12 Best Herbs to Brighten Up Your Kitchen Window

1. BASIL

It’s mesmerizing to clip fresh basil leaves from your kitchen window and add them right into your cooking. Basil’s fresh, spicy, clove flavor is a natural addition to many cooking styles and cuisines.

With well-pruned plants, you will get about a 1/2 cup’s of basil every single week. It repels flies and mosquitoes and keeps the kitchen pest-free. To keep your kitchen window basil happy and healthy, make sure it gets lots of sunlight and limited water. Having basil in the kitchen window enhances the cooking experience, promotes a pleasant kitchen environment, and fosters a connection to nature.

2. MINT

Mint is incredibly easy to grow. It’s a great confidence-builder for new gardeners. Mint has a fresh, aromatic scent and is a common herb to grow in the kitchen. It loves humidity, for mint keeps the soil moist and well-drained. The plant grows so quickly once it sprouts; it spreads very quickly. Mint has a sharper, spicy flavor; it is often used in teas and to flavor ice cream, candy, and fruit preserves.

Mint is crazy easy to grow. The plant grows so quickly that it’s a great confidence-builder, and if you use a lot of leaves at once, you won’t have to wait too long for the plant to replenish itself. It’s perennial, which means it will likely pop back up next.

3. CILANTRO

Cilantro is a popular herb. It tastes great in salsa, marinades, soups, stews, and salads. Cilantro grows quickly but only lasts for a short time. If it gets enough light, it’s ready to use in 3–4 weeks. Growing cilantro indoors is easy. You can keep them in a container or a pot, and it does not need much space. The problem with increasing cilantro is that it can suddenly grow flowers, changing the leaves’ taste. A glazed clay or plastic pot works well for growing cilantro because it helps to retain moisture in the soil. Also, ensure the pot has holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain.

4. PARSLEY

Parsley is the perfect addition to a kitchen if you’re looking to add a bit of greenery. Keep it in a pot with good drainage near a warm, sunny window. a single parsley plant, a 6-inch-wide pot is best. For multiple parsley plants, choose a pot that’s at least 12 inches wide.

Parsley is a pretty garnish; it adds a bright freshness and flavor to any dish. There are two main kinds of parsley: flat or curly leaves. Both provide an eye-catching, edible display in a kitchen window.

5. ROSEMARY

versatile and easy-to-grow herb Rosemary is one of the excellent herbs for windows. Rosemary is very easy to grow. Once it’s properly established, it requires a minimal amount of care. Spring and autumn are best for rosemary; the plants can establish their roots before facing heat or extreme cold. If you live in a very cold climate, rosemary can grow on a windowsill every year. As a perennial plant, rosemary comes back year after year and can be enjoyed almost all year.

6. THYME

Having the scents and flavors near at hand in the kitchen is mesmerizing. Thyme is a useful herb in a variety of ways. A clay planter is an excellent container for growing thyme. For the best result, place the plant where it receives six hours of daylight. Thyme can tolerate indirect light, which makes it perfect for the kitchen herb garden. Thyme is the least maintenance herb.

7. Dill

Dill has so many uses that you’ll always have reasons to keep it in your kitchen. Its beauty makes it a great addition to your kitchen window. The herb’s flowers are also edible so that you can use the entire plant for cooking. Dill comes in many varieties, but you should grow the type that is best suited to your needs. Like most other herbs, growing dill in a kitchen window is easy and requires no special equipment.

8. CHIVES

Chives are an easy-to-grow perennial herb with grass-like greenery. They bloom with purple, pink, or white flowers and can be grown indoors and outdoors in all climates. Plant them in pots in the kitchen window, which requires an excellent sunny spot with drainage and good soil or organic compost. After cutting, the top stem continues to grow. They give a fantastic onion-like flavor to add to recipes.

9. LEMON BALM

The lemon balm smells great and is useful in many ways. It is a lovely plant to have in the kitchen. It can be used to make a calming tea and to improve food taste. It’s a friendly plant that’s easy to have around.

Lemon balm grows quickly and easily from seeds or nursery-grown plants in your kitchen window. The lemon balm pot will feel happy in the window, where it can receive about six hours of sunlight. These plants also produce small, charming white or pale yellow flowers that bloom in the spring, summer, or fall.

