Connect with us

Kitchen

How to Grow Fresh Herbs in the Kitchen? 7 Easy Steps to begin right away

In this era, it is pretty hard to find organic products around. But what if we tell you that you can still grow fresh herbs in the kitchen? It might sound a daunting task, but that is not the whole story. Instead, with a little practice by hand, you can unlock the countless supplies for fresh herbs grown all in front of you in the kitchen.

Growing the fresh herbs in the kitchen gives a refreshing flavor to your dishes as you have the fresh herbs with a full aroma and taste. However, many of us are fond of doing kitchen gardening but don’t know how to grow fresh herbs in the kitchen.

It will help if you keep some factors in mind before growing the fresh herbs, like climate, soil condition, and many more. In Fall, gardeners harvest the outdoor plants and preserve them for the cold season. So it’s better to grow fresh herbs in the kitchen during cold months in front of the window sill.

Fresh green herbs in a clay pot

When to Plant Herbs in the Kitchen?

You can start growing fresh herbs in the kitchen right away by having the plant’s roots. According to several experts, moderate weather is the perfect season for growing fresh herbs in the kitchen.

If you are a beginner, then don’t start growing with seeds. You can grow most herbs by cutting the herb roots. However, many herbs require a slightly cooler temperature for growth.

How to grow fresh herbs in the kitchen?

Growing fresh herbs in the kitchen is an exciting yet tricky task. You can grow fresh herbs indoors, but only if you meet specific requirements and proper guidelines. Many beginners buy the expensive seeds for growing fresh herbs but fail to produce them due to a lack of gardening knowledge.

Here is the step-by-step guide for growing kitchen gardens for your ease, especially for fresh herbs.

1. Choose the Right Location

The herbs require a proper sunny location or comparable artificial light in the kitchen for growth. Remember that you can only grow a plant when it has the needed light, humidity, and temperature.

So it’s necessary to place the plants in front of the kitchen windows to get enough sunlight. The west or south-facing window is ideal for growing fresh herbs under maximum light. The fresh herbs need more light for about 14 to 16 hours a day.

Moreover, you can also place the fluorescent bulbs at a sufficient distance above the plant, but it lacks intensity compared to natural sunlight. So in those cases, the plant needs more time for growth and reaching the required state for gaining herbs.

Various herbs and fresh vegetables grown in an indoor garden

In addition, many people plant double sets of each herb. They have the vision to grow one under the sunlight and the other in artificial lights in the bedroom or any other location. So if you want to get the active harvest from both plants, then rotate the site of both pots. It helps both pots to get enough light and grow vibrantly.

2. Choose the Right Pots

The material of the pot or container for every herb is different as you have plenty of options. Choose a suitable pot or container like clay, wood, resin, or metal and ensure that the pot will give you enough drainage. The pot or container that offers a regular escape from excess water is best. Hence, make sure to check the hole at the bottom of the pot to ensure proper drainage.

You may have some fancy jars for your kitchen gardening, but these may not be suitable for growing fresh herbs. Usually, the fancy jars don’t have the proper drainage, which can lead to the rotting of roots.

Now it’s clear that choosing the right pot is necessary for growing fresh herbs. Ensure that you choose the pot according to the size of spice you want to grow. Don’t choose the too large or too small pot for your herbs as both will affect the plant negatively.

3. Herbs that you want to Grow in your Kitchen

Now it’s time to select the herbs you want to grow in your kitchen. It may look simple to you if you are a beginner, but choosing herbs is essential. Start growing simple herbs like parsley or mint. These herbs grow fast and allow you to harvest frequently.

Here are some easy herbs that you can grow in your kitchen and enjoy cooking.

Mint

Mint is one of the best herbs you can grow in your kitchen and your favorite container. It has a high growth rate but requires strong sunlight.

Parsley (flat-leaf)

Usually, professional chefs prefer to grow parsley in their kitchen due to its rich flavor and aroma. It requires moist, well-drained soil. You can grow parsley in shaded areas.

Oregano

Oregano has small leaves with rich flavors. It requires a highly drainable pot for growth and perfect sunlight. You can grow it as an outdoor plant but need to shift indoors during the winter season.

Rosemary

Rosemary gives a high aroma to your kitchen. It is the perfect herb for growing in the kitchen as it requires a cool temperature with moist soil and plenty of sunlight. Please place it in front of the kitchen window and get an aromatic herb.

