Creating a perfect kitchen garden involves a lot of thought and planning and takes time and effort to execute. Thinking about the right plants to complement each other and your style of cooking can seem like a tedious job. If you are conflicted about what to grow in your kitchen garden, here are five plant suggestions that will elevate your garden and help you whip up some tasty meals.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is easy to grow in a pot tucked away in your home garden. Besides providing heaps of health benefits, it also adds beauty to the kitchen. Lemongrass is a common ingredient in many Thai-based dishes. Additionally, consuming lemongrass tea is a good anti-oxidant, helps in weight loss, helps in the prevention of some types of cancers, has anti-inflammatory effects on the body, and can regulate blood pressure and cholesterol in the blood. These 4-5 feet long leaves don’t require too much care. Minimal watering and regular pruning will ensure a substantial yield, more than enough for daily use.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a cactus-like plant that grows in warmer climates and is a perfect addition to your kitchen garden. As a potted plant, its leaves add an aesthetic element and have numerous benefits to the skin and body. It belongs to the succulent plant species and aids tremendously in soothing various skin issues, such as dry skin, acne, rashes, and burns. Juice from the aloe vera plant also helps soothe digestive issues.
Basil
Basil is one of the most versatile herbs out there. Adding it to your kitchen garden would solve your need to constantly pick a packet of basil leaves from your local store whenever you have decided to cook an Italian meal at home. These leaves are packed with flavor and add a lingering fragrance to your kitchen and food. Furthermore, basil has anti-oxidants and anti-bacterial properties which help detoxify your body and promote digestion while protecting your skin.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are usually used almost every day in the kitchen in a variety of foods. It’s a good idea to keep a pot or two of cherry tomatoes in your kitchen garden to add color and fragrance while also gaining the benefit of using the fruit in myriad forms. Whether you’re making some pizza sauce, risotto, soup, or a simple garden salad, look no further than your very own kitchen.
Rosemary
Rosemary is an aromatic herb with needle-like leaves that adds incredible flavor and fragrance to your food. Besides adding an inventive look to your kitchen garden, this unique shrub-like plant bears flowers of different colors which can also be used in cooking, salads, and making potpourri. Rosemary is an incredible addition to grilled food like steaks, roast chickens, and lamb chops and is also widely used in recipes to stuff a chicken or a turkey. Moreover, rosemary is easy to look after, considering it is a hardy plant that requires very little care and watering.