Grow Herbs at Home: Medical and Commercial Use

Besides the usual self-consumption, herbs can also be cultivated commercially! It’s not just for their culinary and medicinal benefits either. These plants are really helpful crops for a market demand that’s particularly high. Thankfully, the cultivation area necessary for growing spices and herbs is not that big.

Read on to learn more about common spices and herbs you can grow from your kitchen:

Mint (Mentha)

Mint is mostly known for use in the culinary sense, but it also has medicinal advantages. It’s credited with being helpful to lower anxiety and stress.

Varieties of mint include the likes of:

Chocolate mint (Mentha X piperita)
Lemon mint (Monarda citriodora)
Peppermint
Spearmint (Mantha spicata)

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Seeds are the only way for this Mediterranean herb to propagate. Their cuttings do not allow for regrowing. They develop well through consistent harvesting and pruning. It is an herb that grows vertically.

More often than not, it’s used for culinary purposes as garnish. It’s a great way to add color to a dish that may be monochromatic. Flat-leaf parsley in particular is ideal in dishes like pasta.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Rosemary is usually used for roasting chicken and for other dishes that call for its use, and it is good for improving one’s memory, reducing stress, and can help improve the quality of the air.

When it grows, it can be anywhere from one to two meters. It propagates through cuttings, though seeds can also be used. That said, stem cuttings are the better way of getting it done. Especially since they’re far easier to come by than seeds proper.

The herb has to be put in a partially shady area and should be watered every other day. Synthetic fertilizers should not be applied to rosemary or any other herb. Natural fertilizer that’s based in animal manure will be far more helpful.

Be wary of black mite attacks and address them immediately. Otherwise, the plant will end up damaged overall.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme is a Mediterranean herb that often tends to be in tandem with rosemary. They’re a popular duo for dishes that involve meat and vegetables alike. Savory dishes get a particular boost from them. Aside from all that, thyme in particular comes with a number of health benefits:

Aids to address cough
Boosts immunity
Brings down high blood pressure
Helps to fight off a sore throat

It must be placed in a wide area or container, because it grows horizontally. Crowding from an area or pot that doesn’t fit it well will end up stunting growth. Watering should be done every day; they need to be in the sun at all times.

Some people opt for just sowing them in the ground, giving the thyme ultimate room for growth.

Conclusion

There are a number of herbs that can be grown from home. Aside from using them for culinary purposes as ingredients or garnish, they can also bring on a number of medicinal benefits. It’s also possible to grow them for commercial purposes.

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