6 Windowsill Herbs Your Family (And Tastebuds) Will Love
Written by: Susan Patterson Survival Gardening 0 Print This Article
http://www.offthegridnews.com/survival-gardening-2/6-windowsill-herbs-your-family-and-tastebuds-will-love/
Image source: Gardenista
There’s nothing like fresh herbs to perk up a dish. But even when we know that a bit of this and that will make all the difference between a good dish and a great one, we often go without them just because they are not handy.
Of course, you can resort to dried herbs, or even frozen ones if you can find them among all that junk in the freezer. But it is not the same as the zing that fresh herbs provide. Just imagine the pleasure of going to the windowsill, selecting a nice healthy stem and nipping it off, drawing a deep breath to enjoy the aroma as you do so!
Anyone who has a bright, sunny window can grow a variety of herbs indoors. Select the ones that you like to use often. Frequent harvesting will make them healthier and provide a higher yield.
Here are 6 must-have ones:
1. Mint
Mint makes the top of the list not just because it is easy to grow, but because growing mint is highly rewarding as well. Anyone who is attempting to grow herbs will not be disappointed in this cool-tasting herb. Mint leaves can be used for your tea as well as for cold drinks. Being quite vigorous in growth, it provides you with all the leaves you’ll ever need and plenty to spare, too. It’s very refreshing to have a pot full of mint around, as the slightest touch will release the essential oils.
You can choose from the wide variety of mints available — the most popular being peppermint and spearmint. Since their cuttings root easily in moist soil, there’s no need to bother with seeds. Take a few cuttings in fall or spring and plant them in rich, moist potting soil. If you don’t have a plant to take cuttings from, buy a bunch of mint and select a few healthy stems. You can even root them in water before planting. It’s as simple as that.
Mints love slightly acidic, damp soil. Place the pot where it receives plenty of sunlight. Harvest them as often as you can. In fact, it will punish you with scraggly growth if you don’t. If flower spikes appear, pinch them off promptly to promote vegetative growth.
2. Basil
This is one herb that makes everyone wish they had it whenever they feel adventurous with food. More often than not, you may have to settle for dried basil leaves that taste entirely different from the fresh and spicy flavor of the green leaves. An essential ingredient of pesto, basil leaves can transform almost any dish into something special.
Get Delicious, Nutrient-Dense Heirloom Seeds Here!
Image source: MotherEarthLiving
You can purchase the seeds of different types of basil. The lemony and cinnamon-flavored ones are wonderful. Sow the seeds in damp soil and transplant the seedlings into large-sized pots when they are a few inches tall and have a few healthy leaves. You can use the leaves straight away from the excess seedlings you may have. Water the plants deeply, but intermittently. The soil should be kept on the dry side. Check for pests, and eliminate them immediately to keep the plant healthy.
Basil is a tender herb, so it has to be treated as an annual in most zones, except where no frost can kill it. Even in warmer areas this is a short-lived perennial. If you have your basil plant outside, be sure to bring it when the temperature starts to drop. The stems have to be pinched often to prevent flowering. If you have more leaves than you need at a time, they can be stored in the refrigerator while wrapped in paper towels. You can liquidize the leaves into paste with a tiny amount of water and freeze it, too. It keeps the flavor better and truer than dried leaves.
3. Chives
The smallest of onions, chives are a dependable herb that comes back year after year, growing in clumps less than a foot high. The grass-like leaves can be harvested several times a year. The pretty pink flowers that come in late spring make this herb a great addition to even flower gardens. When you grow them indoors, it may not be floriferous, but the leaves are just as plenty and succulent as ever.
If you already have clumps of chive growing in the garden, it’s just a matter of dividing it and planting it in pots. A potting medium rich in organic matter is beneficial for chives because it prefers a pH between 6 and 7. The clump should be set 2 inches deep and watered well. Let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Water logging should be avoided to prevent the bulbs from rotting in the pot. Yellowing of leaves can be due to both under watering and overwatering.
Chives can be grown from seeds, too, but you’ll have to wait a year to harvest. Sow the seeds and cover them with half an inch of soil. Transplant clumps of seedlings into the pots next spring. The outer leaves are harvested so that the middle keeps growing.
