Contents

• How to get started – the right place for herbs
• Which herbs should I choose?
• A windowsill garden is not just made up of herbs

Herbs and spices enhance the flavor of dishes, have a beneficial effect on the human body, fill the home with a pleasant aroma, and can also be a beautiful green arrangement. If we choose to grow herbs at home, we have constant access to healthy, fertilizer- and chemical-free spices. Basil, parsley, coriander, and oregano are not demanding plants if we provide them with the right conditions. However, herbs aren't everything; some vegetables are also suitable for home cultivation. A home garden also fits perfectly into the zero-waste movement. So let's take a look at which herbs and vegetables we can grow on the kitchen windowsill.

How to get started – the right place for herbs

Sow the seeds in pots with holes in slightly moistened soil. This can be a special potting mix for vegetable growing or a general-purpose potting mix mixed with sand for drainage. It's best to place pots with prepared seeds in a sunny location. This is one of the reasons why a windowsill is one of the best choices. Herbs need plenty of light and don't like drafts, so it's best to remove them from the windowsill for a while when you open the window. If your kitchen has long-term sunlight, you can also place the pots on the countertop or on wall shelves. Pots don't have to be deep; 20 cm is sufficient. Herbs also need frequent watering. It's best to water them daily and at regular intervals, using a small amount of water at room temperature.

Which herbs should I choose?

When choosing herbs for a home mini-garden, we should primarily be guided by our own preferences. So, let's choose the herbs we like best and those we use most frequently. Using the method described above, we can successfully grow plants from seeds in pots such as:

• Basil,
• Parsley,
• Oregano,
• Thyme ,
• Lavender,
• Mint,
• Marjoram,
• Lemon balm,
• Rosemary,
• Sage .

A windowsill garden is not just made up of herbs

Basil and oregano on the windowsill aren't everything. It turns out that you can grow healthy vegetables from the cut ends. Simply cut off about 3 centimeters of the end of, say, celery and place half of it in a container of water. After a few days, new stems should grow. You can also use this method with onions (onions can be used whole), lettuce, and Chinese cabbage. With this method, you should change the water every day, and when the lettuce or Chinese cabbage begins to produce fresh leaves, you can transplant them into the ground.

While maintaining a mini kitchen garden can take some time and effort, it's worth choosing if you value fresh, high-quality, and aromatic spices. Although basil and coriander are readily available in ready-made products at discount stores, supermarkets, and trade fairs, there's a fairly high risk that these plants have previously come into contact with chemicals, fertilizers, or exhaust fumes.