Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is not only a culinary herb, but also a useful medicinal herb, and has important benefits to add flavor to one’s garden. Originally native to India, there are now 50 to 150 known species of basil. Originally, all of these plants were used for their culinary and medicinal properties, although only a few of them were widely used.
Basil is used in cooking many different cuisines, but the weather turns cooler as we head towards summer so I’ll focus on two: Italian and Thai.
Italian cooking traditionally uses a lot of basil and is very aromatic. The Italians tend to use a lot of basil and also mix it together with lots of other ingredients to make bread and other pastries.
Thai food is another area where basil is used, this food has a a heavy peppery taste mixed with lime and other spices. The fresh leaves of basil can be added to salads or other dishes to make them more delicious.
Don’t forget about using your basil in teas. Many people don’t know that basil tea is very soothing and helps aid the cleansing process, so can be given as a good gift as a little pick-me-up.
The only drawback to basil is that it does not hold up well in heat, so unless you live in a very warm area of the world, you’ll probably want to grow it in a container.
Good herbs to grow indoors include:
– Basil
– Thyme
– Oregano
– Parsley
– Rosemary
– Dill
– Oregano
– Basil
– Thyme
– Marjoram
– Mint
– Lavender
– Oregano
– Parsley
– Rosemary
– Dill
– Sage
– Oregano
– Parsley
– Mint
– Lavender
– Oregano
– Sage
Perennial herbs are much less picky about being moved, and will actually increase in popularity as garden space gets smaller and local availability of fresh herbs increases. With that in mind, here are some plants that are very easy to maintain and will also add some beauty to your garden space.
oBasil is one of the easiest plants to grow. There are many different varieties, and most are resistant to frost. Some popular basil varieties include: Imperial, cinnamon, green opal, supplemental common kaffir and red hybrid basil.
oThere are many commercial oregano varieties available, in different strength categories. Some of the stronger varieties include: standout, small glorious, purple opal, and the flea kind.
oThere is quite a bit of choice in herbs for making teas. Some of the more popular teas include: rosemary tea, owners’ reverse, rye grass, golden lemon and more.
oThere are many different varieties of basil, and all can be grown indoors. Some popular varieties include: Sweet basil, purple ruffle, red hybrid and multiple basil.
oThere are many different types of mint. Mint can be invasive, so it’s best grown in a container. Some popular types include: spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm and apple mint.
oThere are different types of thyme. There are culinary and medicinal types.
oThere are different sages. Sage is usually used in the kitchen, especially for cooking.
oThere are different types of garlic. Some are hardneck and some are wrist-friendly.
oThere are different chives. Chives are usually used for salads.
oThere are different marjoram varieties. Some are annual and some are perennial.
oThere are different lemon balms. Lemon balm is great in salads.
oThere are different tarragon varieties. Tarragon is usually used for fish and poultry.
Mint
Many different kinds of mint including apple mint, spearmint, and lemon mint are available. They make a wonderful addition to any kitchen window sill and are readily available in most shops.
Mint is also referred to as chewing mint. You can get a stronger variety of mint by either chewing small pieces or soaking it in a container of water.
As for the culinary varieties, well they are actually quite easy to grow. One of the better dishes made with mint is a basic mint sauce that has lemon claret vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped mint. Serve this with fish or poultry and the fresh sprigs can be added to any salad.
Well there you have it. Now you know how to grow some herbs even if you are not a “green thumb” (I don’t like that name one…hairspray!)