4. Parsley
You have the choice of growing either the curly-leaf parsley or the flat-leaved French parsley, which has a stronger taste. These biennial plants are usually grown as annuals because their first-year leaves are the most flavorful.
Parsley is grown from seeds usually sown in spring. You need to be patient with parsley seeds as they are notorious for slow germination. They may take a month or more to put out their baby leaves. Keep the soil moist during this time. Soaking the seeds overnight in lukewarm water may accelerate sprouting. The plants love sunlight, so keep them near a bright window.
New Natural Fertilizer Doubles Garden Production!
Parsley leaves are ready for harvest when the plant is 6 inches tall. Hold the outer leaves together and cut them off. New leaves will emerge from the center of the clump. Parsley goes well with almost all vegetable preparations.
5. Rosemary
Image source: ApplesAndOnions
This perennial plant with its needlelike leaves and woody stem is hardly an herbaceous plant, but it is generally considered an herb because of its flavorful leaves. This shrubby plant, when grown indoors in a pot, can add height and contrast to a grouping of herbs.
You can propagate rosemary from stem cuttings, but the plant grows so slowly that it takes a long time for it to be ready for harvesting. It is always better to get a good-sized plant from the garden center. It should be planted in well-draining potting mix. The pot shouldn’t be too large for the root ball; it likes to be root-bound. Rosemary can’t stand water logging. It prefers slightly alkaline soil, so add a teaspoonful of lime to the soil.
You can harvest the leaves by breaking off small branches. The needle leaves are easy to dry. Just spread them in the shade for 2-3 days and then store in airtight containers.
6. Oregano
This culinary and medicinal herb is the last in the list but not the least among herbs by any chance. Besides adding flavor to a variety of food and drinks, it acts as a food preservative, too. Oregano tea can relieve coughs and cure indigestion. What else do you want from an herb?
You can grow this perennial herb from seeds as well as cuttings. But if you like to use it very often, it is a good idea to get a grown plant from the garden center. The growing medium should be well-draining because this plant likes dry soil between watering. It thrives in alkaline soil of pH 6-8; hence, adding a bit of lime to the soil is a good idea.
Harvest oregano by pinching off stem tips. It encourages bushy growth. Dry the stems in the shade and store in airtight containers. Dry oregano is preferred to fresh leaves because the flavor of this herb intensifies when it is dried.
Written by: Susan Patterson Survival Gardening 0 Print This Article
http://www.offthegridnews.com/survival-gardening-2/6-windowsill-herbs-your-family-and-tastebuds-will-love/
Image source: Gardenista
There’s nothing like fresh herbs to perk up a dish. But even when we know that a bit of this and that will make all the difference between a good dish and a great one, we often go without them just because they are not handy.
Of course, you can resort to dried herbs, or even frozen ones if you can find them among all that junk in the freezer. But it is not the same as the zing that fresh herbs provide. Just imagine the pleasure of going to the windowsill, selecting a nice healthy stem and nipping it off, drawing a deep breath to enjoy the aroma as you do so!
Anyone who has a bright, sunny window can grow a variety of herbs indoors. Select the ones that you like to use often. Frequent harvesting will make them healthier and provide a higher yield.
Here are 6 must-have ones:
1. Mint
Mint makes the top of the list not just because it is easy to grow, but because growing mint is highly rewarding as well. Anyone who is attempting to grow herbs will not be disappointed in this cool-tasting herb. Mint leaves can be used for your tea as well as for cold drinks. Being quite vigorous in growth, it provides you with all the leaves you’ll ever need and plenty to spare, too. It’s very refreshing to have a pot full of mint around, as the slightest touch will release the essential oils.
You can choose from the wide variety of mints available — the most popular being peppermint and spearmint. Since their cuttings root easily in moist soil, there’s no need to bother with seeds. Take a few cuttings in fall or spring and plant them in rich, moist potting soil. If you don’t have a plant to take cuttings from, buy a bunch of mint and select a few healthy stems. You can even root them in water before planting. It’s as simple as that.
