Let those who claim not to have a green thumb reassure themselves. This fabled gift that gives people a magic touch with plants  doesn’t really exist! Everyone can grow aromatic plants in their garden, on their balcony, or on a windowsill… And it doesn’t require much effort. A few seeds, one or more pots, and regular watering are enough to start the seeds. So, what herbs should you grow in your kitchen without making a mess? What are the tips for taking care of them and, most importantly, keeping them alive? Shoelifer has selected 3 foolproof aromatic plants to grow at home, indoors, or outdoors !

Basil :

In the kitchen, basil is one of the essential, even classic, aromatic plants. There are more than a hundred varieties… Sun-loving, it grows well both indoors and outdoors, provided you have quality soil and water regularly. After about three weeks, you should see the first leaves emerge from the ground.

Key steps:

1. Fill the pot with soil.
2. Place clay balls at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
3. Plant the seeds with your hands, 1 cm deep, separating them by 3 cm across the surface of the pot.
4. Then cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
5. All that’s left is to wait for the first leaves to appear!  

Watering tip: during the entire “germination” period, daily watering with a fine spray is recommended. Another method: you can also place the pot on a container filled with water. Be careful not to saturate it with water to prevent the roots from rotting!

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Cilantro:

Coriander, or “Arab parsley,” is an annual aromatic plant that grows very well in a pot (between March and August). Its strong point? Cilantro  grows very fast. The first leaves appear only a month after the first sowing.

Key steps:

1. Fill the pot with soil.
2. Place clay balls at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
3. Place the seeds with your fingers, 1 cm deep, spacing them by 3 cm across the surface.
4. Then cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
5. Water regularly.

Location: coriander is a partial shade plant that needs partial sunlight and regular watering. Therefore, make sure to protect it from the sun.

Note: coriander can reach up to 1 m in height! When the first leaves appear, keep only a few seedlings in the pot and transplant the rest into the ground if you have a garden.

Sage:

This sun-loving aromatic plant is very low-maintenance. The most common is common sage, which, in addition to seasoning our dishes, has very decorative evergreen foliage! Sage’s germination time is about 3-4 weeks.

Key steps:

1. To sow your seeds, choose a pot that is neither too small nor too large (about 35 cm in diameter).
2. Place clay balls at the bottom of the pot for good drainage.
3. Fill the pot 90% with potting soil and 10% with regular soil.
4. Make a hole and then plant your sage plants (in seed pots).

Watering tip: sage is not water-hungry! So, be careful you don’t over-water it . The frequency depends on the sunlight or temperatures. There is no precise rule to follow.

Best location: full sun

Where to find your seeds? Among other places, on Jumia or the online seed store Plantopia.me, you will find an extremely varied catalog of aromatic plants, seeds, and seedlings to succeed in your mini garden.

Cultivated in pots (indoors), these aromatic plants grow all year round! You can also freeze them after washing, drying, and wiping them beforehand.”

Picture (c) : Elle