Discover the magic of 7 essential herbs for your home garden in India. Enhance your cooking and well-being with these easy-to-grow wonders. Read on to learn more about transforming your dishes with homegrown
herbs!
Busting the myth that a green thumb is a gift, gardening experts are singing the praises of starting small, starting now, and starting with herbs. Forget sprawling vegetable patches; a few well-chosen herbs can transform your cooking and bring a touch of freshness to your everyday life.
Even in cramped Mumbai apartments or quaint Kerala cottages, a thriving herb garden is within reach. We spoke to seasoned gardeners across India to bring you seven essential herbs perfect for beginners and pros alike.
These are easy to grow, flavourful, and packed with health benefits – making them a win-win for your garden and your well-being. So, ditch the store-bought, wilted greens and get ready to embrace the delicious world of homegrown herbs!
This simple step can enhance your dishes and also benefit your overall health. Many people prefer growing their own due to the pesticides found in store bought herbs.
Tulsi plant: religious, medicinal, antioxidant-rich, easy to grow, culinary uses, air purification
No Indian home is complete without a Tulsi plant, and for good reason. Revered for its religious significance and medicinal properties, Tulsi is more than just a pretty green plant. It's a powerhouse of antioxidants and has been used for centuries in Ayurveda to treat a variety of ailments.
There are several varieties such as Rama Tulsi with green leaves and Shyama Tulsi having purplish leaves, all packing unique levels of potent qualities. Growing Tulsi is surprisingly easy. It thrives in well-drained soil and needs plenty of sunlight, even in the city environment.
Water regularly, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Pinch off the flower spikes to encourage bushier growth and more leaves. Tulsi is a fantastic addition to teas, adding a fragrant, slightly peppery note that instantly elevates your cup.
You can also use it in cooking, adding it to soups, stir-fries, and even salads for a burst of fresh flavor. Beyond its culinary uses, Tulsi is known for its ability to purify the air, making it a welcome addition to any home. Planting Tulsi also has many more benefits.
Such as mental clarity and a calmer mind. Tulsi is known to purify the air, making it a great addition to your balcony, window to purify the air.
Mint: versatile herb for drinks, dishes; easy to grow but invasive
Pudina, or mint, is a refreshing herb that’s incredibly versatile. From cooling summer drinks to flavourful chutneys, mint adds a zing to any dish. It's also known for its digestive properties, making it a popular after-meal treat.
Growing mint is relatively easy, but be warned: it can be quite invasive. It spreads quickly through underground runners, so it's best to grow it in a pot to keep it contained. Mint prefers partial shade and moist soil. Water regularly, especially during hot weather.
Harvest the leaves regularly to encourage new growth. There are many varieties of mint, including spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint, each with its unique flavour profile. Experiment to find your favourite! Mint is a must-have for summer coolers like lemonade and iced tea.
It's also a key ingredient in chutneys, raitas, and biryanis, adding a touch of freshness and vibrancy. Chewing on a few mint leaves can also freshen your breath and aid digestion. This herb requires very little care when grown indoors.
One can easily grow it in their balcony or even indoors in a small container. The flavour leaves can be added to chutney that give a refreshing and cooling taste.
Dhaniya, a versatile herb in Indian cooking, adds flavor and aroma to dishes, grown easily with proper care
Dhaniya, also known as cilantro or coriander, is a staple in Indian kitchens. Both the leaves and the seeds (coriander seeds) are used extensively in cooking, adding a distinctive flavour and aroma to countless dishes.
Growing dhaniya can be a bit tricky in hot weather, as it tends to bolt (go to seed) quickly. However, with a few tricks, you can enjoy fresh dhaniya throughout the year. Choose a well-drained pot or garden bed and sow the seeds directly into the soil.
Dhaniya prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Water regularly, but avoid overwatering. To prevent bolting, try planting dhaniya in a cooler location or providing some shade during the hottest part of the day. Coriander is an essential ingredient in chutneys, curries, and salads.
It adds a fresh, citrusy flavour that brightens up any dish. Coriander seeds are also used as a spice, adding a warm, aromatic flavour to curries and stews. This herb has many uses that can be explored in many different cuisines. Adding it on top of any curry can enhance the flavour.
Curry leaves enhance South Indian dishes with aromatic depth
No South Indian dish is complete without the aromatic flavour of curry leaves. These glossy green leaves add a unique depth of flavour to curries, sambhar, and many other dishes. Growing curry leaves is relatively easy, but they do require warm weather and plenty of sunlight.
Choose a well-drained pot or garden bed and plant a curry leaf sapling. Water regularly, but avoid overwatering. Curry leaves are relatively drought-tolerant, so they don't need to be watered as frequently as other herbs. Prune the plant regularly to encourage bushier growth.
Curry leaves are typically used fresh, added to hot oil at the beginning of cooking to release their fragrant aroma. They can also be dried and used as a spice, although the flavour is not as intense.
Curry leaves are not only delicious but also packed with health benefits, including being good for hair health. These leaves have a beautiful aroma, enriching the flavour of the food. The flavour of curry leaves is very distinctive and instantly recognizable.
Ginger: versatile rhizome with culinary and medicinal uses, easy to grow and harvest
Ginger, or adrak, is a rhizome that’s widely used in Indian cooking and medicine. Its warming, spicy flavour adds a kick to curries, teas, and many other dishes. Ginger is also known for its medicinal properties, including its ability to soothe nausea and aid digestion.
Growing ginger is relatively easy, but it does require warm weather and moist soil. Plant a ginger rhizome in a pot or garden bed, making sure to leave the buds facing upwards. Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist. Ginger prefers partial shade and well-drained soil.
Harvest the ginger after about eight to ten months, when the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry. Ginger can be used fresh, grated, or sliced, adding a pungent flavour to curries, stir-fries, and teas. It can also be dried and powdered, adding a warm, spicy flavour to baked goods and other dishes.
Ginger has many health benefits and a small piece of ginger can help with indigestion. It is added to food and also tea, improving circulation.
Lemongrass adds citrus flavor to dishes, offers health benefits, easy to grow at home
Lemongrass gives any dish or drink a pleasant citrusy flavour. This tropical grass thrives in warm weather and brings a unique dimension to both culinary creations and medicinal applications. It is relatively simple to grow, but it does need a sunny location and soil that drains well.
Plant a lemongrass shoot in your garden or a pot, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Regular trimming will encourage new growth and provide you with a consistent supply of leaves. Slice or crush the leaves to release their fragrant oils when you're ready to use them.
Lemongrass is a great addition to herbal teas, soups, and Asian-inspired stir-fries. Its distinct citrus scent brings a revitalizing touch to any recipe. Lemongrass is widely recognized for its soothing and digestive characteristics, in addition to its culinary uses.
Drinking lemongrass tea can help to relieve stress and encourage digestive health. These are perfect for a home garden.
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