Window gardens are a great way to bring greenery into your home while utilizing the bright sunshine streaming in through your windows. If you just got new replacement windows for your San Jose, CA home, now is a great time to build a window garden as you can easily customize the sunlight. But where do you start? Use this list of delicious and easy herbs to inspire you to grow a wonderful window garden in your home.
- Chives – With their mild onion flavor, chives are a favored herb in many European cuisines. You can use chives in soups, salads, eggs, or even as a garnish. Just snip off the ends of the plant with scissors and leave at least two inches of growth to the plant can resprout. Chives love bright light, so plant them in a south-facing replacement window.
- Parsley – Most think of parsley as a garnish, but it’s actually a very flavorful herb that adds dimension and freshness to marinades, soups, salads, and sauces. Parsley does need intense light to grow, so place it in a bright window. Harvest individual parsley leaves as required by pinching stems off near the base.
- Oregano – A must-have herb for Italian, Mexican, Central American, and Middle Eastern cuisines, oregano is another excellent choice for your window garden. Since the dried leaves are more pungent and tastier than fresh, snip them off the stems and let them dry out before using. Keep the soil damp and in moderate to intense light.
- Chervil – Sometimes called French parsley, chervil is used in French cooking for its anise and parsley flavor that pairs well with eggs, fish, carrots, and potatoes. Trim off individual leaves for salads or dressings, or add them to a finished dish for a fresh, bright flavor. Chervil only needs moderate sun and low heat, so shady windows are best.
- Bay Laurel – Bay leaves are another common ingredient in many cuisines, from soups and stews of the Mediterranean to rice and curries from the East. Pick individual bay leaves as needed or harvest many from large plants and dry them out for long-term storage. Bay laurel plants do best in fast-draining soil with a bright west or east-facing window.
- Basil – Basil is a common herb used in dishes around the world, making it a versatile choice for any window garden. You can pinch off leaves for sauces, salads, or sandwiches or harvest a bunch to make your own pesto. Basil needs bright light and warmth to grow, so western or southern windows are best.
- Mint – Mint can be used in desserts, main dishes, teas, cocktails, and more, making it an easy choice for your window garden. Plus, there are many different varieties to choose from including peppermint, spearmint, chocolate, orange, apple, banana, and more. Mint plants are also very pretty with their trailing stems, so be sure to plant them in windows with moderate to strong light, so they grow.
These are just a few ideas for what you can plant in a window garden in your new replacement windows. Do you want more tips on window gardens or San Jose, CA replacement windows? We are here to help.
