We anticipate your thoughts and we will solve a series of questions common to all the plants that you can ask. As the ten are very important and interesting we are going to describe them in alphabetical order, so that you also have them better located. Let’s go there.
Table of Contents
1- Basil
You may also know this plant as basyl. It is a plant that grows up to 80 centimeters but what is best known is the powerful flavor that its leaves provide to food when they are fresh. If the leaves are allowed to dry, they will be more bitter and spicy for your meals. You choose which type of basil you prefer.
How to grow it at home?
You will need an exclusive place in your garden for your basil plants because it requires special needs. You will need a sunny place but protected from the wind. The soil where you plant has to be well drained and with the soil always moist, so watering is very important. When planting them, leave a space between one plant and another, around 20-25 centimeters and try to make it February or March, which is the planting time and if you want to transplant it, it is best to do it in April or May. And finally, don’t drop the leaves; better see collecting them as they come out because this encourages the appearance of new leaves.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If the leaves are fresh you have several options: you can introduce them in oil or vinegar with an exceptional result; and you can also roll them up on a damp paper, put them in a bag or in one of your tuppers and choose to store them in the refrigerator for about 8 days. If, on the other hand, the leaves are already dry, you should place them in an airtight container and place it in a cool, dark and dry place for up to 12 months.
How do I use it for cooking?
If you decide to use the fresh leaves, you can incorporate them into the tomato sauce. If you are a lover of Italian food, it will be a basic ingredient for the elaboration of your pesto.
If you opt for dried basil leaves, you can use them to flavor meats, fish, soups, salads and even some stews, if they have tomato.
In one case or another, it is best to add the leaves at the end of the preparation of the dish so that the flavor is present when you start eating.
2- Chives
Its form of growth is through dense bunches and can grow up to 30 centimeters in height. Its leaves are characteristic for their green color and cylindrical shape. When collecting chives, we recommend that you do it with scissors cutting them from the base. Compared to onion, you will notice that the flavor of this is stronger and more intense than that of chives that is more discreet and soft.
How to grow it at home?
If you decide to grow chives at home, it is best to do it in March or April and collect them in autumn, although if you prefer to transplant them, both seasons are good. Reserve a space in your garden where you can plant with a separation of about 15 centimeters between them. When watering you have to keep in mind that it should be done when the earth is dry. In case you overwater, you will notice that the leaves turn yellowish. In that case you just have to remove these discolored parts and water again when the plant takes its characteristic green tone. Following these tips you will get ideal chives, that is, light and fresh.
How can I purchase it?
Two ways. In the store you can buy its dried or still fresh leaves, if they are freshly picked.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If the leaves are fresh you can take them whole and store them in bags or tuppers to later put them in the refrigerator for about 8 days maximum.
If, on the other hand, the leaves are already dry, it is best to store them in airtight containers and keep them in a cool, dry and dark place, with the possibility that you can use them for the next 12 months.
How do I use it for cooking?
It is an exceptional flavoring, so it is very suitable for butter, fresh cheese and also for cottage cheese.
You can also use it for soups, meats, fish, dishes that include eggs, sauces and salads. Of course, add the leaves at the end of the preparation so that your dishes do not lose flavor.
3- Cilantro
Cilantro stands out for being a plant that growse very branched from round seeds and light brown nerves. Its height can reach up to 60 centimeters.
What stands out most is for its peculiar flavor: spicy and oily leaves with aromatic seeds with a touch that can remind the taste of the orange.
How to grow it at home?
Although you can plant it several times throughout the year, it is best to do it at the end of winter or early spring. Choose places well exposed to the sun and calcareous soils with little water for planting. Once these optimal places have been chosen, choose small spaces or pots and plant the seeds evenly. You only need to cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and after 40 or 60 days you can pick up some leaves.
How can I purchase it?
In your plant store you can buy its leaves in several ways: fresh, dried, ground and even frozen. To the taste of the consumer.
And to keep it, what do I need?
