Why You Should Grow Your Own Herbs!
Winter or Summer, herbs are a wonderful addition to any garden and almost any dish. Let’s talk about why you should grow your own herbs – just in case you haven’t already incorporated them into your kitchen and garden.
Every fall I bring in herbs from my outdoor garden to start one of my “winter gardens”. The windowsill behind my kitchen sink is on the north side of the house. It doesn’t get much natural light, so we added a fluorescent shop light. The herbs I bring in keep thriving and flavoring our meals through the cold snowy times. Some of the plants will make it through the winter for me to plant back outside in the spring.
Why #1 – Your herbs are probably out of date
If you have dried herbs or spices in your spice cabinet that are more than a year old, they probably aren’t doing much for your cooking. Although most dried herbs don’t “go bad” by rotting or getting slimy, they do lose their potency over time.
You can use up those “elderly” herbs by doubling or tripling what the recipe requires. Or you could simply put them in your compost bin and get a fresh supply. The more processed the herbs and spices are (i.e. ground vs. whole), the faster they will lose their flavor and nutrition.
Why #2 – Fresh herbs give your food more flavor
When you are cooking with fresh herbs, especially if you’re used to dried, it can be a totally different experience. You generally need to use larger quantities of fresh herbs than dried. Fresh herbs have more water in them, so they aren’t as concentrated. For example, in some recipes, you would use a tablespoon of a fresh herb instead of a teaspoon of dried.
The deeper, more potent flavor of fresh herbs can completely transform your cooking. I sometimes have to be careful because the stronger flavored herbs like mint, basil, thyme, or rosemary can overpower the other flavors in the dish when used fresh.
Why #3 – Fresh herbs are nutrient dense
In addition to a big kick of flavor, fresh herbs can add extra nutrition to your family’s food. Common herbs that you might cook with every day score highly on “nutrient density” charts. Herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, tarragon, oregano, thyme, parsley, and dill.
Herbs picked fresh also deliver that peak nutrition immediately. Instead of losing it while waiting on a supermarket shelf in a little plastic case. Some herbs are so good for you they are considered medicine in many cultures. Some modern medicines were originally derived from herbs and spices.
Why #4 – Growing your own can save money
Fresh herbs don’t last very long once you pick them. Some are difficult and time consuming for large scale growers to harvest and clean. So, they fetch a premium price at the store. That also makes them one of the plants that bring the biggest cost savings when you grow them yourself.
You can harvest from a single basil plant multiple times. Each cutting getting more than what you would get in the little $5 plastic case from the store. A packet of basil seeds for $3 could have 300-500 seeds. That would keep you in basil for a very long time. Fresh pesto anyone?
Why #5 – Many herbs are easy to grow
In addition to bringing annuals inside to extend the growing season, you can also plant perennial herbs. Or, some herbs will grow for a season and then reseed and grow in the same spot the next year. This can make them easy plants to grow.
In my garden I have rosemary which is a perennial in a warm climate. So, I bring it inside for the winter, and then put it back outside in the spring. Dill and mint, on the other hand, die back every fall. They grow again in the spring from seeds or roots that stayed in my herb garden over the winter.
Why #6 – Herbs can be good companion plants
Another benefit of growing your own herbs is they can be good for your garden. Strong smelling herbs can repel insects and other garden pests. They can protect the vegetable plants that they are planted next to from those pests. Herbs like basil, dill, rosemary, and mint are especially effective.
Some flowers can serve the same purpose. Many flowers we think of as purely ornamental are also edible, or medicinal, and can repel garden pests or attract beneficial insects. Marigolds, calendula, borage, and nasturtiums are some good options for companion flowers.
Why #7 – Take your family’s food to the next level
Growing my own fresh herbs was a game-changer in taking my family’s food to the next level. I also grow some herbs and dry them each year. Especially if I usually use more than would fit in a pot on my kitchen windowsill. My kids even enjoy adding herbs to their food as a seasoning at the table. Some of their flavor combinations are unique, but probably better than loading up on salt or fat to get more flavor (basil and garlic popcorn anyone?).
You can even add herbs to pre-packaged dishes to add flavor and nutrition. When we make mac and cheese out of a box for a quick lunch, I usually throw in some additional nutrition (black beans, canned tuna, chopped tomatoes or green onions). Sometimes I also throw in herbs like basil or parsley to add that additional color, flavor, and nutrition.
If you want more tips about ways to grow fresh herbs (or anything else) indoors or in limited space, check out my blog post You Don’t Need Land to Grow Food.
