As cooler temperatures and shorter days begin to set in, you don’t have to throw your herb growing to the side. In fact, there are 5 winter herbs that you should consider growing and eating this winter.
With just a few supplies and resources, you’ll have a nourishing indoor herb garden that will be nothing short of beneficial for your help and your environment.
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Benefits of Using Herbs
Taken primarily from the leaf part of the plant, herbs are most commonly known and used for cooking. Depending on the type of herb used, you can add a variety of tastes of colors to dishes and beverages. Some people even master making tonics, tinctures, health remedies, and rubs. Be sure to check out seven medicinal herbs to grow indoors.
Regardless of the route you choose to take, there are several key benefits of using herbs.
Although each individual herb is packed with its own health perks, there are some common threads that can be found in most of them, including:
- Managing (or preventing) serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
- Possibly reducing blood clots.
- Providing anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.
- Helping regular cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
When it comes to fresh versus dried, fresh is always the way to go because of their increased antioxidant levels and health-packing benefits being preserved. Just to give you a quick tip: when using fresh herbs in cooking, add them at the end to preserve some of their healthy goodness.
Now that you know just a few benefits of using herbs, let’s look at the top five to consider growing (and eating) this winter.
5 Herbs to Grow (and Eat) This Winter
When talking about growing herbs in the winter, it’s best if you can grow them indoors. This will help dodge any freezing temperatures or other winter related weather that could hinder your herb’s ability to grow. A few key supplies you’ll want to get are:
- The right kind of herbs, especially the ones mentioned below (I highly recommend the Apothecary Shoppe!)
- Containers with good drainage.
- A spot exposed to great sunlight.
- Water (but not too much).
You can also get a bit fancy with it and create window-seal herb gardens, use wall planters, or convert an old pallet into a ground-up herbal station – all indoors! Once you have your containers and spot for growing cleared out, you’ll want to make sure to have the best and most beneficial herbs for your lifestyle. Below are five that I recommend trying.
Basil
This is considered one of the most popular herbs in the world, and rightfully so. It’s rich in vitamins A and K, as well as potassium and calcium. You can use this herb in a variety of ways from creating pestos and sauces to adding it to meat rubs and salads. Basil is also known to help with reducing inflammation and decrease symptoms of arthritis, thanks to its anti-oxidant and antibacterial properties.
Mint
Ever heard the saying, “It grows like a weed!”? For mint, the same is true, which is actually a good thing. It’s known to take over wherever it is planted so be sure to give this herb its own space, better yet, its own container. Mint is quite like thyme, strong and resilient, making it the perfect herb to grow through the winter. Have an upset tummy? Well, mint may be able to help with digestive upset. It is also packed with lots of vitamin C and iron, so adding it to beverages, desserts, and vegetable dishes is a plus.
Thyme
Looking for a low-maintenance herb? Thyme is your go-to guy. This herb has little growth, but when used properly, you will enjoy its lemony under tones making it a perfect addition to meat-based recipes. It also has properties that help decrease inflammation. Learn how to make your own thyme infused oil here.
Rosemary
Being a perennial herb, rosemary can stand the test of any temperature, even the coldest ones. Not only does this herb add a nice flavor and scent to meats (especially lamb and beef), but when infused into an oil, it is known to help with digestive issues, migraines, and support memory loss.
Parsley
If grown outdoors, parsley is still considered pretty resilient, although it will typically take shelter under ground. However, when growing them indoors throughout the winter, you’ll find that it grows fairly easily and quickly. Thanks to its self-seeding attributes, you don’t have to worry about planting much. In addition to adding a nice flavor to dishes, parsley is known to help support bone health, heart health, and protect your eyes.
Although I’ve given you my top five herbs to consider growing this winter, don’t feel overwhelmed with trying to start with all of them. Better yet, choose one and start from there. Once you get the hang of growing and using one, add another. Get used to growing it, using it and keeping it thriving. Before you know it, you’ll have an awesome indoor herb garden and the benefits to go with it!
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The contents of this article, made available via The Mind Body Design (Holistic Fit LLC), are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The Content presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information provided by The Mind Body Design (Holistic Fit LLC). Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk. And, of course, never use an herb or essential oil without first reading the label, doing your research, or checking with a local expert.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30651162/
https://food.allwomenstalk.com/health-benefits-of-eating-fresh-herbs/
