13 spices to plant at home and give more flavor to your daily life

Do you dream of having a spice garden, but don't know which ones to plant or how to take care of? We have selected 13 spices to plant at home that will certainly change your performance in the kitchen, besides making your vegetable garden a charming one. Several herbs and plants live very well in pots and smaller spaces, being perfect to plant at home. Check them out:

13 spices to grow at home

Natural herbs and spices are not only healthier, but also much tastier than ready-made and ultra-processed spices! With the knowledge of which plants to grow and a little patience, you can create a spice garden at home without complication:

1. rosemary

Quite versatile and hardy, this herb of Mediterranean origin goes very well with lamb, fish, red sauce, bread and pasta, among others. It's a great spice to grow at home, because it also looks amazing. Keep your rosemary evergreen with these tips:

• Rosemary needs little water and a draining soil. Overwatering is the biggest cause of death to the plant!
• Being from a dry region, rosemary needs plenty of sun to thrive.
• Unlike the other spices on this list, rosemary does not need fertilizing. A mixture of sand and substrate is enough for the shrub to grow happily.
• Be careful during periods of low temperatures! Rosemary does not cope well with the cold, needing extra attention on winter days.
• If you are going to keep your rosemary potted, prefer a large pot. That way your plant will be able to grow much larger.

2. spring onion

The chive is a classic in Brazilian gardens and kitchens. Its leaves are long, cylindrical, hollow, and quite green. It can be used in the preparation of various oriental cuisine dishes, and adds flavor to cold salads, soups, sauces, and even butter. It is the perfect spice to plant at home. Here is how to take care of a chive plant:

• Chives adapt well to various climates, but prefer a milder climate without large temperature peaks.
• It needs a soft, drained soil enriched with organic matter to thrive.
• This spice needs full sun to grow healthily. Ideally, it should receive at least 4 hours of direct light per day.
• Water the spring onions whenever you notice dry soil. Because it gets a lot of sun, this plant also needs moisture.
• At harvest time, you can either remove the entire plant from the soil or, with the help of scissors, cut 3 fingers above the soil. That way your spring onions will grow again in a few days!

3. cilantro

Coriander may not be unanimous in the Brazilian palate, but many cuisines use this herb, such as Mexican, Indian, and several dishes from the northeast of Brazil. Beyond cuisine, cilantro also has amazing medicinal properties. Thinking of growing cilantro around? Check out these tips:

• Coriander can be kept indoors or outdoors, but it always needs full or partial sun. The more sun, the more intense the color and flavor of the herb will be.
• Your watering should be more frequent when the plant is young, but never soak the soil. When the plant grows, it is recommended that the soil be allowed to dry out between one watering and the next.
• When young, cilantro leaves can end up being crushed by water during watering. If this happens, help the leaves return to their original position so they don't die.
• Coriander is a cold weather sensitive plant and thrives best in environments with temperatures in the 25°C to 28°C range.
• Coriander seeds are widely used as a seasoning. To harvest them, wait until the coriander seeds are ripe, with a dry appearance. Coriander seed is an excellent flavoring!

4. tarragon

A darling of French cuisine, tarragon is one of the elements that make up the blend called "fine herbs". Its shiny, gray-green leaves go well with various meats, creams, light sauces, salads, breads, and even beverages. How about learning more about its cultivation?

• Tarragon has a few varieties, such as the French tarragon and the Russian tarragon, the former being the most used in cooking because of its strong flavor, but the Russian variety is more resistant.
• It likes full sun, but does not do well in high temperatures. The ideal place for its cultivation is between 4°C and 20°C. In hot climates, the herb usually grows without taste.
• The soil should be fertile, drainable and medium fertile, but it can also grow in poorer or stony soils.
• Your tarragon lost its leaves in the winter? Don't worry! This plant usually goes into dormancy during colder periods. The Russian tarragon has the advantage in this respect, although it is less flavorful and aromatic.
• This herb needs a moist soil, but not too much water. Be careful not to over water during the winter!

