A beginner’s guide to planting herbs
Growing your own herbs can add so much positivity to your life. Imagine waking up to the calming green scene, picking fresh herbs for your morning tea, and the delicious aroma filling the room. Planting herbs will absolutely take home from regular to a haven. In this article, we will be covering how to plant three beginner-friendly herbs: basil, sage, and mint, and a recipe using each.
Basil
Method 1: Growing from the Seed
Basil is undoubtedly one of the easiest herbs to grow. You can grow it indoors by your windowsill, or outside in your garden. Basil is famous for keeping away pests like mosquitos, due to its strong, fresh scent. All you will need to plant it is a pack of seeds, a pot, and some soil. The soil and the pot are optional if you are growing them straight in your backyard.
First, make sure that your pot has drainage holes. If you do not have a pot, you can use the base of a milk gallon, or any decent-sized plastic container, and carve a few holes in the bottom. This is an excellent way to save money and recycle to be gentler to our beautiful planet. The drainage is very important, as without it the soil could become water-logged which may cause root rot and kill your plants.
Next, add soil to the pot. Fill it up about ¾ of the way and simply sprinkle some basil seeds on top of the soil. Add a thin layer of soil on top to cover the seeds and water them.
If you are growing it outside, follow the same steps, but in the ground.
That’s it! It’s that simple!
An important thing to remember is that basil is a water-loving plant, and dries out quickly. A good rule of thumb to check if it needs watering is: stick your finger in the soil, if it is dry up until the first line on your finger, it’s time to water them.
Basil plants love the sun and are sensitive to the cold. Keep them by a nice sunny window to keep them happy.
Method 2: Growing from Cuttings
If you do not have access to seeds, simply visit your local supermarket. Find fresh basil with the stem still on. When you get home, keep the stem in the water, it will soon form roots and will be ready to plant.
A recipe for a fresh, delicious pesto: (by Food Network)
2 cups fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup pine nuts or walnuts
2/3 cups olive oil, divided
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup parmesan or pecorino cheese
Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.
Sage
Method 1: Growing with seeds
With sage, the planting process is a little more careful. To begin, prepare your seeds, soil, and/or pot. it dries out quickly and also requires watering often. To check if your sage needs watering, refer to the checking method in the basil section.
Sage is also a pest repellent and can keep you safe from mosquitos while providing a rich aroma.
Method 2: Growing with cuttings
With the same method used to propagate basil, if you do not have access to seeds, simply visit your local supermarket. Find fresh sage with the stem still on. When you get home, keep the stem in the water, it will soon form roots and will be ready to plant.
A recipe for home-grown sage tea:
To make the sage tea, simply dry your harvested sage and boil as you would with regular herbal tea. Some good pairings to add to the sage are dried roses, lavender, or chamomile.
Sage is a wonderful anti-oxidant and may help with oral discomfort and bad breath.
Mint
Growing from cuttings:
Mint is also very simple. Simply use the growing from cuttings method mentioned in the sage and basil sections, and plant when the roots are of a decent size. It is important to note that mint is pretty invasive, and will multiply on its own. Make sure it has enough space to spread and report when needed.
Growing from seeds:
Growing mint from the seed can take a little more time but is just as effective. The process is similar to planting sage. Prepare your seeds, soil, and/or pot. Mint also dries out quickly and also requires watering often. To check if your mint needs watering, refer to the checking method in the basil and sage sections.
Mint plants thrive best in the sun, so make sure to keep them in a bright place, like a windowsill
Mint can be made into a tea to help with stomach pain, nausea, or even headaches. For improved digestion, add your fresh mint to a jug of water with slices of lemon, it is refreshing and excellent for your gut.
Conclusion for planting herbs
Now that you know the process of planting herbs, you can begin your gardening journey with ease. Growing your own things is an excellent way to save money, and more often than not, they’re so much more delicious when they’re harvested and used fresh.
Written by Yara Farah
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