4 Common Spices That Can Grow In Your Garden

Tuesday, August 9, 2011, 15:19

Common spices that we use on a daily basis for flavoring our cooking can be grown at home. Have you ever been annoyed when you see that your stock of coriander has run out just when you need it to garnish your chicken? It happens to us all but it doesn't have to. You can have an unlimited supply of garden spices if you start growing spices in your garden. It is awfully easy to grow culinary herbs because they usually do not need too much tending to. Take a look at the best way of growing these spices at home.

4 Common Spices For Your In-House Spice Garden:

1. Green Chillies: There are about 25 varieties of chillies that can be grown as garden spices. Let us choose the most common one, the long green chilli peppers. These plants fare well under hot humid conditions. An ideal temperature of 20 to 30 degree centigrade is required for growing this spice. They grow best from seeds and the seeds are abundantly available in our homes. Just slice open a green chilli and sow the seeds. Your chilli plant will survive under blazing sunlight but it is best to give it some comfortable shade.

2. Basil: The famous holy basil plant that has such a privileged position in Indian culture is a great herb for cooking Italian food. We also use it to garnish our dals and pulaos. Culinary or religious, this plant serves both purposes wonderfully. Whats more, it grows like a weed in tropical climate. You can grow this common spice from seeds or cutting but the latter is easier. Although basil is well suited to our climate, it has to be tended to carefully; water it twice daily as it dries up easily. Never let your basil plant bloom because if it does it will die soon. Harvest the basil leaves from the top to prevent it from sprouting flowers.

3. Coriander Leaves: This a staple herb used in Indian cuisine so you will be surprised to know that our warm climate is not suitable to grow it. Coriander plants cannot withstand heat and humidity and thus grow it in the cool season. You have to grow it from seeds but planting this herb in a pot will not do. Coriander plants have large taproots, so plant them in rows with some spaces in the middle. Pluck coriander leaves regularly as they wilt quickly. Once planted it will continue to grow on its own.

4. Ginger: This common spice used in almost all our recipes is actually a root and grows from it self. A piece if ginger will have 'growth buds' on it from which the shoots will sprout. All you need to grow this spice is really good soil. The climatic conditions of our country are ideal for ginger as it absorbs lot of moisture. Water it regularly but don't let it get water-logged. It is a misnomer that ginger requires lot of space. Once planted it grows in clumps at place.

Growing these common spices in your garden is industrious so try it.