10. OREGANO

Oregano is one of the coolest herbs you can grow in a kitchen window. It is one of the most used aromatic herbs, which adds taste and flavor to many favorite dishes.

It’s one of the easiest plants to grow, like mint and chives. Oregano is also a decorative plant and looks lovely in containers. This gorgeous-looking herb has different varieties and colors and lots of decorative and culinary options. Oregano is a sun-loving herb; it needs a lot of light to develop.

11. SAGE

Sage plants are very strong and can survive with little water. They can grow with minimal attention, and their beautiful leaves will add fresh flavor to your cooking. Growing Sage in the kitchen is smart; it’s affordable and saves time. Sage has a strong flavor; a little is enough to make food taste good. As the leaves get bigger, the flavor becomes stronger. Sage is special because it still tastes great even after it blooms. Its growing season is long, and it does well in a lot of different cold and warm climates.

12. Garden Cress

Cress is an easy and quick crop to grow in kitchen windows at any time of year. Pick seedlings with their stems and leaves to add a tasty touch to sandwiches and salads. Its tasty leaves and crunchy stems create a mini harvest for people without gardens. All you need is a sunny window to grow a fresh, delicious addition to your daily diet. In warm spots, Cress begins to sprout in just one or two days and takes up to two weeks to reach the size where it’s ready to eat.

How To Care For Herbs On a Kitchen Window

Keeping fresh herbs in your kitchen window means having them on hand at all times and bringing nature into your home. Herbs do take a bit of tending, but this could be an enjoyable hobby if you have no garden but still have green fingers. If you are going to try, these are some ways of keeping your herbs happy.

1. Choose the right herb.

There are many kinds of aromatic herbs to choose from. Choose herbs that aren’t too big, grow well in containers, and are most tolerant of indoor conditions because not all varieties do well in a kitchen. Everyone has their favorite herbs. Some people like coriander and chilies on their dishes, while others love the aroma of fresh mint leaves. When selecting herbs for your kitchen window, growing what you eat is best.

2. Pick the Perfect Spot

Herbs need plenty of sunlight to grow well, and a sunny kitchen window is ideal for them. Before starting your herb garden, check the light in your window or balcony. Most herbs need at least six hours of sunlight a day. East and West windows are ideal because a south-facing window can get too hot in the summer. If your space doesn’t get enough sunlight, you can use grow lights to help your herbs get the light they need.

3. Use Proper Pots and Soil

Small pots are usually the only option in your kitchen window’s limited space. Plant only two to four herb species in small pots to ensure the individual plants develop properly. Most kitchen herbs do not tolerate waterlogging, so choose pots with drainage holes and add a drainage layer of pebbles or expanded clay to allow excess water to drain away easily. Also, good-quality soil should be used to store water and nutrients for a long time. The right balance of soil composition varies from herb to herb.

4. Water Wisely

Each herb needs a specific amount of water; too much can cause root rot. Water your herbs based on their needs and let the soil dry out between watering’s. Mist your herbs regularly to keep the humidity at a good level, prevent them from drying out, and encourage healthy growth.

Do not water the soil. It leads to plant diseases and prevents the roots from getting enough oxygen. Wait for the plant to show it needs water. If the top inch is wet, wait a few more days before watering.

5.Feed Your Herb

The need for fertilizer depends on the type of herb, the growing conditions, and the texture and fertility of the soil. Good, healthy soil helps indoor herbs grow with regular watering and plenty of sunlight. Sometimes, you only need to fertilize your indoor herbs every two to four weeks, depending on how large or small their containers are. You need to know the basics about fertilizing herbs, what type of soil you have, and its composition of nutrients. Soil testing is another way to understand what your soil lacks for the healthy growth of herbs.

Conclusion

Fresh herbs add the finishing touch to any dish with their delicious aroma. It is delightful that you do not need to have a balcony or garden to have your herb. A kitchen window is another space more suitable than the one in the kitchen. There are many reasons to grow herbs in kitchen windows, such as adding fresh flavor to food, fragrance, and greenery to indoor spaces, and growing your own can save you money. To pick which herbs you should grow in your herb garden for a kitchen window, think about the ones you use the most when cooking, and start with two or three of your favorites.

By Admin