Why You Should Grow Herbs

You can do it even in a small apartment

Photo by Abby Boggier on Unsplash

I have a tiny back yard. I haven’t tried to plant a garden there because my dog needs that space.

So while I love to garden, I’m restricted to a few items. So I’ve decided to plant herbs. There are many reasons why this is a great way to go.

• You can plant herbs in pots that you put on a balcony or near a sunny window.
• You get a lot of bang for your buck. Organic fresh herbs are expensive if you buy them at the store. If you start your own herbs from seeds, the cost is so much less. Even if you buy already growing plants later in the season — you’ll harvest enough to make it a good value.
• Herbs taste yummy. I recently made lemon basil sorbet using freshly squeezed organic lemons and my own basil. I use mint to make pho and dill for salmon and salads. I like fresh thyme in soup. Rosemary is lovely for roast veggies and chicken. Basil, oregano, and parsley flavor Italian dishes and cilantro is necessary for Indian and Mexican cuisine.
• Herbs are good for your health. Peppermint aids digestion and helps soothe sore muscles. Parsley helps relieve fluid retention without leeching electrolytes. Oregano and basil are loaded with antioxidants while chamomile and lavender are soothing. Regularly using fresh herbs is a tasty way to add a little extra nutrition.
• Sprigs of fresh herbs make great gifts for neighbors and friends. Because of my battle against cancer, I’ve had to ask friends for rides and other favors in order to get through it. To show my appreciation, I often give them a bunch of mint or other herbs. It never fails to make their faces light up. Giving sweetly scented green herbs fresh from the garden is an act of love.

As you can see, there are many reasons to grow herbs. It’s not hard, it doesn’t take much space, and it provides so much value. Probably the easiest herb to grow is mint. I think it’s the ideal herb for a novice. It literally grows like a weed so keeping it confined to a pot is a good idea!

Thyme, chives, and oregano are also easy to grow. I have found dill to be a bit trickier but worth the effort. Rosemary is tough to get started but once it’s established it’s pretty easy to maintain. Lavender, coriander, and parsley can also be tricky in my experience. Chamomile is easy to grow as long as you give it partial shade.

If you have a hankering for a garden but don’t have a lot of space — give herbs a try!

If you would like to buy me a cup of coffee, I would appreciate it. Maybe I can return the favor sometime. Because we all need appreciation.

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