6 Novel Houseplants That Are Edible
As many people are looking for different ways to save money and stay healthy why not consider growing some different plants indoors. Houseplants do not always need to be the decorative ones you see in magazines. There are actually plants you can grow indoors that are edible.
Here are six edible houseplants to consider:
Chives - Chives are actually members of the Lily family and are extremely versatile. They are equally at home in an herb kitchen garden container as they are as a perennial edging plant. The flowers are as tasty as they are beautiful and are an often overlooked addition to salads and soups. The more you harvest the more chives you seem to get and they can be stored for the winter by chopping the leaves and freezing them in ice cube trays. Even better…try growing some on a sunny windowsill in the winter for fresh chives all year round!
Ginger – Ginger has grown in popularity in recent years because people want to use fresh ginger in their recipes for flavor and health benefits. It is a tropical perennial plant that can be grown indoors all year round. You can get a ginger root in your local grocery store. The root is actually a rhizome. Look for a plump, smooth-skinned root, not one that is shriveled (which means it is not healthy). Ginger can be used in many main courses and dessert recipes. It can also be added to smoothies and other drinks. To grow ginger you will need sunlight, a warm humid environment, and rich, moist soil. Ways to keep a humid environment include misting the plant regularly or place your pot on a tray of small stones. As it grows, more rhizomes will form allowing you to harvest more ginger.
Microgreens – Microgreens are young vegetable greens and are approximately 1 to 3 inches tall. They fall between a sprout and a baby green. Sprouts do not have leaves. They are easy and fast-growing plants. There are many different varieties of microgreens and they have different tastes from mild to spicy. From start to finish, they should take about 3 weeks to grow. You can get seeds or grow kits to get started. When using seeds after they are planted, cover the containers with a lightweight sheet of plastic to create a humid environment, and promote germination.
Spearmint - Also commonly referred to just as “Mint” this plant is a staple of most herb gardens. It can be used fresh or dried and can be used in salads, desserts, or even steeped as a tea. Most mint varieties thrive in full sun or partial shade with rich, moist soil. Mint is a vigorous grower so it is a great candidate to plant in a container indoors. Mint can grow up to 2 feet tall and is easily rejuvenated if it starts to look ragged. Just cut it back and new growth will quickly appear.
Rosemary - Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb that is native to the Mediterranean. It has needle-like leaves that produce blue, pink, purple, or white flowers. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs. This herb is hardy and does well in cool climates. It can withstand drought for a period of time. While the plant is difficult to grow from seeds and can have a slow growth rate, there are Rosemary plants that can live 30 years old. The plant normally flowers in spring and summer in temperate climates. In warmer climates, it can constantly bloom. After the plant flowers, trim the plant. Rosemary is often used for seasoning poultry, lamb, stews, and soups. Rosemary does best when it receives full sun and well-drained soil. The plant does not grow well if it is constantly wet. Be sure to give the plant enough room to grow. Snip off the plant stems for fresh Rosemary or hang it in the kitchen for dried Rosemary.
Salad Greens – Salad greens are a mix of different lettuces and they are fast-growing and have essential vitamins, as well as folate and iron. It is easiest to grow loose-leaf varieties indoors. Try looking for seeds that have a mix of lettuces. Head lettuces are difficult to grow indoors. You can grow them from seeds or get a starter or grow kit. Plant them in a container with drainage holes and water it often. You will need a sunny location or windowsill to grow salad greens. If you don’t have a sunny location, try using a grow light. When the leaves are ready to eat, just pull outside leaves to harvest them, leaving some so they can keep growing.
