As winter finally comes to a well-deserved end, many people start to see signs of life in their gardens. This means it may be time to start planning, prepping, and planting your spring garden. This year, it is a great idea – with the extra time on your hands and strange shortages at the grocery store due to the novel coronavirus – to squeeze some extra herbs into the mix. Even if you’re not particularly known for your green thumb, planting an herb garden is beneficial in many ways, especially to the at-home chef.
Herbs don’t need much room to thrive, and they just taste so much better when hand-picked. Plus, they can save you extra money in the grocery store check-out line. Of course, savings aren’t the only reason to plant an herb garden, but it may be the best motivation. For example, if you want to make a delicious herb chicken for dinner tonight, you may need to purchase two to three different kinds of herbs. Fresh herbs usually run in the range of 2 to 5 bucks per bundle, so if you spring for all the herbs the recipe calls for, the cost can quickly add up. Additionally, you probably won’t need the whole bunch for most recipes, just one or two sprigs, leaving the rest to go to waste. The cycle just repeats itself every time you find a new recipe.
By contrast, growing an herb garden requires only purchasing the initial seeds and preparing the space to cultivate them. Once established, you’ll have all the herbs you need for your favorite recipe any night of the week. After minimal setup costs, there is a little additional cost involved in maintaining your herb garden – other than some good, old-fashioned elbow grease. You can clip off whatever amount you need for the particular recipe you want to whip up. Best of all, the herbs will be fresher and more flavorful than if you had bought them in the store. That’s a win-win in our book!
If you have only a limited area to plant your garden, start by thinking about the herbs you use most for your cooking. Which ones are your go-to herbs? Next, think about the space and location for growing your herbs. Will they be indoors or out in your garden? In the ground or pots? Will they have full sun or mostly shade? Selecting herbs that fit the environment and physical space you have available for them will also help maximize your harvests. Here are some suggestions to get you started on the right path:
• Basil
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Dill
• Mint
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Sage
• Chives
Making our residents’ lives easier and more enjoyable is a primary goal of ours at The Westport Apartments in Norfolk, Virginia. We hope that these new ideas add convenience to your routine!