Follow these Secret Tips for Growing Most Fragrant Herbs to make your cuisines taste more flavorful, aromatic, and delectable!
In this article, we have some Secret Tips for Growing Most Fragrant Herbs that will help you have an abundant and sweet-smelling supply!
Have a look at the most exotic herbs here
Secret Tips for Growing Most Fragrant Herbs
1. Do Less Watering
Water the herbs less and only reach for the can when you feel the topsoil is dry to touch. The herbs become more fragrant when the oil content is high, and it happens with less watering. If the soil constantly stays moist, it will decrease the oil content of the herb.
2. Provide Enough Space to Spread
Most herb varieties do well in small containers until they become pot-bound. But, surviving and flourishing are two different aspects. Provide your herbs with enough space. Adequate space gives good air circulation that will ultimately result in better growth and fragrance.
3. Pick Herbs Just Before Flowering
Harvest herbs before they flower. If not, the foliage growth will decline, and the leaves will also lose their flavor or become bitter. Also, pick the leaves when they are tender as they have the highest concentration of oil, which adds to the taste and fragrance.
4. Harvest in Morning
Harvesting herbs during the morning when the dew dries is best for flavor and aroma. As the oil content is generally on the higher side at dawn in the leaves, you will get the best fragrance!
5. Start with Good Quality Herbs
The fragrance depends a lot on the seed quality. Also, the plant’s health from which you have taken cuttings is important for the right aroma and flavor while propagating. The variety and type of the herb you are going to grow is also an important concern; e.g., flat-leaf parsley is more aromatic, whereas curly-leaf parsley is less fragrant, so choose wisely.
Biennial and annual herbs like dill, cilantro, and parsley grow well from seeds. Rosemary, spearmint, basil, and peppermints do well when grown from cuttings.
6. Choose the Location Wisely
Location plays an important role in making your herbs healthy and fragrant. The plant must get plenty of light, specifically the morning sun, as it plays an important role in keeping the plant lush and smell good!
7. Fertilize with Less-Nitrogen Content
Generally, herbs do not require much fertilizing. The extra application can result in excessive leaf growth, less flavor, and fragrance. Instead of using high nitrogen fertilizer, use a balanced feed. Refer to the label for dosage and application instructions.
8. Harvest Regularly
Herbs become bushier and more fragrant with regular harvest as new growth emerges from the nodes. When tips are pinched, herbs like mints and basil forward two new branches in opposite directions.
Remember, the more you are going to harvest, the more herbs will keep on growing! Just make sure you are not harvesting more than 30-35% of the plant at a time.
9. Protect from Heat
Most herbs like sunlight but avoid exposing them to harsh afternoon sun. If you have kept them on a south-facing window, protect the plants by putting a curtain, or you can simply change their position.
Some herbs also tend to bolt in excessive heat exposure, which spoils the taste and flavor of the plant.
10. Give Occasional Pruning
Along with frequent harvest, thorough pruning maintains the fullness, fragrance, and vitality of the herbs. Use a pair of pruning shears and cut down one-third of the top growth once a month.