Mints love slightly acidic, damp soil. Place the pot where it receives plenty of sunlight. Harvest them as often as you can. In fact, it will punish you with scraggly growth if you don’t. If flower spikes appear, pinch them off promptly to promote vegetative growth.
2. Basil
This is one herb that makes everyone wish they had it whenever they feel adventurous with food. More often than not, you may have to settle for dried basil leaves that taste entirely different from the fresh and spicy flavor of the green leaves. An essential ingredient of pesto, basil leaves can transform almost any dish into something special.
Get Delicious, Nutrient-Dense Heirloom Seeds Here!
Image source: MotherEarthLiving
You can purchase the seeds of different types of basil. The lemony and cinnamon-flavored ones are wonderful. Sow the seeds in damp soil and transplant the seedlings into large-sized pots when they are a few inches tall and have a few healthy leaves. You can use the leaves straight away from the excess seedlings you may have. Water the plants deeply, but intermittently. The soil should be kept on the dry side. Check for pests, and eliminate them immediately to keep the plant healthy.
Basil is a tender herb, so it has to be treated as an annual in most zones, except where no frost can kill it. Even in warmer areas this is a short-lived perennial. If you have your basil plant outside, be sure to bring it when the temperature starts to drop. The stems have to be pinched often to prevent flowering. If you have more leaves than you need at a time, they can be stored in the refrigerator while wrapped in paper towels. You can liquidize the leaves into paste with a tiny amount of water and freeze it, too. It keeps the flavor better and truer than dried leaves.
3. Chives
The smallest of onions, chives are a dependable herb that comes back year after year, growing in clumps less than a foot high. The grass-like leaves can be harvested several times a year. The pretty pink flowers that come in late spring make this herb a great addition to even flower gardens. When you grow them indoors, it may not be floriferous, but the leaves are just as plenty and succulent as ever.
If you already have clumps of chive growing in the garden, it’s just a matter of dividing it and planting it in pots. A potting medium rich in organic matter is beneficial for chives because it prefers a pH between 6 and 7. The clump should be set 2 inches deep and watered well. Let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Water logging should be avoided to prevent the bulbs from rotting in the pot. Yellowing of leaves can be due to both under watering and overwatering.
Chives can be grown from seeds, too, but you’ll have to wait a year to harvest. Sow the seeds and cover them with half an inch of soil. Transplant clumps of seedlings into the pots next spring. The outer leaves are harvested so that the middle keeps growing.
4. Parsley
You have the choice of growing either the curly-leaf parsley or the flat-leaved French parsley, which has a stronger taste. These biennial plants are usually grown as annuals because their first-year leaves are the most flavorful.
Parsley is grown from seeds usually sown in spring. You need to be patient with parsley seeds as they are notorious for slow germination. They may take a month or more to put out their baby leaves. Keep the soil moist during this time. Soaking the seeds overnight in lukewarm water may accelerate sprouting. The plants love sunlight, so keep them near a bright window.
New Natural Fertilizer Doubles Garden Production!
Parsley leaves are ready for harvest when the plant is 6 inches tall. Hold the outer leaves together and cut them off. New leaves will emerge from the center of the clump. Parsley goes well with almost all vegetable preparations.
5. Rosemary
Image source: ApplesAndOnions
This perennial plant with its needlelike leaves and woody stem is hardly an herbaceous plant, but it is generally considered an herb because of its flavorful leaves. This shrubby plant, when grown indoors in a pot, can add height and contrast to a grouping of herbs.
You can propagate rosemary from stem cuttings, but the plant grows so slowly that it takes a long time for it to be ready for harvesting. It is always better to get a good-sized plant from the garden center. It should be planted in well-draining potting mix. The pot shouldn’t be too large for the root ball; it likes to be root-bound. Rosemary can’t stand water logging. It prefers slightly alkaline soil, so add a teaspoonful of lime to the soil.
You can harvest the leaves by breaking off small branches. The needle leaves are easy to dry. Just spread them in the shade for 2-3 days and then store in airtight containers.
6. Oregano
This culinary and medicinal herb is the last in the list but not the least among herbs by any chance. Besides adding flavor to a variety of food and drinks, it acts as a food preservative, too. Oregano tea can relieve coughs and cure indigestion. What else do you want from an herb?
