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A seasoned food makes all the difference when serving the meal. Whether for the aroma, or for the true transformation they give to a dish, aromatic herbs are darling when it comes to choosing what to use. Want suggestions of 8 spices to plant at home? Learn a little more about them and how to plant them! Read the post to the end to get valuable tips!
Before planting
When thinking about spices to plant at home, the first thing to do is to choose the ideal pot. There are two types of specific containers for planting seasonings. The pots and the planters. Ah! Make sure your pots and planters have holes. This will drain the excess water! And always take care with the accumulation of water so as not to drown your plant or create a focus for mosquitoes!
- Vases: necessary for plants that prefer to grow alone, such as mint. The size of the pot matters for the healthy growth of your plant! The roots take up space and need it to settle and get all the nutrients from the soil. In a very small pot, the plant atrophies.
- Planters: they are rectangular vases or boxes. With more space, they are perfect for planting seedlings in larger quantities. Be careful when placing different species, as plants can fight for space. Prefer to put a maximum of two smaller seedlings in the planters at a reasonable distance so that they can grow without interference.
Preparing the soil: step by step
After choosing your pot or planter, you will prepare the ideal space for the new plant.
1. Drainage layer
The first thing is to put a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay (found in garden and flower shops) is the most suitable for this job. This layer is made with materials that do not accumulate water. Clay pot shards, tile shards and stones can also be used! A layer of two fingers is enough.
2. Sand
The second layer is sand. Important item to assist in drainage and keep the plant firm to the soil. Pour the sand and spread it over the entire length of the pot. It doesn’t have to be much, just enough to cover the first layer. It can be garden sand or common sand found around your home!
3. Placing the plants in the pots
Gently pull the plant out of the pot it came in to transplant it into the new pot. Keep the fertilized soil that came with it for faster adherence to the new soil. Place two, at most three, plants in the planter. To do this, opt for smaller plants that do not grow as much, such as creeping rosemary, thyme and oregano.
4. Sowing
Some plants have fragile roots and sowing is indicated. After preparing the earth, drill holes about 1.5 cm deep, at a distance of 5 cm from each other. Put a maximum of 3 seeds in these holes. Finish by covering with a thin layer of soil.
5. Fertilized land
Cover the plants with a new layer of fertilized soil. Easily found in garden shops and florists. The composted land is already prepared for use, but the humus and manure produced in composting are strong nutrients for the soil.
Spices to plant at home: some precautions
Before moving on to seasoning suggestions for planting at home, you need to give some general tips for plant care. Let’s go to them.
Very, very sunny
Aromatic herbs are plants that need a great deal of exposure to the sun! They need a lot of light picking up the leaves so they can grow healthy. Therefore, try to leave them in bibs and pots fixed to windows. Balconies and balconies in environments where the sun shines a lot are also indicated.
Amount of water
Check the water daily! Do not leave your plant soaked, nor too dry. To know the right watering time, place your finger or a toothpick on the soil and feel the amount of moisture in the water. If it is not damp, water it. Ideally, it takes 2 to 3 days to water them, but you need to observe the amount of water every day.
At harvest time
When you cut a branch of your spices to plant at home, the little piece that remains behind turns into a bud for new branches to grow. Avoid cutting too much, leaving it “bald”. If this happens, there will not be enough leaves to produce photosynthesis.
Spices to plant at home
Check the list of favorites when thinking about spices to plant at home. Pay attention to the care and tips of your plants to grow healthy. Also check out ideas of where to use them as seasoning!
Rosemary
An aromatic herb so well known that it became a popular song, part of the Brazilian imagination. This aromatic herb is full of properties that mainly help with digestion and the nervous system.
How to plant rosemary: originating from the limestone soil of the Mediterranean, rosemary is an easy-to-manage plant. It just needs a lot of sun and little water. Try to water it every 2 days.
Rosemary combines with: you can use it to season all kinds of meats, potatoes and breads.
Scallion
Originating in Europe, chives have antioxidant properties and are rich in nutrients.
How to plant chives: it also needs direct contact with sunlight. But, unlike rosemary, this aromatic herb likes water. Be careful not to soak the soil, drowning the roots. So that this does not happen, try to water it whenever you notice that the soil is not very moist.
Chives combine with: hot dishes such as broths, soups and quiches. It can also be used in salads and sauces.
Coriander
Perhaps the biggest divider of spices to plant at home, coriander has a strong and intense taste. Helps in the digestive system and has antioxidant and antibacterial function.
How to plant coriander: coriander roots are very fragile and delicate, making it difficult to transplant. Thus, the best way to plant coriander is through its seeds. Coriander is a plant that likes a lot of sun and slightly moist soil.
Coriander combines with: coriander is a very versatile herb that can be used in the form of leaves or seeds. Use this spice in salads, sauces, mayonnaise, fish, chicken, soups …
Mint
Of Asian origin, mint is an extremely versatile aromatic herb.
How to plant mint: the mint is quite resistant. It is a plant that likes the sun and takes up a lot of space, so be careful when planting it next to the others. Try to plant the mint in a single pot. Mint likes fertile and moist soil, but be careful not to drown it!
Mint combines with: salads, pork and fish, drinks such as drinks and juices, teas, infusions, dumplings such as kibe and meatballs, tabbouleh…
Oregano:
Popular, oregano originates from the Mediterranean.
How to plant oregano: remove the seedling from the pot or plastic in which it came. In the new pot, with extreme care not to break the roots, unpack the seedling soil. Spread it on the bottom of the vase. Place the prepared soil until it covers the roots, leaving the plant stable. Oregano likes light and slightly moist soil.
How to dehydrate oregano at home: it’s very simple! Choose some healthy branches that are more over the bush. Once chosen, cut and place them, cutting them into smaller pieces, in a stainless steel form lined with paper towels. Cover the branches with a paper towel and let stand for 3 days.
Oregano combines with: pizzas, pastas, red sauces, toast, sauces, meats …
Basil
Another very versatile spice, basil, or basil, is native to Asia and Africa.
How to plant basil: basil is a plant that likes basic care. Fertile soil, light and daily watering guarantee the perfect development of your plant.
Basil combines with: pizzas, pastas, red sauces, salad dressings, risottos …
Parsley
This aromatic herb originates in the Mediterranean.
How to plant parsley: the best way to plant parsley is by seeds. Soak it for 24 hours. Once the time is over, put it to dry for 1 hour. Then it is ready for the soil.
Parsley combines with: salads, sauces, meats, soups, broths, potatoes …
Thyme
Thyme is another aromatic herb originating in the Mediterranean.
How to plant thyme: you can plant it through sowing or branches. With the branches, place them in a glass of water until the roots appear. Then, plant it in prepared soil. Thyme prefers a drier soil, try to water it every 2 days. Keep it exposed to sunlight.
How to dry thyme: dry thyme is one of the most common ways to use this aromatic herb. The process is similar to drying oregano. Try to dry it in the open air, but without the incidence of sun. Finally, separate the leaves from the stem, keeping them in glass.
Thyme combines with: pasta, risottos, meats, soups, broths, creams …
Planting aromatic herbs at home
Aromatic herbs are indispensable when we think of spices to plant at home. It is extremely practical to always have them there at your fingertips. Be sure to decide on the necessary care for your plants and bon appétit! Did you like our tips? Do you have any other interesting ones to share? Put it in the comments below!