You must distinguish a form of conservation according to whether you want to save the seeds or leaves. If you want to preserve the seeds, store them in airtight containers in a dry, cool, dark place for up to 12 months. If what you have are leaves, you must roll them on an absorbent and somewhat damp paper to introduce them in bags or in a tupper and introduce them in the refrigerator for a maximum of 8 days.
How do I use it for cooking?
Consider its powerful flavor. You can use it when cooking pork, poultry, fish, salads, stews and even sauces. You can even use their seeds to flavor marinated products, vinegars, and some spirits.
4- Peppermint
They are plants whose leaves are used in many dishes and drinks for their characteristic flavor: strong and spicy. During its growth, the plant can grow up to one meter in height.
How to grow it at home?
Try to start your cultivation at the beginning of spring. Once you have your garden ready for planting, any place reserved in it will be good, although a place exposed to the sun and humid will always be better. Of course, for better growth leave between plant and plant about 25 centimeters and try to water them frequently keeping the soil always moist. To be able to collect its leaves often, try to collect its leaves and prune its branches periodically.
How can I purchase it?
Always in the same way: in fresh leaves.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If you only have dry leaves, store them in airtight containers in dry, cool, dark places for up to 12 months. If, on the other hand, you have fresh leaves, what you should do is roll them up on absorbent paper and a little wet and store them in bags or tuppers to later introduce them in the refrigerator for up to 8 days.
How do I use it for cooking?
If you are lucky enough to have fresh peppermint leaves you can use them in a wide variety of meals: lamb meats, pork, salads, fish, soups, legumes, seafood, ice cream and even sweets. The variety is very extensive.
It is the key element of many drinks, such as the classic mojito.
If you have dry leaves you can use them to make infusions.
5- The laurel
It is a basic ingredient for the stews of Spanish cuisine. Its plant is characterized by its size: it can reach up to three meters in height.
How to grow it at home?
The best planting time is in spring. As for its planting, it is something special since it is best to place it in sandy, deep soils, with some shade but not in cold places, since it does not tolerate low temperatures well and does not neglect watering in dry seasons. The ideal is to collect the leaves in summer and autumn to be able to preserve them throughout the year.
How can I purchase it?
You can buy it in three different ways: in fresh leaves, in dried leaves or with its leaves already ground.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If you have fresh leaves, store them in a tupper or plastic bags for up to a fortnight.
If you have dried leaves, store them in airtight containers in dry, cool, dark places for up to a year.
How do I use it for cooking?
It is one of the star ingredients is stews of meat, fish, broths and sauces; and one of the basics when it comes to making stews.
6- The lemon balm
Can that you know it by other names, such as savory. Its leaves stand out for their aromatic lemon smell. During its branched growth it reaches 40 and 80 centimeters in height.
How to grow it at home?
It is best to plant it in February and March and transplant it in April and May. You will need to have soils rich in organic matter (which you will have to renew every four years or so), with little water and that half shade is possible. When planting the different lemon balms, you should leave about 30 or 35 centimeters between plant and plant.
A tip: collect the leaves before the plant blooms and thus they will have more aroma.
How can I purchase it?
You can get its leaves both dried and fresh.
And to keep it, what do I need?
Fresh leaves can be stored in a tupper or plastic bag and placed in the fridge for 8 days. If you have dry leaves what you can do is store them in an airtight container and place it in a cool, dry and dark place, up to a year.
How do I use it for cooking?
It will depend on how you have the leaves:
If the leaves are fresh you can use them to provide a refreshing flavor to juices, salads, punches, puddings and ice cream. If in addition to fresh they are well chopped, you can use them in fish dishes and stews to flavor them.
Dried leaves are used for infusions.
The leaves can be frozen and used to flavor drinks. You can even crystallize them with sugar and decorate sweets.
7- Parsley
With large and trimmed leaves, this plant stands out for having a growth of up to 80 centimeters in height. Its leaves have a certain spicy flavor although its trunk has an even more intense aroma than that of the leaves themselves.
How to grow it at home?
You can decide to plant this plant at any time of the year although it is always better in March and April. Try to place them in sandy soils, with good water retention and that the shade reaches them without problem.