You can grow this perennial herb from seeds as well as cuttings. But if you like to use it very often, it is a good idea to get a grown plant from the garden center. The growing medium should be well-draining because this plant likes dry soil between watering. It thrives in alkaline soil of pH 6-8; hence, adding a bit of lime to the soil is a good idea.
Harvest oregano by pinching off stem tips. It encourages bushy growth. Dry the stems in the shade and store in airtight containers. Dry oregano is preferred to fresh leaves because the flavor of this herb intensifies when it is dried.
Today at 6:56 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/8/24 Does printing the currency in Iraq cost huge amounts?.. An expert answers
Today at 6:55 am by Rocky
» utube 11/8/24 MM&C MM&C -Iraq Dinar-International Stability-Financial System-IMF-Art
Today at 6:54 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/10/24 An agreement between (Hisabi) and (TBI) to open two new branches and install dozens
Today at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Foreign Affairs: The government's policy is to keep Iraq away from the circle of war
Today at 6:50 am by Rocky
» Collecting 90 parliamentary signatures to question the Minister of Education
Today at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Removing towers and concrete blocks from the international road west of Baghdad
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» 150 suspended laws.. Political differences continue to obstruct the work of Parliament
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» MP: Sunni and Kurdish blocs want US forces to remain in Iraq
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Central Bank Dollar Sales Increase
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Launching the industrial cities plan in Diyala
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Researcher: Mismanagement and politics negatively affected the value of the Iraqi dinar against the
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Analyst: Al-Mashhadani is marketing himself on the basis of representing the Sunni component in parl
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region Authority Demands Postponement of Population Census in Iraq
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Urea factories in Iraq produce 2,500 tons per day.. How will they be affected?
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Turkish companies produce nearly 40,000 barrels of oil per day in three countries, including Iraq
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Size Surpasses Gold's
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Border crossings: The number of Lebanese guests to Iraq reached 18 thousand
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Electricity identifies two sites for generating energy using waste
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary move to legislate the "Green Economy" law
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Due to traffic congestion, 60% of Iraqis suffer from psychological pressure
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Iraq looks forward to a new phase after Trump's victory
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Baghdad hosts the fourth Arab Media Conference
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Iraq at Riyadh Summit tomorrow
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to take important steps within the framework of efforts to reform the financial an
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani renews his call to stop the war in Lebanon and Gaza
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Foreign Minister arrives in Riyadh to participate in the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Islamic Sum
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Today's newspapers focus on the phone call between Al-Sudani and Trump and the preparatory ministeri
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to America fell last week
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Labor and the World Bank discuss developing and updating the electronic systems of the Social Protec
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Kurdish concern over Trump's policies: We do not count on his positions on Middle East issues
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Human Rights Center: 60% of Iraqis suffer from psychological pressure due to overcrowding
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The regional government demands postponing the population census in areas subject to Article 140
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Former Finance Undersecretary Reveals Reasons for the Continuation of the Region’s Salary Crisis: So
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Industry confirms opening of 9 factories and completion of 80% of government program
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Construction: Launching the housing loan application form in early 2025
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Saadi: The government must purchase air defense systems despite American pressure
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs the Crisis Management Center to provide relief to those affected by floods in nort
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Erbil Trade and Industry calls on Al-Sudani to remove obstacles to trade movement with Iraqi provinc
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Sudanese in Kurdistan next Wednesday
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Trump's return and the file of withdrawing US forces.. Will understandings be slaughtered on the alt
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin breaks all-time record!
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Baghdad and the factions calm down with “Trump” and deny providing facilities for Iran to strike Isr
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» The leaks crisis “gets more complicated” and the government complains of “targeting”.. Al-Sudani’s c
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Awadi: The communication between the Prime Minister and the US President-elect was highly positiv
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry: Government move to ensure gas supply for fertilizer projects
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Delay in 2025 budget schedules raises concerns in parliament
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Next week .. Launching the eighth food basket in Iraq
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» The Commission responds to 68% of the appeals of the Kurdistan elections.. When is the "final approv
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Is there a relationship between "Indomie" and dollar smuggling in Iraq?
