What’s not to love about spring? New leaves on the trees, the smell of freshly cut grass and a cool breeze are just a few of the things which make this my favourite season. Embrace the feeling and introduce the fresh and tantalising aromas of spring to your kitchen by growing your own selection of herbs on the windowsill.
Having a fresh supply of herbs to hand is a great way to add flavour to your food and drinks. You can toss fresh leaves into a salad, add a touch of zest to a curry or even infuse a jug of ice-cold water. Plus, growing your own herbs is pretty easy, and a fantastic way to make your kitchen smell lovely.
Home-grown herbs are organic and natural, not containing any pesticides or fertilizers like supermarket bought herbs, which have been grown quickly. Organic ingredients is ideal if you have children, and can even benefit your own health.
If you want to embrace your inner gardener, you can start with seeds, however they will require more care and attention as they will need germinating. If you want to skip this step, you can pick up small herb plants from your local garden centre relatively cheaply. Our favourites to grow are mint, thyme and coriander, three very easy to grow herbs which can be added to almost anything. Simply pull of the leaves during the growing season when you want to use them.
Using a peat-free compost, place your herbs in small ceramic pots, sitting them in plenty of sunlight to encourage growth. The best place to do this is on a South-facing windowsill. While the plants are in the growing season, you want to encourage branching, so snip of 2-3 inches every so often.
Ensure you choose a pot which drainage holes to avoid a salt build-up in the soil, and stand on a saucer to protect your windowsill. Don’t over water your herbs; the best way to know if they need water is to stick your finger in the compost and see if it is dry a couple of centimetres down.
Whichever herbs you decide to grow, choose a pot which compliments your kitchen décor, allowing your herb garden to not only bring the fair of spring indoors, but is a creative way to accessorise your windowsill.
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