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I will begin with the easy, hardy ones, and move to the relatively tougher ones.
General guidelines to grow herbs
- Seeds or sapling? Most of these herbs are best grown from a sapling. Some are easy to grow from seeds such as the basil varieties.
- Sunlight or shade? Most herbs require full sunlight, however, in summer I find the leaves getting burnt when the temperatures soar. so, if you can’t move them to partial shade or have a green net, then ensure the plants are watered twice a day.
- Watering: deep watering after the soil is completely dry. Increase the frequency of watering in the summer months. But do not over water.
- Soil: the plants face stunted growth if the soil is hard and lumpy. A well drained soil, mixture of red soil + cocopeat +manure suits them best.
1. Curry leaf
5. Lemon mint
6. Clove basil
7. Camphor basil
10. Italian basil
12. Betel leaves
15. Holy Basil
As the name indicates, it has a religious significance. There is a belief that a few leaves a day had every morning helps keep cold at bay. It is often used to make kashayam – a concoction of herbs when is down with the flu.
Here is one recipe that uses some of these herbs: I brew a strong concoction made of garlic bulbs (grows along the edges of all pots as it helps in containing pests), basil leaves, tulsi, betel leaves, ajwain, ginger and lemon grass. Add a dash of honey to the concoction and have to two times a day to keep cold at bay.
Even if you don’t have dedicated containers, you can tuck the herbs along the edges of pots or in between plants. All of these herbs can be grown in containers in a balcony or on your windowsill if it receives adequate sunlight. I have a few more growing in the garden (now shown here) such as garlic and green pepper.
Blessed is the person whose body is fit and mind healthy.