Thyme

Thymes require less water for growth but full sunlight. Plant the thyme roots in well-drained soil so it has the proper nutrient supply for growing fast.

Basil

Basil is relatively easier to grow than mint. It also needs a sunny location and well-enriched soil to soak more water.

Fresh Basil grown in home

4. Use Starter Plants instead of Seeds

Keep in mind that you can only grow fresh herbs from seeds if you have some experience of gardening. Therefore, it’s better to choose the starter plants for growing your herbs. It will help you get the instant growth of herbs and save your two to three weeks.

5. Choose the Right Soil

Now you have the right pot, selected herbs, and its seeds. It is time to start gardening. The potting soil is perfect for growing fresh herbs in the kitchen. It helps drain the soils more effectively as it is light and more porous.

When you plant the herbs in potting soil and give it water, it gets denser by trapping more moisture. You can also choose the ordinary soil with the garden trowel that helps dig holes, remove weeds, and help in handling the soil.

6. Care for your Fresh Herbs

It is one of the essential steps to get fresh herbs after planting them. Some herbs need regular watering for growth and require the soil to dry before the next watering. The indoor or kitchen plants need more feeding as compared to outdoor plants.

Give an extra dose of water to your herbs along with proper fertilizers. Ensure that the fertilizer is not too dry. Keep it diluted to deliver more feed to herbs and enhance its taste. Moreover, ensure that you turn the pots regularly to give them enough sunlight.

Continuously observe your kitchen plants and take the appropriate steps for proper growth and prevent rotting. Know your herbs well, as every plant has a different appearance under stress and water requirements. Follow your healthy plants so that you can quickly notice any issue before it completely rots and give a big challenge.

7. Time to Harvest your Fresh Herbs

Harvest the fresh herbs frequently according to requirements. You can snip them whenever you need to add them to your dish. Also, you can harvest it when it grows a few inches tall.

This helps the herbs to grow more after every cutting. Try to cut the new herbs once a week. When the herbs grow long or tall, they will get flower buds that also need trimming.

plants grown in kitchen in different pots

When you step into the kitchen gardening, there are pretty good chances your kitchen needs more cleaning than usual. To help you out, we have this kitchen cleaning checklist, which you must check out.

Bonus Tips to Grow Fresh Herbs in the Kitchen

You have the properly grown fresh herbs in your kitchen. But still, it requires continuous maintenance.

You have to move your herb pot frequently at some outdoor locations. It helps the herb plant to get proper sunlight and enjoy the boost. When you carry the herbs in daylight, they will often last long for ears and continuously grow between indoor and outdoor areas.

In some plants, you need to remove the tiny stems that get thick or woody and stop the growth. In addition, some herbs typically grow, but the potting soil or mix needs to be added or replaced after breaking down. It helps the fresh herbs to grow correctly and last long for years.

Final verdicts

To sum up everything, it is clear that growing fresh herbs in the kitchen is easy when you follow the proper requirements.

Ensure that you choose the right herb, a suitable container, and a good location for adequate sunlight. It helps grow herbs fast and gives instant benefits when you need them for your dish.

We hope this article is beneficial for you and helps grow fresh herbs fast in your kitchen.

Kitchen

Kitchen Tools and Equipment that You Must Have

With new and upcoming different types of kitchen appliances, tools, and types of equipment being introduced into the market on a daily basis. It is easy to become overwhelmed and confused about what essentials you should have in your home kitchen. Whether you have prior cooking experience or are just starting out, we have compiled a list of kitchen tools and equipment that you must have.

You installed your kitchen cabinet and make sure it looks good. The next step is coming… First and foremost, gather your basic kitchen utensils. It is critical that you should stock your kitchen with all of the cutlery you and your family require to cook and enjoy meals at home. Here is our list of essential kitchen utensils:

1. Knives Are One of The First Kitchen Tools and Equipment Everyone Should Have

Food preparation can be a chore without the right chef’s knife. So, if you are in a pinch, opt for the inexpensive 8-inch Misen Chef’s Knife. It is a favorite of both the Test Kitchen manager, Breana Lai Killeen, and food editor, Carolyn Malcoun, who rave about how well it handles and how affordable it is. A good chef’s knife cannot be found for less.