5. ginger

Ginger is a great choice of spice to grow at home. Extremely versatile, it can be used to season meats, soups, some Asian cuisine dishes, sweets, teas, and also has several medicinal properties. To have ginger always at hand, follow these tips:

• Planting ginger is possibly the simplest. Having a piece of the root in good condition, it only takes two days submerged in warm water for its buds to start appearing.
• If planted in a pot, prefer a long pot, since ginger grows horizontally, unlike other spices presented here, which grow vertically.
• Its soil must be drainable, soft, and well-nourished for the root to grow healthy.
• Ginger doesn't need direct sun, so it's a great idea to keep it indoors, or in places with plenty of light, but not full sun.
• Its watering must be greater during the germination period, always avoiding soaking the soil, as this damages the roots.

6. mint

Mint is a wild plant that can have its leaves used as a seasoning, especially in Arabian cuisine, in juices, drinks, teas, and home remedies:

• It is recommended that the soil prepared for a mint seedling be composted, moist, and fluffy.
• It likes plenty of sunlight, but does not need constant light. With sun in the morning and a little shade in the afternoon, it can grow well.
• Your watering needs to be daily, but be careful not to soak the plant! Moist soil is enough.
• Do not keep mint in the same pot as other plants; it can end up harming the growth of its companions because it has long roots.
• To secure your mint's leaves, don't let the plant bloom! Removing the little buds helps your crop last longer.

7. basil

A classic in Italian cuisine, basil is a great spice to have around. It spices up sauces and pastas like no other, has medicinal properties, and even leaves the kitchen smelling delicious!

• It is recommended that basil be grown in a single pot, but if you need to optimize space, you can grow basil with a tomato plant! It is not only in the pot that they combine.
• Basil likes sun and warmth. 4 to 6 hours of sun per day is enough to keep its leaves green and healthy.
• However, be careful when keeping a pot of basil in the kitchen. The heat from the oven and stove can wilt the plant.
• Its ideal soil is rich in organic matter, drained and moist.
• Prefer to water your basil in the morning, this way the plant absorbs the necessary water and the rest evaporates throughout the day.

8. marjoram

Although its name is reminiscent of basil, marjoram is more similar in appearance to oregano. With its light flavor, marjoram can be used either fresh or dried to add that special touch to pastas, sauces, vegetables, and salads. Learn how to care for this unusual herb:

• Like basil, marjoram requires a pot in which it can grow alone, since it needs space. 20 to 25 centimeter deep, wide-mouthed pots are ideal for cultivation.
• It likes a clay soil with plenty of organic matter and pots with good water runoff.
• Marjoram appreciates sun and heat, and needs to be in direct light for a few hours a day. The more light, the more flavor its leaves will have.
• Watering should be given whenever the soil is dry, but never soaked. It copes well with short dry spells, so prefer to water little rather than drown your marjoram.
• Unfortunately, marjoram has principles that can be toxic to pets, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

9. oregano

Among the spices to grow at home, oregano is one of the favorites. This plant with small, oval leaves is hardy, produces well for many years, and doesn't need much space to grow. Here's how to keep an oregano plant at home and always improve your sauces, pizzas, and pastas:

• Like marjoram and basil, oregano appreciates warm weather, and needs direct sunlight for at least a few hours a day for its leaves to have the expected flavor and aroma.
• It appreciates a well-fertilized soil, but can thrive in poorer soils and even in rocky gardens.
• Watering should be periodic, happening whenever the soil is dry to the touch. When already well established, oregano can stand short droughts.
• Replanting every 2 to 3 years will ensure that your oregano plant will always be happy and producing!
• The first harvest can take place when the plant is already 20 centimeters tall. To use the dehydrated herb, the leaves should be dried in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated place.

10. finger-of-moça pepper

With a remarkable look and flavor, the "dedo-de-moça" pepper is present in several dishes. From Mexican cuisine to jams and compotes, this pepper shines beautifully. Besides being a versatile spice, the pepper plant also gives a special touch of color to the garden. Check out tips on how to maintain the plant:

• Chili peppers in general like warm weather, and the finger of Mace is no exception. They are very sensitive to frost and rain, so pay attention!
• The pepper plant likes plenty of sun, direct or not, and needs it in order to produce large quantities and fruits with outstanding flavor. A few hours a day are enough.
• As it is very exposed to the sun and heat, the watering of the finger-of-moça pepper also requires attention. Water whenever the soil surface is dry, and never soak it. Morning waterings are ideal, as the water that the plant doesn't absorb dries up throughout the day.
• Don't be afraid to harvest the peppers! The harvest stimulates the plant to produce more.
• After the harvest, a little pruning goes well and ensures that the chili pepper plant continues to grow vigorously and produce more chili peppers for your home.

