Plenty of homeowners love spending time in their kitchen. Whether it’s to entertain or just prep dinner for one, the kitchen is a bright, meditative and central space in the home.
One thing that can enhance your kitchen time and cooking experience is to include fresh herbs and vegetables. An easy way to make sure you always have your favorite herbs or vegetables on hand is to grow them yourself in a miniature kitchen herb garden, or even a small herb garden in your backyard or on your balcony.
Not only will starting your own garden help you ensure that you rarely run out of your favorite herbs, but there can be some additional benefits, too.
The Benefits of Herb Gardens
There are obvious benefits to having available fresh herbs or other homegrown foods in or around your home, especially if you fancy yourself a home chef. For instance, you’ll know exactly what you’re eating — you grew the food yourself, after all. That means you know what types of soil and fertilizers you used, watered it regularly and watched it grow.
You know where it came from, and know exactly what you’re putting in your body. If you’re a clean-living or organic food advocate, that kind of peace of mind can be a game-changer. Not to mention the satisfaction that comes with creating and using something all on your own.
An Herb Garden May Help Your Home’s Value
While a small, home-based garden can have nutritional advantages, it may also add value to your home, though that will depend on a variety of factors, including whether the garden you create is permanent, its size and positioning on your property, how well it produces and more. Ultimately, any potential value-add to the property will only be realized if you decide to sell — and then, it will need to appeal to prospective buyers.
Not all homebuyers may be interested in pulling weeds or sticking to a strict pruning schedule. So, it can be hard, if not impossible, to really quantify the value added with a home-based garden.
However, the mere presence of one can send some signals to any would-be buyers. It’s an indication that your property gets lots of sunshine and fresh air, for instance, and that the property can foster a healthy atmosphere. That’s something that will be a turn-on for many, if not most potential homebuyers.
[READ: Going Green: Alternatives to Traditional Lawns]
Plant the Seed: How to Start Your Own Herb Garden
If you’re sold on the idea of a home-based garden, there are several ways to get started. But again, what you do (and how you do it) will almost completely depend on your circumstances.
If you live in an apartment or condominium, for example, you may not have the option of planting a large garden. You may not even have any balcony space to dedicate to growing, and will need to stick with a small, indoor system.
Small, Indoor Herb Gardens
There are plenty of out-of-the-box solutions for starting an indoor garden. Click & Grow is a company that offers a compact and easy way to get a small garden started almost anywhere in your home, allowing you to grow herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables in a smart planter that ensures everything gets enough water and light. There are numerous other smart gardens that work similarly, but essentially, you’re getting everything you need to start growing: lights, soil and seeds.
You can get some planters and find a well-lit part of your home to opt for a low-tech indoor garden, but make sure the plants are getting enough light throughout the day.
If you’d rather build an herb garden yourself, here’s what you’ll need:
— Seeds: Consider picking herbs that are easy to grow, especially if you have limited light. Basil, chives, oregano, mint and thyme don’t require a lot of fuss.
— Pots: Terracotta and ceramic pots are good for herbs that need drier soil, while plastic pots can be used for plants that require damp soil. Make sure the pot you use has excellent drainage.
— Soil: Get a nutrient-rich soil or multipurpose potting mix,
— Soil tester: There are multiuse devices that test for pH, moisture and light levels. They can be purchased for around $15.
Balcony-Based Gardens
If you have a bit of outdoor space, like a balcony or terrace, you may be able to use any available natural light to your advantage.
Be aware of your limitations: Most herbs will need between five and six hours of sunlight every day to properly grow. Some good choices for a balcony-based garden include parsley, mint and chives, because they thrive in shady spots.
Get started with some pots and potting soil — which you can probably find at most gardening or hardware stores. Keep in mind, too, that you may need to move your plants around from time to time, to maximize sunlight exposure, or to protect them from nasty weather. Pick pots or planters that you can easily manage.
Backyard Gardens
If you don’t live in the city or otherwise have more space, like a backyard, to build a bigger garden, you’ll have many more options. Take details like sunlight exposure and soil composition into account, but with the extra space you can even build a permanent gardening area in the ground or in a raised bed.
You’ll also be able to plant pretty much anything you want with the extra space — assuming, of course, that what you plant can survive in your particular climate. What will flourish in the Pacific Northwest, for example, may not do so well in suburban Phoenix.
But the basic rules still apply: Make sure your plants are getting enough light and water, and that you’re protecting them from pests and weeds. In some cases, that may mean also protecting them from any neighborhood animals, be it dogs, squirrels or even deer.
As for what to plant? You’ll have more options for larger plants in a backyard herb garden. While you can plant herbs like rosemary, cilantro, mint and basil, you can branch out with rosemary, chamomile, sage and thyme, to name a few. Mint is a notorious spreader, so you might want to still grow that in a container outside to keep it in check. You can also grow some veggies. If your yard gets lots of light, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes and lettuce are popular options. But think big! Plant what you eat: beets, eggplant, cucumbers and beans are easy and delicious crops.
[How to Make Your Yard a Pet-Friendly Oasis]
Cultivating a Green Thumb
Gardening won’t come easy to everyone. But with some practice, it may just bloom into a fun new hobby.
If you’re lost, however, you can always ask professionals for help. Venture out to your city’s flower district or a local plant nursery and see what types of herbs or plants they recommend growing for your region. They may also be able to give you pointers to make sure you see a bountiful harvest in the months ahead.
Don’t forget to have fun — you may not have been born with a green thumb, but you may be able to cultivate one.
More from U.S. News
How to Perfect Your Living Room Furniture Layout
4 Rooms Homeowners Don’t Use and How to Repurpose Them
The Best Indoor Plants for Every Room In Your House
How to Start an Herb Garden originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 07/07/23: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
