The Best Herbs To Grow At Home
Since I cook most of my food at home, it excites me to incorporate organic and freshly grown produce. Since herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow and have an abundance of uses in the kitchen, it’s a no-brainer to invest some time and energy into growing them. With that objective in mind, I wanted to share a list of the best herbs to grow at home.
There are a number of reasons why I encourage new gardeners and health enthusiasts to grow herbs at home, and they are as follows:
- Herbs do not require much space to grow.
- They’re suitable for most climates and environmental conditions.
- They are extremely low-maintenance.
- Most herbs can grow densely in potting soil.
- Herbs can be grown indoors as long as they get sunlight.
- They don’t need much space to grow.
- Some herbs repel insects and deodorize the air.
- They can be harvested repeatedly.
- You can use herbs in your food, juices, and smoothies.
- Some herb seeds are incredibly cheap to buy in bulk.
- They offer many health benefits and remedies, especially for colds and sinus issues.
- Herbs grow faster than other crops and vegetation.
- They only need to be watered once per day on average.
These were compelling reasons for me to grow herbs, and seeing my effort pay off within a week or two really encouraged me to invest more of my time and energy into gardening.
Even if you haven’t grown a single plant in your entire life, I can assure you that herbs are the best and easiest type of plant to grow.
With that being said, let’s take a look at my list of the best herbs to grow at home.
Related article: Beginner’s guide to growing microgreens
6 Easy Herbs To Grow At Home
1. Peppermint
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is a versatile herb with an invigorating and refreshing aroma. This is my favorite herb to grow at home because it’s easy to plant and spreads like wildfire.The plant has dark green, serrated leaves and produces small purple flowers.
The best part about peppermint is its cooling sensation and use in culinary applications, teas, and aromatherapy.
Smell: The scent of peppermint is described as cool, strong, fresh, and menthol-like.
Why Grow at Home: Peppermint is an excellent choice for home cultivation due to its versatility of use and easy maintenance. It can be used to make herbal teas and flavor culinary dishes, and its scent can act as a natural air freshener. Additionally, peppermint is known for its potential health benefits, including aiding digestion and providing a sense of calm and ease.
2. Coriander
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb with fern-like leaves and small white flowers. Offering a distinct flavor, both it’s leaves and seeds are used in cooking.
Smell: Cilantro leaves are described as having a citrusy and zesty fragrance, while coriander seeds emit a warm and slightly spicy aroma.
Why Grow It At Home? Coriander is an excellent herb to grow at home for culinary enthusiasts. Being able to use both the leaves and seeds makes it a versatile herb for the kitchen. Coriander can grow in a pot and doesn’t require much space per sprout.
3. Holy basil
Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is an herb known for it’s medicinal properties. It has aromatic, green leaves and small purple flowers. Unlike other herbs, holy basil leaves are slightly thicker and larger in shape.
Smell: Holy basil has a spicy,sweet, and peppery fragrance.
Why Grow It At Home? Holy basil offers potent anti-inflammatory and stress-relieving properties that can easily be infused into your food and salads. Also, it’s quick growth provides a fresh supply for teas and traditional remedies.
4. Parsley
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial herb with bright green, curly, or flat leaves. Biennial means that it grows into a plant in one season, and after winter, it blossoms, disperses seeds, and perishes.
Parsley produces small, yellow-green flowers in its second year.
Smell: The fragrance of parsley is fresh, mild, and slightly peppery.
Why Grow It At Home? Parsley is one of the most used herbs in the kitchen, be it in soups, curries, or salads. It adds a burst of freshness while being rich in vitamins and minerals. Some claims point to parsley being an excellent herb to detoxify the blood from heavy metals.
5. Chives
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) belong to the onion family, popularly known for their long, thin, and hollow green leaves and delicate purple flowers. Chives have a mild onion flavor and a subtle, grassy aroma.
Smell: Much like their flavor profile, chives offer a mild onion scent with a grassy or earthy undertone.
Why Grow It At Home? Chives are particularly easy to grow and more resilient to various weather changes. They’re an excellent garnish for most foods and salads due to their fresh and subtle onion flavor.
6. Thyme
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a small herb with aromatic leaves and little lavender or pink flowers. It has quite a pungent and unique flavor profile, unlike most of the other herbs on this list.
Thyme is a popular herb in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine.
Smell: Thyme has a strong, herbal, and earthy fragrance with subtle floral notes.
Why Grow It At Home? It is a culinary powerhouse, adding a ton of flavor and depth to a variety of dishes. Thyme is not fussy and can grow both indoors and outdoors. It’s thin and compact leaves are easy to maintain without causing much plant litter. Thyme’s aromatic qualities make it a great choice for enhancing the aroma of your home, and its potential health benefits add to its appeal.
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