When placing the seeds, make sure that the soil covers the seeds with a thin layer. The plants should be about 15 centimeters apart from each other for optimal growth.
If the flowers are cut as they come out, a better production of leaves will be achieved for a longer time. Keep this in mind when taking care of your laurel.
How can I purchase it?
You can get hold of a log and plant it. Or you can also choose to buy the leaves directly. These can be purchased fresh, dried, ground or already frozen.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If you have fresh leaves, the best thing you can do is roll them on an absorbent and somewhat damp paper, put them in bags or tuppers and direct to the refrigerator, up to 8 days.
If, on the other hand, what you have are already dried leaves, what you can do by introducing them into airtight containers and placing them in cool, dry and dark places for up to a year.
How do I use it for cooking?
Bay leaves allow you to enhance and enhance the flavor of many dishes. For example dishes of red meat, poultry, eggs, legumes, doughs, sauces, seafood and fish.
8- The perifolio
You may know it more as a cerefolio. In any case, they are plants about 40 to 70 centimeters tall that have light green leaves and an aniseed flavor.
How to grow it at home?
It is best to plant it in late winter or early spring. You will have to reserve a space with shade and moist soil. Soil that should always be with water since the plant needs abundant watering and a lot of water.
After 60 days of planting you can begin the collection of the first leaves.
How can I purchase it?
You can only buy it in fresh leaves.
And to keep it, what do I need?
As you can only keep its leaves fresh, what you should do is roll them up in absorbent paper and something moistened to store them later in a bag or a tupper and finally in the fridge. The leaves may be kept there for up to 8 days.
How do I use it for cooking?
You can choose to use it for decorative purposes or also to extol the flavor of toritillas, vinaigrettes, roast meats, fish, creams, vinaigrettes and salads.
9- The pennyroyal
It is a plant that reaches 45 centimeters in height and its leaves stand out for their strong aroma of menthol, as it could not be otherwise, since it belongs to the mint family.
How to grow it at home?
If you want to plant pennyroyal at home, we recommend that you do it in late February or early March. You will have to reserve a space in your garden where the soil is very humid, which can be watered frequently and with great sun exposure. When arranging your plantation, try to separate one plant from another about 25 or 30 centimeters.
Once it blooms, the pennyroyal should be cut to a height of ten centimeters.
How can I purchase it?
You can get both fresh and dried pennyroyal leaves.
And to keep it, what do I need?
You can do two things with fresh leaves. First, you can roll them on a slightly damp paper to store them in a bag or tupper for 8 days or, second, you can keep them in oil or vinegar, which will provide an excellent taste.
If, on the other hand, you have dry leaves, what you have to do is keep them in an airtight container for a year in a cool, dry and dark place.
How do I use it for cooking?
If you are a lover of Portuguese cuisine it is an ideal condiment for you. It can replace cilantro and its use focuses on cod dishes and soups. It can also be used in pork and chicken and in roasted fish.
It is usually used as an infusion and flavors liqueurs, sweets and some syrups.
10- Rosemary
Like the perifolio, it is a plant that can reach 40 or 70 centimeters in height whose leaves are green and its flavor somewhat aniseed.
How to grow it at home?
Try to plant rosemary at the end of winter or early summer in moist soils with some shade. It needs constant watering. Its first leaves can be collected after 60 days of planting.
How can I purchase it?
Either in dried leaves or fresh bouquets.
And to keep it, what do I need?
If you have fresh bouquets, they should be stored in a tupper and then in the fridge for up to 15 days.
If you have dry leaves, what you should do is store them in a dry container and then place them in a cool, dry and dark place, up to a year.
How do I use it for cooking?
Its leaves have a period of use during the preparation of the dishes: they must be added at the beginning of cooking and extracted before serving the dish. It is the ideal seasoning for pork, lamb, kid, poultry and rabbit.
Roasted potatoes with a touch of rosemary have a special flavor and flavor butters, sauces, vinaigrettes and oils very well.
You can also choose to serve them as an infusion and even use them in creams, sauces and sweets.
If you have the bouquets without leaves, do not get rid of them, as they are excellent when it comes to improving the flavor of the chicken.