Those butcher blocks full of knives may look nice on your counter, but you really only need three: a serrated knife, an 8- to 10-inch-long chef’s knife, and a paring knife. Purchase the best knives you can afford; they will last for many years.

2. Sharpener for Knives

Once you have found the right knife, you must keep it sharp. However, you do not need to hire a sharpening service or spend a lot of cash on a fancy electric gadget.

3. Cutting Board

 A good quality cutting board is essential when preparing vegetables and ingredients for cooking. To chop your ingredients, we recommend using a wooden board.

4. Grater

When a recipe calls for less chopping and more grating, use a grater. A grater is an absolute must-have in any kitchen, whether for freshly grated parmesan, garlic, or onions.

5. Mixing Bowls Are One of The Most Important Kitchen Tools and Equipment Everyone Should Have

What is the point of having the tools to chop and cut your ingredients if you cannot mix them? Prepare your kitchen with all of the mixing bowls you will need for various recipes.

6. Pans and Pots

After you have combined your ingredients, you will need plenty of pots and pans to cook them in. Make sure you have a variety of pans and skillets for roasting or sauteing vegetables, as well as pots for making delicious pasta dishes.

7. Towels and Potholders

Every kitchen should have towels and potholders to make cooking and serving easier. Not to mention that potholders can be used as cute kitchen décor.

8. Colander

When preparing a pasta dish, make sure you have a colander at the ready. Nothing is worse than finishing your pasta only to discover that your kitchen lacks a colander to drain the pasta water.

When it comes to dinner parties or family meals, presentation is often the icing on the cake of what will undoubtedly be a delicious meal. That is why, when serving food to family or guests, a serving platter is essential. A salad dish, a pasta dish, and a large platter for any meat or fish dishes are ideal.

9. Blender is One of The Main Kitchen Tools and Equipment Everyone Should Have

This kitchen tool is often overlooked. But you would be surprised how important it is. Include a blender on your kitchen tools and equipment list for everything from morning smoothies to homemade sauces to hearty soups.

10. Tupperware

Make sure you have the right post-cooking tools to make clean-up and food storage easier. Tupperware comes in a variety of sizes, from small containers for fresh fruit or leftover sauce to large ones for meat, fish, and pasta. Remember that Tupperware is essential for an organized, clutter-free kitchen.

11. Saran Wrap, Aluminium Foil

Last but not least, do not forget to include aluminum foil and saran wrap on your list of cooking tools and equipment. These ingredients will help your food retain its delicious flavor, allowing you to enjoy homemade meals throughout the week.

12. Kettle (Electric)

An electric kettle is a useful kitchen appliance for quickly heating water.

Most electric kettles on the market today have an impressive feature that turns off the heating as soon as the water reaches boiling temperature. It not only saves electricity and energy, but it also saves the user from having to monitor the temperature of the water and turn off the kettle. This is also a safety check because you do not have to worry about leaving your electric kettle on while you are busy with other cooking errands. You can also use it to boil eggs, cook ready-to-eat or instant noodles, make soups, and even sterilize small items.

13. Oven Microwave is One of The Most found Kitchen Tools and Equipment Everyone is Installing in Their Home by Defaults

The microwave oven is a must-have in the kitchen because of its versatility and the variety of meals it can produce from such a small box space. Of course, the main purpose of a microwave oven is still to heat food. And it is efficient in doing so because the expected taste is not reduced even after use, and the expected texture is also achieved with the right temperature and timing.

A microwave oven is an excellent choice for quickly reheating leftovers or serving fresh popcorn for movie night. But it can also be used for baking, grilling, boiling, steaming, and even roasting.

Last Words

There you have it. Your kitchen essentials list, equipment to keep on hand at all times, and tools to help you store and organize your leftover meals.

If you are thinking of buying kitchen countertops, find out the main used types first to make the process easy for you.

Continue Reading

Kitchen

What are Floating Kitchen Cabinets? Complete guide to Floating Cabinets!

Now the trend of floating kitchen cabinets increases every day? You may notice that the old kitchen had shelves and did not introduce the cabinets. The direction of installing floating cabinets is new.

Everyone wants to know what floating kitchen cabinets are and how they provide more benefits than traditional choices. 

Therefore here we came with the complete guide about floating cabinets. 

Floating Kitchen Cabinets

The floating kitchen cabinets are more stylish and break from monotony to regular ones. Traditionally the cabins are below the shelves. 

