Indoor Herbs? Even Complete Beginners Can Grow Them
Herbs are an essential part of cooking and always add that special touch to any dish. However, you'll always notice the difference between store-bought and homegrown herbs. Yet there's nothing difficult about growing herbs at all. The great advantage of these plants is that with proper care, they grow really fast.
So the question remains - should you buy potted herbs at the supermarket or grow herbs from seed?
Buying Potted Herbs
You'll find them in almost every supermarket - pots with live herbs. From a distance they look beautiful, but upon closer inspection, they're not quite so impressive. The plants are often wilted, lacking moisture, or conversely, soaked with water like a sponge. However, the advantage is the affordable price, often around 30 CZK.
So if you decide to buy any plant at a supermarket, examine it carefully. It shouldn't be overgrown, check the leaves to make sure there are no pests on them. Transport the plant home carefully, don't expose it unnecessarily to frost.
Subsequent care is important. At home, repot the plant into a pot with quality substrate and place it in a well-lit spot - ideally on a windowsill. An excellent substrate specially for herbs is PROFÍK Substrate, which you'll find in our range. You can also help them with fertilizer sticks. With universal gel fertilizer, you can't go wrong either. If you prefer liquid fertilizer, go for BIO NATURA fertilizer. If you don't want to display a classic black plastic pot on the windowsill, get a nicer and more substantial planter cover that matches your interior colors.
Regular watering is important. If you're one of those who usually forget about regular watering and then try to save a nearly dead plant, we recommend getting a self-watering pot. You can also use a pressure sprayer, but be careful not to overwater the herbs.
For growing herbs, a stable indoor temperature is also important, ideally between 15 - 25 degrees Celsius.
Growing from Seeds
If you want to boast truly homegrown herbs without previous chemical treatment from the shop, grow them directly from seeds. It will take a bit of patience before they grow and you can use them, but the result will be worth it.
Here again applies - quality substrate and fertiliser, but most importantly quality seeds. A mini greenhouse with ventilation will make this activity much easier and you'll have all your plants together in one place.
Dill, savory, oregano or lovage - so what will you grow over the winter?
Herbs Tailored to You
Until now we haven't mentioned any specific type of herb. You know best which herbs you use most in the kitchen, which ones you like or which ones you don't particularly fancy. We're bringing at least a few tips which could inspire you when choosing herbs.
Chives
The most well-known herb of all, absolutely universal in use. It tastes great in soups, seasons meat, or combined with fresh bread gives you a delicious breakfast. Trim chives evenly with sharp scissors.
Basil
You can't go wrong with growing basil either. Basil can be used to prepare sauces, spreads, for cooking meat, salads, fish. In short, adding basil to a dish never spoils anything.
Mint
You'll use this herb when preparing drinks. In summer, freshly picked mint with water, lemon and ice is great for refreshment, in winter you can make peppermint tea from mint.
Marjoram
It's the foundation of Mediterranean cuisine, increases appetite, has disinfectant effects and also helps against colds. Marjoram must not be missing in lentil soup or in traditional Hungarian goulash. However, you don't have to only add it to food - you can prepare a perfect aromatherapy bath with it.
Sweeten your life with stevia
This tropical herb is perhaps less well known. It has become very popular because it has a sweet taste and you can use it as a natural sweetener instead of regular sugar.
Tarragon
You may know this herb by another name - wormwood. It's the foundation of French cuisine, perfectly seasons meat and fish. Moreover, it's beneficial to health - it aids digestion and has toning effects.
Are you ready for Christmas?
Christmas is almost around the corner and we have gift ideas for you!
For healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, we have a sprouting bowl with a set of sprouting seeds.
And if you have a little gardener at home, get her her own home garden in pink design