Top 10 Edible Plants You Should be Growing in Your Garden
March 15, 2021Having a kitchen garden at home, filled with herbs and spices, is every gardener’s dream. Plants not only serve as a source of fresh air and aesthetic appeal, but they also come in a variety of edible forms that can add a touch of deliciousness to your dishes without much work.
Nurserylive brings you a range of edible plants to grow at home, which you can directly use in food or consume as whole. These edible plants come in both organic and non-organic variants. Shop online for top quality, healthy edible plants as per your liking and make your garden lively.
Let us look at the top 10 edible plants that you can begin with.
1. Pep-up Your Home with Peppermint Plant (Mentha Piperita)
Buy Pepper Mint - Plant
Peppermint Plant (Mentha Piperita) is an indigenous plant from the West, but nowadays it can be grown anywhere as it is an adaptive plant. The plant requires to be watered adequately every day in order for it to grow healthily.
A little sun will do, but peppermint plants cannot tolerate dry conditions. The plant has a very strong aroma and is used for a number of dishes and drinks in the Indian cuisine. It is very useful in curing indigestion, bloating in the stomach, cold flu, blood pressure, etc.
2. The Sacred Krishna Tulsi Plant, Holy Basil (Ocimum Tenuiflorum)
Krishna Tulsi plant is one of the most worshipped plants in India. It holds a deep significance in the Hindu mythology and is believed to be a form of Hindu god Lord Krishna’s wife.
The tulsi plant can be geen leaved or purple leaved. It has various medicinal properties. It can cure cough and cold, asthma, cholesterol, digestion, etc. Tulsi is used in several summer drinks as well as incorporated in several ayurvedic medicinal syrups.
People use almost all the parts of this plant like leaves, roots, and seeds for different medicinal purposes.
3. Light and Lovely Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus)
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Lemongrass is an ornamental grass that requires full sun, rich and loamy soil, neutral pH, and moist roots. It can grow as tall as 2-4 feet and is used as a brilliant taste enhancer in multiple cuisines. It is extensively used in Thai cuisine, stir-fries, and teas.
Lemongrass is also used in soups and toiletries. Due to its citric properties, lemongrass leaves can also be used to make a bug repellent spray at home.
4. The Serene Sabja Plant, Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
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Sabja plants can be easily grown anywhere in India with almost no care. Seeds of this plant are rich in fibre and nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and iron. It also controls the sugar level in the blood. Sweet Basil is widely used as a salad dresser and in ice creams.
It is a type of annual herb that requires moderate climatic conditions. It grows best in spring and summer with full sun, average watering, and well-drained soil. The leaves of the plant are sweet, aromatic, warming, and pungent. It is used as a garnish in several food preparations.
5. Good Old Giloy Plant, Heart-leaved Moonseed (Tinospora Cordifolia)
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Giloy, also known as Guduchi and Moonseed, grows best in the areas of bright sunlight and medium rainfall. This plant is drought resistant and does not require much watering and can even die in case of excess water supply.
With very low maintenance features, it has various household uses and is rich in medicinal value. It is considered as a wonder plant when it comes to its medicinal properties. For example, giloy juice is one of the best ways to improve your immunity and takes care of conditions like fever, anaemia, urinary tract disorders, diabetes, etc.
6. Spice Up Your Vegetable Garden with Curry Leaves/Kadi Patta (Murraya Koenigii)
Buy Kadi Patta - Meetha Neem
Also called Meetha Neem, curry leaves are one of the most commonly grown household edible plants. One of the key ingredients in tempering, curry leaves are used to enrich the flavour of several Indian dishes like dal, sambhar, khaman, etc. It is known to be rich in iron and folic acid, which is also good for the skin.
7. Who Can Say No to Cloves (Syzygium Aromaticum)?
Buy Cloves Plant
Clove plants need a tropical climate with rich and loamy soil. It is one of the most prominent spices of the Indian household. Oil produced using clove is very good for teeth. It is used to add taste to Indian food.
Cloves also have various medicinal properties. It is packed with antioxidants, so having them in tea is a great way to detox your body. It is an antiseptic, so applying it in paste can have miraculous effects on the skin.
Adding cloves to your regular dishes can be beneficial for a person’s health as it has anti-inflammatory properties which can work wonders for your gut’s health.
8. Time to Think of Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
Thyme is known for its elegance and grace. There are more than 50 varieties of thyme, each with different fragrance and properties.Packed with aromatic flavours, thyme works as a brilliant ingredient when it comes to roasted meat, rice or fish.
Thyme is a perennial by its nature. It can be consumed fresh or dried. The earthy taste of the herb works as a great seasoning for soups, vegetables and stews.
Further, it is also known for its medicinal value as it can be used for cough, stomach issues, sore throat, etc. Thyme oil can also be used as an antiseptic.
9. Make Your Nursery Merry with Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)
Buy Rosemary - Plant
The Rosemary plant is a small evergreen plant that belongs to the mint family. It is used in the kitchen to give different flavours to food. It has a pungent, slightly bitter taste and is used as a seasoning for a variety of dishes, especially Italian.
This plant can be grown in the presence of the full sun, sandy soil, and a pH of 5.0 to 8.0. Its different flower colours like white, pink, blue add to the aesthetic of the area.
10. After Dinner Mandate - Betel (Piper Betel)
Buy Piper Betel - Plant
Popularly known as Maghai Paan, it is a heart-shaped plant that is enormously consumed by Indians. It is a creeper that grows easily, and its growth can be increased by stem cutting. It will beautify your house walls, while adding healthy food habits to your lifestyle. Paan is known for various nutrients, and it cools your body.
Betel leaves with chopped areca and slaked lime has been an important after-meal mouth freshener in Indian culture since long. It is also used in various Indian hindu households for religious rituals.
Some take planting as a hobby and others as a part of the home chore. Whatever the reason behind it, the fact of the matter is edible plants give you enormous value in terms of taste enhancer, decorator, and medical purposes, all in one.
Start your edible plant gardening today with these plants. Visit Nurserlive’s website to pick your favourites. Read more such articles to know about the most useful plants for your gardens.