The floating cabinets hang on the wall with structural security. It gives an aesthetic look to the kitchen according to the color combination of the kitchen interior. When you install the floating cabinets, it provides a more spacious look to the floor.

Moreover, it gives a three-dimensional look to your kitchen along with more space. You can secure a wide variety of items in floating cabinets instead of keeping them on the shelves.

The floating cabinets give a modern way to install various themes and stay consistent.

Why you need to install the Floating Kitchen Cabinets?

There are many reasons to install floating cabinets. Here we will share some of them that also help us understand it. 

Lots of Storage

The floating kitchen cabinet offers a lot of additional storage space. It gives a new and trendy look to the kitchen and provides a tremendous amount of space.

In addition, you can install different types of floating cabinets, including racks for holding glasses or plates, separate box cabins, and many more.

You can store the special crockery in floating cabinets with additional protection. However, floating cabinets are the perfect option if you need storage in your kitchen.

You can also use the floating cabinet doors for decoration purposes. It comes with plenty of choices in color, size, and doors.

Get a put-together look

It is another excellent reason to install floating kitchen cabinets. You can get a cohesive look according to your choice.

If you feel that your kitchen is messy, install the floating cabinets with more solid doors. It gives a way to break the traditional look as you can choose the clear glass doors instead of the wood and its similar shades.

Moreover, the cabinet with the increased height, double doors, extend more towards the ceiling, stacked with the modeling details, and some more are incredible choices to give a solid look.

All these choices depend on your kitchen interior. Besides these, it is a way to get a close look at more storage and interior options in your kitchen.

white floating kitchen cabinets with steel stools in front of the brown countertop

Hide the clutter

The floating kitchen cabinets are a key to hide the clutter. We all have a lot of things in the kitchen that make an incredible mess if not stored properly. Some of these things are essential, and others are just clutter. But still, we want to secure them for later use. 

So the kitchen floating cabinets give the best solution to get a clean look. When you have the cabinets in your kitchen, you can store and maintain every item in its place. 

Take a moment and think of all the disorganized dishes coffee cups on your kitchen shelf. It is a scary sight, but I also didn’t find time to sort them.

Thus, the kitchen floating cabinets hide all these clutters unless you have the time to organize them. 

Affordable

Do you ever compare the cost of floating cabinets and installing the new shelves or countertop? The price of installing a new countertop depending upon the material is way more than the floating cabinets. The average cost for the kitchen floating cabinets depends on their sizes and material.

However, the average price is around $6000 for installing the new floating cabinets. Whereas you need to have considerable space for the new shelves for countertops, it is also a bit pricey. 

The kitchen floating cabinets are also expensive, but they give your money the perfect worth. You don’t need to get the additional accessories for maintaining the storage requirement in the kitchen.

Easy to maintain

It is easy to maintain the kitchen with floating cabinets. Once you install it and set all the necessary items, it needs cleaning after months. You can sort them according to your time feasibility.

Moreover, it also requires less time to maintain as you can do it one by one. The best way to keep them clean is by using mild soap and warm water once every six months. 

white floating kitchen cabinet with black handles

Pros of floating kitchen cabinets

Here are some essential benefits or pros to having floating kitchen cabinets in your kitchen. 

  • Perfect for enhancing the look of your kitchen interior
  • Creates the ideal focal points when you enter the space
  • Quickly change the decor according to season demands
  • Complement the backsplash and help to stand out nicely
  • Provide incredible storage space
  • Help to organize the kitchen in better ways
  • Create the perfect look according to trend
  • Make the kitchen more aesthetic

Cons of floating kitchen cabinets

Every great thing also has some drawbacks. Similarly, floating kitchen cabinets have some cons that you should know. 

  • Require the professional labor to install it
  • Needs the significant wall space
  • Depend on the metal frame or other security support. 
grey floating kitchen cabinets with green neon light below

Final words

There are many reasons to install floating kitchen cabinets. You also understand floating kitchen cabinets through this guide if you are new to it.

The floating cabinets hang with the kitchen wall and give additional space to store and maintain the essential items.

You can double your kitchen space by utilizing the walls and organizing your kitchen in better ways. The kitchen is the central part of every place like house and office so it should be in proper condition. 

We hope this guide helps you answer your doubts in the best ways.

Continue Reading