Herbs Are Expensive, So Easily Plant Them Yourself
I love cooking with herbs. I use them in chicken, lamb chops, fish and steaks. Rosemary and Thyme are staples when I’m baking potato wedges, and a little bit of crisped sage with roasted carrots is a winning combo.
However, if you’ve ever purchased herbs from the grocery store, you know full well how expensive they can get. Normally a bunch of Rosemary or Thyme will run you $2 or more. And the other problem is that you always end up with more than you need. So your leftover herbs end up languishing in the back of your fridge until they’re wilted or moldy.
That’s why I decided to start my own mini herb garden 3 years ago. And it has paid dividends.
Getting Started
I started off by purchasing a few small herb plants (Rosemary, Sage and Thyme) from my local hardware store. I already had two huge lavender plants in my yard, so these would be a nice addition.
I didn’t really purchase any extra soil or do anything special. I just dug a hole in my yard and plopped the plants directly into the ground. I planted the herbs relatively close together just to make watering a little easier, but you can certainly plant them as close or as far apart as you want. Just keep in mind that rosemary can get fairly large, so plan accordingly.
For those of you who don’t have a yard, these will also grow well in a pot.
I am not a disciplined gardener. I often forget to water my garden. I don’t fertilize as much as I should. But even with my lack of attentiveness, my herb garden has thrived on its own.
Ways To Use Your Herbs
My seemingly endless abundance of lavender, rosemary and thyme have come in handy in unconventional applications as well. I even use herbs in my gift wrapping. They are a unique way to add something tactile and fragrant in addition to visual interest.
Use them to freshen the air by boiling your favorite in herbs in a small pot with water. Or create your own essential oils for better health and stress management. The great thing is you can cut the exact amount of herbs you need from your plant without having to waste any extra.
Planting your own herbs is a no-brainer. It’s a low cost and low maintenance investment. Happy Planting!
One Reply to “Herbs Are Expensive, So Easily Plant Them Yourself”
I have loved the fragrance of rosemary ever since my friend Edna taught me to identify it growing along the street.Since growing it in my apartment didn’t work, I brought a plant to a neighborhood café that has outdoor planters and hopefully we can both use it for cooking. I do hope it thrives–and thanks for the inspiration!