fresh herb photo by Do It Delicious
Always wanted to start a garden, but never known where to start? This spring, start by planting some Botanical Interests herb seeds. There are countless benefits to having an herb garden, whether it’s in a large plot in your backyard, or just a few pots on your windowsill. In fact, we’d even go as far as to say that herbs are the rock stars of the gardening world. Here are our top reasons why.
Top 8 Reasons Why Herbs Rock
(1) You get a lot of bang for your buck. Pretty much the only expense is the seeds, a watering can if you don’t have one already, and your time. Not exactly a pocketbook buster! Many herbs, such as sage, thyme and mint, are perennials, which means you only have to plant them once and they’ll come back year after year.
(2) They can improve the health of your cooking. If you rely on salt to add zing to your food, it’s time to switch to a healthier alternative. Stir some chopped up herbs into your food instead, and not only are you adding gobs of flavor, but you’re adding extra antioxidants, too. Some herbs, such as basil, are even known to offer protection against heart disease, respiratory problems, cancer, and arthritis.
(3) Herbs don’t need fertile soil. Some plants are super finicky about their soil. Not herbs. Many actually do better in non-fertile soil (just be sure the soil drains well). Valerian, caraway, elderberry, and comfrey all actually improve the health of your soil when you plant them.
(4) They are stellar companion plants. You can integrate herbs into your flower, fruit and vegetable beds to help boost the health of your plants and keep pests away, too. Some pairs that grow well together are basil + tomatoes, borage + strawberries, chives + carrots, oregano + grape vines, parsley + asparagus, and sage + cabbage.
(5) Instant gratification is yours. Many herbs, such as mint, are known for spreading quickly and growing tall and strong. You don’t have to wait several seasons before you can harvest your herbs.
Planting Tip: if you give mint an inch, it will take a mile…or two. Plant mint in containers, whether on a patio or in the ground, to keep the underground runners from speading all over your yard.
(6) Herbs are super duper versatile. We can hardly even count the number of ways that you can use herbs:
- Tossed fresh into salads
- Infused in oils for dressings or in spirits for cocktails
- Dried to make herbal teas and delicious spice blends
- Muddled into garden fresh cocktails
- Integrated into fresh flower arrangements
- Made into gorgeous wedding corsages and boutonnieres
(7) Fresh herbs on hand will save you money. One bunch of dill at the grocery store will cost you more than a packet of dill seeds, and planting even a half pack of seeds will provide multiple dill bunches. Planting and harvesting your own herbs can be a major money saver.
(8) With an herb garden, you always have cool gifts on hand. It is really easy to make your own flavored vodkas and simple syrups using fresh herbs. Simply place your herbal concoction in a pretty glass bottle, and you have an instant handmade gift. Homemade herbal aromatherapy bath salts also make unique and inexpensive gifts.
Easy to Sow Herbs from aHa!
One of the beauties of herbs is that they really don’t take a lot of work at all. They can be direct sown, which means that you can simply drop the seeds into your garden, or into a pot in a sunny place.
This herb, which is commonly mistaken as a salad green, has a pleasant crispness and a sharp, peppery flavor that takes great in a variety of dishes. |
This variety is named for Genoa, the pesto capital of the world. Try it in this simple (and freezable!) basil pesto recipe. |
The fresh lemony flavor and aroma of this variety makes it perfect for seafood dishes. |
Just as the bitterness of sea salt can bring out the sweetness of chocolate, the brightness of lime pairs nicely with the freshness of basil. Try this variety in a sweet and savory application, such as these shortbread cookies. |
This gorgeous purple variety is a bit sweeter and more mild than Italian Genovese, so it’s great for basil flavor without too much spice. |
Did you know that catnip’s great not just for felines, but humans, too? It has a wide variety of medicinal uses and is more effective than DEET at repelling bugs. |
A truly versatile herb, cilantro is particularly great with Southwestern and Mexican flavors. Try it in this easy herb butter, which tastes yummy on just about anything. |
Dill is a super garden champ. Its yellow blossoms are lovely in bouquets, the plants attract the caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly, and its soft herbal fronds look pretty and taste great in everything from seafood dishes to homemade yogurt cheese. |
When its leaves are crushed, lemon balm gives off a very soft and pleasant minty lemon aroma and taste. It’s awesome in iced tea and lemon cocktails. |
Native to eastern Asia, shiso offers beautiful frilly red and green leaves and a sweet and spicy flavor. Some people say it tastes like curry, and other say it tastes like cinnamon. It’s terrific for flavoring vinegars. |
No need to buy Stevia at the grocery store. Simply dry out your stevia leaves and grind them with a mortar and pestle to make a sugar substitute. Or, use the fresh leaves to make an infusion, which you can use as liquid sweetener. |
Why Botanical Interests seeds?
Botanical Interests is a family owned business that was begun because its founders felt that they simply were not getting enough information that they needed on their seed packets. As a result, when you buy Botanical Interests seeds, you also get all of the information you need about when, where and how to plant them. With each seed packet, you’ll receive growing and harvesting tips, plus a delicious free recipe.
What we love even more is that Botanical Interests has taken the Safe Seed Pledge, meaning that they do not knowingly sell any genetically modified (GMO) seeds or plants.
How to get started growing herbs
To make getting started fun, try hosting a seed swapping party. Have each friend bring his or her seed packets, and you can each swap a few. Simply place the seeds in labeled paper envelopes for everyone to bring home. This way, you can try growing many different herbs for practically no cost at all. To make the party even more fun, serve up some great herb garden-inspired cocktails, such as Rosemary and Lavender infused martinis!
Very informative. i went to the store and bought my seeds yesterday. Let’s just say that I wish I read you article before I had done so. Thanks for the information!