What you should not do without: herbs on the balcony. The spice plants not only bring flavor to food, they are also great medicinal plants. These are our top 6.
Your sugo lacks the final touch? The dessert is somehow bland? And even the normal tap water doesn't knock your socks off? Before you panic, grab a pair of scissors and get some fresh herbs from your balcony. They turn every dish into a taste experience.
But the little green leaves don't just add good taste to our food. They also spice up our food and drinks visually.
And: Herbs can do much more. The plants are full of vitamins and important nutrients.
And the best part is that you can grow herbs on your balcony. We have created a small WE GO WILD herb garden. That way, every dish tastes worlds better. Which are our favorites and which herbs you should not do without, we tell you here.
Table of contents
Growing herbs on the balcony
Before you start planning, you need to find out the location of your balcony. How much Sun and light is there on your balcony? Is it very bright or rather dark?
Balconies, which are quite classic in the South are oriented, promise the most sun. Provided it is not obscured by trees or other buildings.
If you grow herbs on the south balcony, you have a lot of light. But at the same time in the summer a lot Heat. This means watering and fertilizing a lot and often. Ideally, you have a few shady spots on the balcony. In too much heat, your little kitchen helpers can quickly become burn.
The stark opposite of the sunny and bright south-facing balcony is the balcony with North orientation. But just because you have little sun, you do not have to give up herbs. If you have a north-facing balcony, it is best to water early in the morning. This way the soil is not too wet during the night. Many herbs would not forgive waterlogging.
Balconies leading to the West or east side show are ideal for a small bed of herbs. Those who have a west-facing balcony, will be pleased with sunlight in the afternoon and evening. The shade-sun ratio is ideal for herbs.
Planters and soil for herbs on the balcony
You should say goodbye to small flower boxes with a depth of a few centimeters right away. To thrive well, most herbs on the balcony need much and above all good earth.
Herbs like dill and lovage love it when the soil is deep. In shallow pots they are difficult to grow and become very puny.
For the earth you best reach for Herbal soil. They are mostly peat-free and contain all the essential nutrients your plants need.
We are lucky that our balcony is equipped with a flower bed. So out with the old soil and in with the herb soil.
And if you water diligently, you'll soon have lots of fresh balcony herbs that you probably won't be able to eat them all. What you can make from them is delicious Herbal salt.
These herbs should not be missing on any balcony:
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Basil on the balcony
Basil is indispensable in Mediterranean cuisine. The little tidbit Loves sun and light. The more rays of sunlight the green leaves get, the aromatic they become. The tips of the shoots should be cut off regularly - so the basil will be beautiful bushy.
When you buy the plant, you should divide the balls. Then always put 2-3 plants together. This is the best way for the basil to thrive. In the fall you have to say goodbye to your plant. Basil tolerates no cold temperatures. If the thermometer falls below 5 ° Celsius, the leaves turn yellow and the plant gives up the ghost.
Basil as a spice and medicinal plant
The Mediterranean herb contains many trace elements, minerals and vitamins. You can find in it calcium, iron, manganese, copper and vitamins K and C.
Basil is none typical Medicinal plant. Its healing properties are not very strong. Nevertheless, the leaves are used in folk medicine for stress, inflammation, digestive problems, stomach problems, insomnia, migraine, Period pain, sore throat, skin diseases and joint pain to use.
The healing effect comes from the essential oils of the basil. You will find linalool, citral and eugenol in it. These oils act anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and allegedly even anti-cancer.Basil in the kitchen
For use on pizza, pasta and the like, you should not only harvest individual leaves, but shoots. The best time for harvesting is when you wait until shortly before flowering. Scatter the fresh leaves over your food. If you cook the basil, it will lose its flavor.
Basil leaves are difficult to dry. In the dry state they lose their aroma. Much better they are in the Freezer lifted. Here best unchopped as individual leaves. -
Chives on the balcony
A soup without chives tastes only half as good. The green stalks can also simply be put on a sandwich. Add a little salt and you have a healthy snack.
Chives love it sunny. But he also tolerates Penumbra provided that he can catch a few rays of sunshine there. Chives are very easy to care for and the ideal herb for beginners. The slightly pungent herb comes with Any floor manage - just make sure that it is not too wet or dry. In autumn and winter, the green stalks die. If the temperature does not fall below -25° Celsius, you can enjoy fresh chives next spring.
In early summer, when it's particularly aromatic, you can cut it all off and freeze. It will sprout again within a few days. So you also have later in the fall and winter what of your herbs on the balcony.Chives as a medicinal and spice plant
The green stalks have many valuable vitamins and minerals. You can find in it vitamins A, C, K, B, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
Chives are also said to have healing properties. It helps against: Spring fatigue, flatulence, Cough, gout, high blood pressure and Mageproblems. Chives have an appetizing, diuretic and expectorant effect.Chives in the kitchen
Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Chives go great with soups, salads, egg dishes, cottage cheese, sauces or simply with a little salt on buttered bread. It is best enjoyed fresh. But also frozen chives do not lose their flavor. However, when dried, it quickly becomes boring. It also loses its visual appeal.
