Growing indoor plants is a fantastic way to make your home look and smell great. Choosing the right plants can even play a functional role by giving you everything you need to cook and bake incredible dishes. By maintaining these plants indoors, you can have access to fresh herbs year-round.
Here are some of the best plants to grow indoors to use for cooking.
Lemon Mint
Lemon mint is a fragrant herb that has a variety of medicinal and culinary properties. You can use this herb to make tea, add it to savory meat dishes, or brighten baked goods. You can also add this plant to your list of seed needs if you want to take your mojito mixing skills to the next level.
Grow this low-maintenance plant in a Mason jar or terra cotta pot in your kitchen for easy access. Water infrequently and trim as needed to make the most of this fantastic culinary plant.
Marigolds
Marigolds are known for their bright blooms and interesting fragrance. These low-maintenance annuals thrive indoors, especially when placed in a sunny window. They’re easy to grow from seed and can be used in a variety of savory dishes, from fresh salads to creamy pasta. These blooms add a mild citrus, spicy flavor to any dish.
Keep your marigolds at a consistent temperature, avoiding drafts and vents. Water under the leaves, letting the soil dry completely in between soakings. Consider deadheading your blooms to promote new growth and enhance the lifespan of this plant. You can also harvest the seeds from dried blooms to replant and start the process over again.
Lavender
Lavender is another floral plant that has medicinal and culinary properties. This plant performs best in baked goods, paired with citrus and vanilla. Add lavender to cookies, cakes, and muffins for a mild floral taste. You can easily dry lavender blooms to use in cooking, but note that dried blooms have a more robust flavor than fresh.
To grow lavender indoors, you’ll need a bright, sunny window for your plant to get the love it needs. Water under the roots and use quick-drying soil to prevent root rot. Consider using the Lady lavender variety for culinary purposes.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the easiest plants to maintain indoors and can be used in everything from Asian-inspired dishes to baked goods. Not only is this plant easy to maintain indoors, but you can also trigger perpetual growth for an endless supply.
For this project, you’ll need a piece of organic (untreated) ginger root from the local grocery store. Cut the ginger into pieces with buds, and place them in a clear container with the lid unsealed overhead to promote growth. You can also use a plastic sandwich bag.
Once your ginger has sprouts plant it in a container using a rich potting soil and allowing for ample drainage. The sprouts will grow into bamboo-like stalks with pointy leaves. Keep these trimmed until you harvest your root for cooking.
Chives
Chives are a must-have culinary herb that’s almost too easy to grow indoors. A member of the onion family, this fragrant grass loves a warm, sunny window to thrive. Use chives in soups, salads, meat dishes, and dips for a pop of flavor.
Plant your chives in a pot with ample drainage and remember to water them frequently. Trim the chives back as needed, storing them on a damp paper towel in the fridge. Keep cutting them back and store the excess in the freezer using olive oil or a vacuum sealer.
These five plants are must-haves when creating an indoor culinary garden. You’ll love the vibrant shades of color and heavenly aromas you experience when you walk into the kitchen from now on.
