The benefits of having fresh herbs available at home are obvious: they add flavor to food and grow easily in most climates.
A few well-placed pots can add some color to your apartment and make cooking more enjoyable. Even if you lack gardening experience, you can successfully cultivate an indoor herb garden.
In fact, there are varieties of herbs that will grow easily indoors. Even if you don't have a yard, many herbs do well in pots on a sunny windowsill. Below are some herbs you should try growing in your kitchen.
Rosemary
If you love to cook, then rosemary is an ideal plant to have in your kitchen. It has a beautiful aroma, and it can easily blend into your kitchen décor.
The best thing about the rosemary plant is that it’s extremely easy to grow and maintain. Like most herbs, rosemary prefers a spot with lots of bright light and good air circulation.
Rosemary prefers to be on the dry side, so don't overwater it. Water it every 1-2 weeks or when the topsoil is visibly dry.
Oregano
Oregano has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties, most notably for its antiseptic and antibacterial qualities.
It's also a great herb to have in the kitchen because it has a strong, sharp taste and adds an authentic flavor to many Italian dishes.
Oregano is relatively easy to grow and requires little maintenance. Place the plant in a sunny spot and water only when the soil around it begins to dry.
Basil
Basil is a great herb to keep around because it's fragrant and easy to grow. Fresh basil is also a key ingredient in many dishes. Whether it's for a simple tomato salad or an elaborate pasta dish, adding fresh basil can elevate a meal to another level.
Basil grows well in pots and doesn't need much space. Only water them once a week and make sure they get plenty of sunlight.
If you have a window sill in your kitchen, you can easily grow basil and snip leaves off them as needed. Pick the largest leaves first and then move on down the stem until all of the leaves are gone. If you continue to do this, your plant will branch out and produce more leaves for you later on.
Parsley
Parsley is an incredibly versatile herb that can be used in so many ways. It can be added to soups, stews, salads, and sauces. Chopped parsley can even be sprinkled over cooked meat as a garnish.
It's also very simple to grow, both indoors and out. Parsley is inexpensive to buy at the grocery store, but it will cost less if you plant your own, and it'll be fresher too.
When growing parsley in your kitchen, it's important to make sure your plants get enough sunlight. Similar to most herbs, water the plants once every 1-2 weeks or when the soil begins to dry.
Herbs are easy to grow and don't take up much space. Fresh herbs are also much better than dried ones. They make your kitchen smell great, and you can just snip off the plant whenever you need them in your cooking.
Westmount at Copper Mill Apartments in Houston, TX