The decoration and edible power of herbs
Some edible plants, such as herbs, have the great potential to be planted both outdoor and indoor. Having this in mind you can make a nice garden close to your kitchen and chop your herbs just a few minutes before you cook them. Also the location of any herbs planted indoors can create a beautiful decoration for your home and give a natural touch to your kitchen!
Today my friends I will talk about coriander and parsley. In the case of coriander there are several approaches and depending which part of the herb is used there are different health benefits. For example, studies done on mice have confirmed the potential of the coriander seeds in reducing high levels of cholesterol and blood sugar. The leaves –cilantro- have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which have been tested successfully to fight against Salmonella. Additionally, coriander is extremely rich in essential oils, and that is why it is used for rheumatic and arthritic problems, for good digestion and assists with mouth ulcers among many of its uses.
On the other hand, parsley is an amazing herb for digestion which according to studies in the past can possibly inhibit lung tumour formation, improve the quality of bones and teeth, help prevent cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, strokes and atherosclerosis because it is rich in myristicin, vitamins K, A, C B9 and minerals -such as, iron, phosphorus, sulphur and calcium. It is also rich in luteolin, an antioxidant that has the powerful proprieties of eliminating free radicals, avoiding oxidative stress in cells, stimulating carbohydrate metabolism and thereby serving as an anti-flammatory agent.
Herbs are the simplest plants to thrive
If you are delighted and fascinated with all the benefits that these two herbs contain why don’t you just sow them? Well, the most and common answer could be that I don’t have time nor space to do it. Well, for your information these two herbs can grow in any corner of your garden or just in a simple pot with soil. What is the trick you might say? Well, the trick is having a fertilised soil, like compost –never forget the high benefit of recycling your own organic waste- and keeping them well watered.
The seeds can be bought in any garden store. Under natural conditions the planting of these herbs are seasonal therefore, the best time of the year to sow is from March to April and from September to November. However, if you intend to have a nice indoor garden, you can sow the seeds at anytime of the year. That is an enormous advantage because you can have a supply throughout the whole year. If you decide to have an indoor garden you should plant the seeds in pots and settle them in a sunny spot. Although, they don’t need too much light to thrive, it is convenient to put your pot in a place where they can get enough morning sun and shade during the rest of the day.
The seeds must be sown under the soil no more than two centimetres. Also, it would be a good idea if you can soak the seeds in watered cotton wool for one day and then plant them to the final pot or garden. The harvest can be made between 30-45 days later; however, the great difference with vegetables is that you can cut off some branches of the herbs to be used for cooking, juice or for just plate decoration, without harming the rest of the plant.
As you might have guessed by now the growing of herbs is very simple. They don’t need special requirements and can give you some great health benefits so why don’t you enjoy this great hobby of gardening!