11. salsa

Parsley, parsley, or cheiro-verde: several names for the same herb that is very successful in the kitchen of most Brazilian homes. Seasoning sauces, roasts, salads, soups, and much more, parsley reigns supreme. And it also has impressive medicinal properties, such as antidepressant, diuretic, and healing action. Learn how to grow this sweetheart:

• It is recommended that parsley be planted in a fertile soil, enriched with organic matter and drainable, so that it does not accumulate water.
• Unlike the other plants on this list, parsley can withstand cold and possible frosts well, however, drought and intense heat are very damaging to the herb.
• It grows well in part shade and a few hours of direct sunlight throughout the day, and needs periodic watering whenever the soil appears dry.
• The harvest must always be done by removing the entire branch, not just its leaves. However, be careful not to remove the buds that are in the "eye" of the plant, its center, as this will cause the parsley to die.
• The life span of parsley depends greatly on the variety chosen and the management of the plant, but on average it lives for up to 2 years.

12. sage

This may not be the most beloved of the plants on this list, as its strong flavor may displease some, but it is still useful in the garden. Salvia is very good for seasoning beef, chicken, game, lamb and suckling pig, it is great for flavoring cheese, olive oil, and liqueurs, and has many medicinal properties. Learn how to grow it:

• In pots, or in garden beds, salvia needs a neutral to alkaline soil that is enriched with organic matter, is drainable.
• It likes full sun, but thrives well in part shade, receiving a few hours of direct sun throughout the day.
• Salvia is a plant that is very resistant to temperature changes in general, but does not cope very well with cold spells accompanied by high humidity. If this is winter in your city, prefer to keep it in a pot so that you can protect it more easily.
• Its watering should be regular during its first months so that it can establish itself. After this period let the watering be more spaced, and if planted directly in the ground, it can even depend only on rain.
• Don't forget to fertilize salvia with each harvest, and prune after each bloom. This way, your salvia plant will stay healthy and productive longer.

13. thyme

With small leaves and a delicious aroma, thyme is a must in your garden. Its branches can be used dry or natural and season tomato and cheese sauces, various meats, and pasta dishes. Besides being a great seasoning, thyme also has anti-rheumatic and digestive medicinal properties. Learn how to take care of this remarkable little plant:

• Thyme prefers to be planted directly in the ground, but thrives well in pots where it can grow large.
• It likes neutral soils, enriched with organic matter and well drained.
• It must be watered regularly and does not tolerate waterlogging. When well developed, it copes well with short periods of drought, so prefer sporadic lack of water to excess.
• This herb should be kept in half-shade or full sun, but beware of sudden temperature changes and frost!
• Pruning should always be done after flowering to ensure the health of your thyme for many years.

So now is the time to learn how to create vegetable gardens and keep your future spices producing!

How to make a spice garden at home

Hanging, in a PET bottle, vertical... There are many ways to keep spices planted at home. Surely one of these will be perfect for your space!

Self-irrigating vegetable garden in the PET bottle

This is a very useful way to reuse PET bottles, and it also makes it easier to care for your spices! Alessa Mori's video shows you step by step how to make this amazing self-watering pot that you can make in no time.

How to create a vegetable garden in the plastic box

In this video by Marieli Mallmann you learn how to create an amazing vertical vegetable garden using those plastic boxes from the market. It's an easy, spacious, and environmentally friendly option.

Hanging Spice Garden

Have you ever imagined a mini spice garden hanging in your kitchen? The channel Ideias no Varal imagined it, created it, and teaches you step by step how to repeat this creative idea in your home.

Now that you know which spices to plant at home, and how to do it, it's time to get your hands in the ground and start creating! Want more green tips for your home? Check out some ideas for apartment plants.