain through the holes. It is best to use a special soil for sowing seeds. Such soil is decontaminated and thanks to this you will reduce the risk of diseases of delicate seedlings.
When the seedlings have matured, replant them into larger, targeted pots. These can already be filled with ordinary potting soil mixed with sand for loosening. More demanding people can buy a special soil mix for vegetables and herbs.
At the bottom of eachpot with herbsplace a drainage layer made of small pebbles or expanded clay (prevents water from remaining on the bottom of the pot).
How to care herbs at home
Herbs need a lot of moisture. Dried out, they will not come back to life.Herbs at homeSo water regularly, but be careful not to overflow.You can use tap water for watering, but the herbs will grow better if they are watered with water at room temperature, put in a watering can at least for a day.
Herbs grown in potsgrow best in temperatures between 15 and 20 ° C. So it's better not to overheat them. Also, do not expose them to drafts. If you open a window where you grow herbs, set the plants a bit further away while ventilating.
Annual herbs grown in fresh, good-quality soil, can do without additional fertilization. Feed perennial herbs with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks, especially in late spring and summer. Use only fertilizers based on natural ingredients.
Herbs from seedlings in a pot
Of course, buying seeds is not the only way to start growing herbs. You can also buy ready-made seedlings in pots, more and more often sold in grocery stores. Choose only he althy, good-looking plants.Tilt them and check the underside of the leaves for rust spots or white bloom. If the seedlings are to survive, they must be transplanted into larger pots at home.
"However, I myself have not the best experience with such seedlings. Their viability is questionable. Who knows in what conditions they were bred and driven? However, by growing herbs independently from the seed, we are more sure that the plants obtained in this way are he althy. That is why I encourage you to sow seeds."
Herbs at home - growing herbs in pots
Harvesting and storing herbs grown at home
When collectinghome grown herbs , try not to interfere with their natural growth too much. If you are harvesting clump-forming herbs, such as parsley, only collect the outer leaves. Thanks to this, you will stimulate the plant to sprout new shoots from the center of the clump.
For fresh consumption, gather the herbs just before your meal. If you want to store herbs, you can either dry them or freeze them. These treatments also need to be carried out immediately after harvesting, because the cut herbs quickly lose their value.
Dryherbs at homein a warm, dry, well-ventilated place. It's best to hang them up.
Those who are impatient can dry the herbs in the microwave oven. Such drying is carried out with the minimum power of the device, for 2 to 3 minutes, checking the condition of the herbs every 30 seconds (it is best to test dry a small amount of herbs first). Crush the herbs after drying.
Dried herbs are stored in ceramic containers that protect them from light and moisture.
Herbs at homeyou can also freeze them. Thanks to this, you will better preserve the aromas of parsley or basil. For freezing the herbs, put them in foil bags (described what herb is inside!) And put in the freezer.If the herbs are to be stored frozen for a long time, it is worth blanching them before freezing. This is done by immersing the herbs in boiling water and then cooling them in ice water. After this treatment, you need to dry them and you can freeze them.
And if you want something extraordinary, you can also freeze herbs in ice cubes. It is a good way to store borage flowers and mint leaves, which are used as decorative additives in beverages. Before use, place ice cubes with frozen herbs on a strainer to drain the defrosted water. And… enjoy!
