16 Edible Plants Perfect for a Compact Indoor Kitchen Garden
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Are you ready to turn your kitchen into a brightly colored, green garden? You guessed it, the right plants can be used to create a small, but very healthy indoor garden that also adds a splash of color to your space while giving you ingredients to work with when you are cooking. What if you had fresh herbs and vegetables mere snip’s away from your kitchen counter for adding flavor and nutrition to your meals?
Whether you have a small kitchen or a large space, there’s always a plant for your kitchen. Besides being practical, these edible plants also provide a little bit of nature inside your indoor space.
Thyme
Its tiny leaves taste big with flavor. It’s hardy, likes bright light but tolerates some shade as well. It’s nice and easygoing, so thyme is a nice plant for beginners and is great for seasoning things like stews, soups and roasted meats.
Sage
Sage is used broadly in stuffing, pasta and poultry, crafting dishes with its broad, fuzzy leaves. It tolerates moderate light and water only if the soil feels dry. In addition to its many culinary uses, sage is thought to protect brain health, making it a worthy indoor plant choice.
Cilantro
Actually, salsa, curries and salads can be enjoyed with a burst of citrusy flavour by cilantro. Bought to you in well illuminated spot but tolerate some shade. Furthermore, cilantro has health benefit such as control blood sugar level, supports and digestion, thus both have its tasty and beneficial for growing.
Dill
Dill is one of those herby things with this very feathery thing for the leaves, which has a bit of a unique flavor that you might get in something like a dip or fish or something. It grows best in full sun and fast draining soil. Dill is just an excellent herb for beginners, it only needs light watering when the top inch of soil feels dry. You can also harvest its seeds and make use of them in spice or as a snack when pickled.
Rosemary
Rosemary might not grow as quickly as some herbs, but its robust, woody stems and pine like fragrance are well worth the wait for growing rosemary. Put it somewhere sunny and you’ll be rewarded with a flavour that is all it’s own and works really well with roasted meats, vegetables, or bread. In addition to it’s lovely smelling perfume, rosemary’s scent can also aid in concentration, which is the perfect thing for indoor gardening!
Lavender
Lavender is used as they know it for its calming aroma, but they can also be used in the kitchen for flavouring desserts, beverages, and even a little in savoury dishes. Lavender is a fabulous, decorative and functional plant for your indoor garden and loves bright, sunny spots and well drained soil. Plus, it has a scent that will help you to relax and sleep better.
Tarragon
The subtle anise like taste it lends to vinaigrettes, sauces, and fish dishes. It’s an herb that grown prefers bright light and well drained soil, and while it doesn’t need a lot of watering it adds a delicious flavor to your meal, while being easy to grow indoors.
Oregano
There is an oregano herb that loves light, and that is perfect for sunny kitchens too. It has a strong earthy flavor that is much relied upon in Mediterranean cooking to liven up pizzas, pasta, and grilled dishes. Eating oregano is tasty and has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and so is healthy to add it in your indoor garden too.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a nice herb with a nice lemony smell. It’s a popular ingredient in teas salads and desserts, lending your dishes a citrusy kick. A relatively easy to grow plant that requires moderate light and well soaking soil. Lemon balm is very popular because its flavor is good and it’s said to help with your stress and help with a good mood as well.
Bay Laurel
Soups, stews, and sauces are the place of bay laurel leaves. It grows well indoors only in bright light and good air circulation. Make sure you water only when the soil dries out. However, bay leaves also contain compounds that help with digestion, and they are an all around versatile and beneficial herb to try and grow.
Marjoram
Like oregano, marjoram is a close relative, and is sweeter and milder, which makes it an ideal companion for meats, vegetables and legumes. Keep it somewhere that gets some sun, as it does love the light. Marjoram is a great addition to your dishes and it’s great at helping with digestion and heart health.
Fennel
Fennel’s feathery fronds and its light licorice flavor furnish it as a one of a kind include for salads and soups. You will find it thriving indoors in good light and good soil. Fennel is also known for helping open up and ease bloating and gas. It’s edible — you can harvest the seeds to add to your dishes, or brew it into a soothing tea.
Basil
If you like Italian food, basil is a must have herb in so many, if not all, kitchens and is easily grown indoors. All you have to do is look for a sunny spot near the kitchen window to soak up at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. You would never know how good those fresh, aromatic leaves can make a simple tomato sauce. Pinch your basil frequently to encourage it to grow bushier, and to keep your basil happy. Another bonus: Repel some pesky insects and basil can also act as a companion to indoor plants.
Mint
Buoyant Mint is an easy way to liven up, not only drinks, but also desserts or savory dishes. It’s easy to propagate and care for, so it’s perfect for beginners. Spread fast, so just keep it in a pot. The best spot is a spot that gets some morning sunlight. Mint’s fresh aromatic scent can also work as a natural mood booster, and your kitchen can be not just fresh but fragrant as well.
Chives
Chives is one of the best herbs to grow indoors and they are great if you are a fan of onions taste but just a little less than that! Pretty slender green stalks, they’re not only yummy but kinda low maintenance. They love well draining soil and lots of bright light for your window sill garden. Snip off a few stems and sprinkle over scrambled eggs, soups or baked potatoes and you’ll see the stems turn right back into more flavorful stems in a week or so. Plus, chives help ward off pests and are great in your indoor garden.
Parsley
Parsley is more than just a garnish, it is a burst of vitamins A, C and K. Indoors, it grows well, even in the absence of a sunny window. Make sure that the soil doesn’t dry out or become soggy. Parsley is so vibrant in flavor it is fantastic for soups, salads, sauces and you can always have handy fresh parsley to add that extra something to your cooking.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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