Herbs To Have In Your Home

6 Best Herbs To Have In Your Home

Cooking for your own kitchen garden is a special experience - an extra little touch to any homecooked meals is herbs you’ve grown and nurtured in your own home. But how do you choose which herbs to grow in your home? Which ones will thrive in the indoor conditions? Our guide for the best herbs to grow in your home with tips on how to look after them can help. 

Make sure you follow our tutorial on how to make your own herb garden in a London flat if you are struggling for space or don’t want to grow your herbs outside.

Basil

Basil is used in cuisines all over the world so it is extremely versatile. It easily grows indoors and just pinch off individual leaves to add to dishes. It requires a lot of heat and light so use a southern or western window or a grow light to keep the basil plant happy.

Bay laurel

This Mediterranean shrub is an essential for many soups and stews with its thick, flavourful leaves. It requires a bright east or west facing window and make sure it is planted in fast-draining soil. It is susceptible to shield-like scale insects on the plant so keep in good air circulation to prevent disease and use neem oil to control any outbreaks.

Chives

Chives grow best in bright light such as a south-facing window so pot up in rich soil. It has an onion-flavour and adds a mild kick to eggs, soups and salads. Snip off individual leaves or give the whole plant a ‘crew cut’ to keep the plant looking tidy.

Mint

You could dedicate your whole herb garden to mint with so many varieties: peppermint, chocolate, apple, orange, spearmint and more. Mint plants grow very quickly and they make a great fragrance for your home as well thanks to their trailing, fragrant stems. Give them moderate to strong light and keep the soil moist.

Oregano

A member of the mint family, Oregano is used in Italian, Central American, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine, making it a highly versatile herb to have in your home. The dried leaves are much stronger in flavour than the fresh so take clippings in advance to flavour your food. It needs to be looked after the same as other mint plants so keep the soil dry and give moderate to strong light.

Thyme

Thyme can be used in nearly every cuisine in the world thank to its versatile flavour. Make sure you place thyme in a fast-draining oil mix and it is placed near a warm and sunny window. Don’t let the plant wilt by watering when the surface is dry.