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rates in Iraqi markets today
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» "For Budget and Elections Entitlements"... Basra is "Excited" to Count Its Population after Years of
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» Government advisor proud of resistance strikes from Iraq: Iran is the tent and foundation of resista
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» Solar electricity... billions on building roofs
Today at 4:06 am by Rocky
» To approve controversial laws... new political understandings between the blocs
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» TBI opens two branches in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil and distributes 10,000 bank cards in Kurdistan
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Private Banks Association: The rate of financial inclusion for electronic payment is increasing
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Following the extension of the legislative term... a representative of "Al-Jabal": More than 120 law
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» The leak of “billion-dollar bribes” shakes the atmosphere... Al-Sudani’s advisor is in the eye of th
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Central Statistical Organization: $24.6 billion in Iraqi imports in 2023
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Operating Iraqi factories... citizens' hope and influential merchants' obstacle
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani Office: Spreading lies is the weapon of the bankrupt
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki: The government and political forces must abide by the statement of the authority
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Security: US forces entered Iraq for the purpose of occupation
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Politician: Next year's budget will face several challenges
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» White House Position Awaits Iraqi Beauty Who Helped Trump Return to Presidency
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Dana Gas achieves $112 million in profits in nine months in Kurdistan
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki warns against the explosion of internal crises and the activity of Baath Party cells in Ir
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Find out Iraq's global and Arab ranking with the highest average per capita wealth for the year 2024
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani's advisor: We have put in place a mechanism to provide loans to these groups
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» A set of recommendations from Al-Sudani to reform the financial and banking system in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Economist: Mistakes are being made in dealing with Basra crude prices
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» MP reveals reason behind rising real estate prices in Basra
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Private Banks Association: Financial inclusion rate rose to 48%
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Economic Center Proposes Establishing a Ministry or Authority for Artificial Intelligence in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Head of the "Homeland" coalition to "Nina": New understandings between parliamentary blocs to pass c
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Interior Minister chairs meeting to discuss preparations for securing Arab Summit in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government discusses with the Japanese Ambassador to Ir
Yesterday at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki: Iraq is a key country in the region, not a marginal one
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Al-Araji discusses with the Iranian military attaché in Baghdad ways to enhance the security and sta
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Expectations of delaying the formation of the regional government until next year due to the lack of
Yesterday at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Tens of thousands of victims.. Will Iraq be able to remove mines before the end of 2028?
Yesterday at 4:20 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary satisfaction with intelligence efforts: The quality of information contributed to dire
Yesterday at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Trump wants to meet Sudani soon
Yesterday at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance delegation in Baghdad to discuss October salaries
Yesterday at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Voting this week.. Political dialogues to resolve differences over controversial laws in parliament
Yesterday at 4:14 am by Rocky
» Oil: Associated gas investment in the north reached 410 MCM
Yesterday at 4:13 am by Rocky
» With a length of (2444) meters.. Transport explains the strategic importance of the submerged tunnel
Yesterday at 4:11 am by Rocky
» Government Media: 670 model schools completed in all governorates
Yesterday at 4:10 am by Rocky
» For these reasons, Al-Mashhadani came to power as Speaker of Parliament.
Yesterday at 4:08 am by Rocky
» For these reasons, Al-Mashhadani came to power as Speaker of Parliament.
Yesterday at 4:06 am by Rocky
» Iraq reveals Iranian pledges not to use its territory in any attack
Yesterday at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani’s first test: “One month” before the Iraqi parliament to decide on “controversial” law
Yesterday at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs Jordanians to enter Iraq without a visa
Yesterday at 4:03 am by Rocky
» Wasted wealth.. More than 50% of Iraqi factories are out of operation
Yesterday at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Saleh Al-Mutlaq: “General amnesty” is designed for thieves
Yesterday at 4:01 am by Rocky
» Parliamentarian: Cancellation of the international coalition withdrawal agreement from Iraq is possi
Yesterday at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Government 'furious' at spreading lies: Law will take its right course
Yesterday at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Mayor launches new phase to achieve sustainable development at Cairo Urban Forum
Yesterday at 3:57 am by Rocky