GROWING PLANTS TO USE IN THE KITCHEN
Fruits, herbs, and vegetables are used by every culture, country, and nationality in the world. They are utilized in countless dishes and for good reason. They taste great and deliver crucial vitamins and nutrients. However, no country grows every fruit, vegetable, or herb. For those reasons, fruits like avocados and tomatoes (that are mostly grown in a few places) have to be sent to places far away from where they were grown. In that time, they can be damaged or become too ripe. An easy solution to this dilemma is to grow some of your own food. Most seeds are on the cheaper side and some take as little as a couple of weeks to be ready to harvest. The entire process is easy to follow too.
Plants to Grow
The types of plants that you can grow depend on certain things like:
1) How much space you have to grow;
2) How much light your plant can get; and
3) The quality of the soil.
Some common herbs that are easy to grow indoors with little space are parsley, thyme, basil, mint, and rosemary. Many seasonal fruits like strawberries and blueberries are great to grow in pots and lemons, cherries, peaches and other fruits that grow on trees can be grown in containers if you don’t have a garden. Greens and peppers such as spinach, lettuce, bell peppers, and jalapeños can be potted but certain plants like potatoes benefit from having their own space with no other plants around them. Some vegetables can also grow with little access to light including kale and brussels sprouts. Sandy soil is also a great candidate for onions, garlic, and carrots.
How to Plant
Directions on how deep and spaced out your seeds need to be will most likely be on the seed packet. Following those instructions will yield the best plants. A general rule of thumb is to always slightly water them right after planting. Using small amounts of water at a time to keep the top layer of soil damp, but not wet. Place the plants next to a window that gets a lot of sunlight or under a sunlamp if you are planting indoors.
Maintaining Plants
Taking care of your plants is an easy but crucial step. Water, sunlight, and fertilizers are going to help them grow into strong and healthy plants. Under-watering or over-watering seeds can damage them and potentially alter the growth of the plants. A moist, not muddy soil is key for sprouting. Most plants will sprout in the direction of the sun so turning them 90° degrees each day will prevent stems from overreaching and become weaker. Fertilizers are a great way to deliver the proper nutrients plants need to keep them strong when they have sprouted leaves. Mixing 1 cup of fertilizer with 1 gallon of water and spraying them every week will have a great effect on them.
Harvesting and Use in the Kitchen
The time that your plants will be ready for harvesting will rely on the type of plant they are and when you planted them. Most fruits have to change into a certain color to be good enough to eat. For most vegetables, height is the determining factor. When they have been picked, feel free to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Use some basil and tomatoes in a pizza, garlic and potatoes for mashed potatoes, and whatever fruits you have to make a fruit salad. Most homegrown vegetables and fruits are expected to last up to a week in the fridge. Freezing the rest of your harvest will extend its shelf life.