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Lovage on the balcony
If you grow herbs on the balcony, be sure to leave room for lovage. The aromatic soup herb tastes similar to celery and is Very spicy. The herb loves nutrient-rich soil. Lovage is also called Maggi herb and needs the opportunity to develop Into the depths to be able to spread. In a small pot delicious herb will not be happy.
Lovage is hardy and in the spring of one of the first herbs peeking out of the ground. Maggiweed loves full sun or very bright partial shade.
Lovage as a medicinal plantIn the past, lovage was considered a love plant. It was thought that the magical herb led to unchaste desires.
Lovage contains many essential oils, vitamin B, C, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium.
The roots and seeds of lovage can be used to make teas and tinctures that can be used for Digestive problems such as flatulence and constipation help. Preparations with Maggi herb are said to strengthen the digestive organs, diuretic act and boost the metabolism. Lovage extracts are also found in many remedies for menstrual pain. The herb acts here antispasmodic.Lovage in the kitchen
The spicy aroma of Maggi herb goes well with soups, sauces and salads. It can also be used for vegetable, meat and fish dishes. Harvest lovage Before he at bloom begins. It can become bitter after that. If you dry it, it loses much of its flavor. The best way to eat it is fresh or freeze just put it in.
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Parsley on the balcony
Parsley is probably the best known herb. It is most often used in German and Austrian cuisine. This is due to the fact that they easy to grow is and grows without problems even on the balcony.
Curly or smooth - the choice is yours. The smooth leaves are a little more intense flavor. The crinkled ones look better visually. Parsley grows from spring to late autumn.
Parsley thrives best in semi-shaded position. Full sun can burn the leaves. Parsley needs a lot of water. With a little luck, the plant will sprout again after the winter.Parsley as a medicinal plant
Hardly any other fruit, vegetable or herb is so rich in Vitamin C. A federation has 4x as much vitamin C like half a kilogram Oranges. Fresh parsley also contains a lot of vitamin E and A. This supports the immune system and protects against cell aging. In addition, the parsley contains iron and calcium. Parsley is digestive and diuretic.
Parsley in the kitchen
Parsley is a biennial plant. In the second year it begins to bloom. It is best to harvest it until this time. During and after flowering, the taste of the herb changes. Then you can use the Roots harvest. Parsley roots can not be missing in any good soup mixture.
The herb is used fresh - uncooked - for sauces, meat, fish, pasta and potato dishes. In soups it is simply cooked along. Here, too, the herb tastes best fresh or frozen. -
Mint on the balcony
It can not be missing in refreshing drinks. The wonderfully aromatic and healthy plant peps up every drink visually. Mint contains a lot of Menthol, which leaves a pleasant kull feeling in the mouth. Around the globe, there are 20 different types of mint. This ranges from the classic peppermint to strawberry mint.
Attention: If you grow one of these herbs on the balcony, be sure to set up a root barrier or plant the mint in a separate pot. After all, there is hardly any plant that is so proliferates and multiplies as quickly as mint.Peppermint as a medicinal plant
Rightly, this herb is considered an all-rounder. It has antibacterial properties and stops the growth of bacteria. Especially for Stomach and intestinal problems is popular peppermint. Mint is also used respiratory diseases, helps against Headache and provides a fresh breath. In mint you will find and essential oil menthol. This oil acts antispasmodic, soothing and analgesic.
In mint are vitamins A, C, E and K. Also a lot of minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.Mint in the kitchen
In our country, it is mainly used in desserts, teas and drinks. In Asia, it also often ends up in curries, chutneys, meat and noodle or rice dishes.
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Chervil on the balcony
Our last of the must-have herbs on the balcony is chervil.
Chervil is often called a soup herb. This also reveals the most common use of the seasoning herb, which was already known to the ancient Romans and Greeks. Incidentally, the herb is one of the first fresh herbs at Spring.
Our fresh chervil, unfortunately, fell victim to the sun. Next time he gets a semi-shaded place. The sun burns the leaves of the spice herb.Chervil as a medicinal plant
Chervil herb is rarely mentioned as a medicinal plant. Yet he has it pretty much: chervil acts harn- and sweaty and can therefore support Diets come into play. Chervil is also expectorant and is used for fever and sleep disorders. Also detoxifies it stimulates the body, kidneys and liver, regulates digestion and dispels itching from fresh insect bites.
In chervil you will find a lot of magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc. The green leaves also contain vitamins B, C, E and K.Chervil in the kitchen
Chervil is a very popular culinary herb and is used especially in Soups and Sauces for use. The herb has a slightly peppery and very aromatic taste. It reminds a little of fennel. But chervil is also a great seasoning herb for refining cottage cheese, cream cheese and for Herb butter. Best to eat before flowering - because after that the leaves lose their flavor.
Tip: Try potatoes with chervil and salt. Tastes super delicious!
Our conclusion:
Go wild and just try out different herbs on the balcony. Hot, tart, spicy, sweet - there are no limits to the variety of flavors. Herbs not only embellish and refine our dishes, they are also true vitamin bombs.
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