Five Herbs to Grow in Your Kitchen Garden

No matter the time of year, or the size of your yard, here are five herbs to grow in your kitchen garden, and delicious gluten-free, real food ways to use them!

Growing your own goodness.

If you’ve purchased herbs from the produce section of your grocery store, you know how quickly the price of those fresh ingredients can add up. Growing your own herbs in an indoor kitchen garden not only saves you money in the long run, but it also allows you to control the use of pesticides on your herbs, and provides a fun science experiment for your kiddos. 😉

If you’re looking to grow from seed, I usually go for the heirloom, non-GMO variety of seeds on Amazon. I’ll link to the specific packets in the post below!

Basil.

This herb is native to India, and is frequently used as a seasoning in Italian, Thai, Indonesian, and other cuisines. The strong taste adds a kick to virtually any dish, and if you’re an avid cook you’ll be reaching for the basil quite often.

If you’re a fellow basil-lover, like I am, you can save money by growing basil right in your own kitchen. It can also be grown easily in a small garden, or on a porch. Plant the seeds in high-quality soil a few months before it gets too warm. Keep your basil plant near sunlight, they love the sunshine. Water daily and enjoy your new source of flavor!

You can buy basil seeds HERE.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that use basil:

• Keto Italian Garlic Breadsticks with Easy Dipping Sauce
• Creamy Roasted Red Pepper, Sausage & Cauliflower Soup
• Easy Grain-Free Mini Pizzas
• Easy Spaghetti Squash with Creamy White Sauce
• Slow-Cooker Stuffed Italian Meatballs

Thyme.

This herb is another popular seasoning, and growing thyme indoors requires a combination of high-quality potting soil, sunlight, and water. Thyme grows well with indirect light, which makes it easier to plant inside. Just make sure these plants come in contact with sunlight for at least six hours a day. Water the plant completely, but allow the soil to dry between watering so that you don’t over-hydrate. Maintain the plant by trimming woody stems, which will force new growth and create constant freshness.

You can buy thyme seeds HERE.

With a warm, earthy flavor, thyme is a great herb to use on potatoes and in soups. Here are some of my family’s favorite recipes that use thyme:

• Simple Herbed Red Drum
• Rustic Irish Shepherd’s Pie
• Italian Wedding Soup in the Instant Pot

Thyme also has wonderful medicinal properties. Its fresh leaves are full of vitamins C, A, K & E, as well as minerals like potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Thyme also contains flavonoids, making it an antioxidant-rich herb. Because of the relaxing effect thyme has on muscles, it’s helpful for relieving asthma, whooping cough, laryngitis, bronchitis and dry coughs.

Here are some herbal remedies I use frequently for my family that include the healing benefits of thyme:

• Easy Immune Support Tincture
• Herbal Immune-Boosting Sore Throat Tea

Sage.

If you’re struggling to get herbs growing in your garden, let me suggest you give sage a try. I have a notoriously brown thumb, but there is nothing I can do to kill my sage plant! It’s seriously a monster. If you have the space and can plant in a large planter or small outdoor garden, sage will quickly overtake its surroundings!

Besides being a delicious addition to soups and meats, I’ve also enjoyed adding sage to savory muffins and other dishes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use sage:

• Savory Pumpkin Muffins with Apple & Sage
• Sage & Sausage Cauliflower Soup

As far as health benefits go, sage is wonderful source of fiber, vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and B vitamins such as folic acid and thiamin. It also contains healthy amounts of vitamins K, C, and E, as well as thiamin, and copper.

You can buy sage seeds HERE.

Mint.

Fresh mint is the perfect seasoning for chocolate dessert or delicious Mediterranean food. You can dry the leaves for tea to soothe a stomach ache or sore throat, as well. To grow mint indoors, make sure to water the plant regularly, but don’t keep the soil overly wet. When the upper soil is dry, it’s time to water again. Just beware that over-hydration will cause mint to wilt.

Mint also needs humidity to grow well indoors, so try misting the plant between watering or set it in a tray filled with water and pebbles. Rotate the plant every few days to balance exposure to sunlight. Mint is a great transitional plant, so you can move it outdoors for the summer!

You can buy mint seeds HERE.

Mint is one of my all-time favorite herbs. It makes delicious teas and desserts, here are a couple of my favorites!

• Homemade Mint Ice Cream with Fudge Swirl
• 4-Ingredient Avocado Mint Nice Cream
• Italian Wedding Soup in the Instant Pot
• Peppermint Avocado Fudge
• Mint Chocolate Chip Blender Ice Cream
• Banana Avocado Mint Muffins

Rosemary.

Lack of sunlight, poor watering, and pests can kill an indoor rosemary plant. Sunshine is essential for rosemary, so be sure to position the plant where it can receive six to eight hours of natural light. Indirect light or limited sun exposure will cause the plant to weaken and die.

Choose a pot with proper drainage, and only water the rosemary plant when the top of the soil is dry. Just make sure it doesn’t completely dry out! Pests can also take over rosemary, but ensuring the plant receives proper water and light can help fight them off for good.

My favorite recipe to use rosemary in is my delicious Slow-Cooker Rosemary Roast, but it goes well with many meat dishes!

You can buy rosemary seeds HERE.

Enjoy your fresh herbs, and bon appétit!

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