Kitchen herbs from the supermarket or discounters do not keep for long. They were bred to be quickly processed and consumed in the kitchen. But you can also enjoy herbs from the pot for a long time if you pay attention to a few things.
Note when shopping
Regardless of how long you plan to enjoy the herbs you have purchased, there are some basic things to consider before making your purchase.
freshness
Take a close look at the herbs in the pot and reconsider your purchase at:
- Herbs that no longer look green and fresh
- have wilted or drooping leaves
Quality
- an organic seal can indicate good quality
- Is the soil still damp without having mold?
Location
Especially in the cold season you should keep your hands off herbs from the entrance area. At this Location the plants experience a permanent alternation of cold and warm, which the herbs do not tolerate well in the long run.
transport
The transport should be made from the place of purchase to your home as soon as possible. Do not leave the herbs in the frosty cold or summer hot car for long.
Potted herbs have a long life
The first step in order to have some herbs from the pot in the long term is to separate them. For reasons of space and for the optics, herbs are planted very close together in the pot. However, this poses a problem because the plants need space to grow. For a better development of the herbs, it is sufficient to separate them into several pots. To do this, take the purchased herbs out of the pot and try to carefully divide the root ball with the individual plants. Fill two or three flower pots with herb soil and replant the divided herbs.
location claims
Kitchen herbs should also be practical in the kitchen. However, there are also some dangers lurking here. Herbs like it on the windowsill standing in the sun or semi-shade, but there is also a risk of draughts. It often gets too warm or even too hot right next to the stove. So watch out for grease splashing pans and hot steam.
In addition to the location, are also the Plant neighbors important for the herbs. There is a long life with the right neighbors, but not with the wrong ones.
Off to the bed?
Planting out is also a good way to give the herbs more space to grow. If the temperature no longer falls below 8 degrees Celsius, herbs can also be planted outdoors. It doesn't always have to be the garden. A plant pot on the balcony or a flower box on the window sill make it possible to always have your own herb garden at hand.
Tip:Hardy herbs, such as curry or marjoram are perennial and can therefore be harvested every year. They therefore form a solid basis for your own herb garden.
Herb care tips
To keep the herbs out of the pot for a long time, you should consider the requirements of the different herbs.
| Herbs | Location | substrate | Pour |
|---|---|---|---|
| basil | sunny, warm, sheltered from the wind | loose, water permeable | watering from below requires a lot of water |
| tarragon | warm, sunny to semi-shady | sandy, dry, rich in humus | keep moist continuously, water from below |
| marjoram | sunny | light, well drained, nutritious | water sparingly, avoid waterlogging |
| rosemary | sunny, warm, sheltered from the wind | permeable, low in humus, mineral | Water regularly with calcareous water, avoid waterlogging |
| sage | sunny | lean, calcareous, high proportion of sand | Water moderately, avoid waterlogging |
collect seeds
Even if the herbs themselves may not have eternal life, you can also obtain seeds from many kitchen herbs. This won Seeds can be sown again and so the cycle can begin.
The classic example is chives. If you make it to the flower here, you can get seeds very easily. But chives also like to sow themselves.