Flavorful green garden
Delight your eyes and your taste buds with delicious, easy-to-grow herbs and microgreens
For superb salads: Crisp watercress
“By growing my own microgreens and herbs, I like that I can add fresh flavor to meals anytime of the year,” says Sue Goetz, author of Complete
Container Herb Gardening. To grow your own watercress, a fast-growing and nutritious leafy green packed with pleasantly peppery flavor, Goetz recommends filling a small pot with fresh potting soil, watering it well, then gently pressing watercress seeds in the soil. Place the pot in a warm, sunny window and keep the soil consistently moist; the microgreens will be ready to harvest in about 10 days. To enjoy, toss a generous handful of watercress into your favorite salad.
For hearty sauces: Robust thyme
Earthy, aromatic thyme has a bit of spice reminiscent of cloves, making it a great flavor addition to savory dishes, infused butters or sauces, according to Goetz. She suggests dropping a thyme plant into a teacup for a display that puts any cracked or chipped cups to pretty use (just be sure to drill a hole in the bottom of the cup for drainage). Set on a saucer in a sunny spot and let the soil dry between waterings. To enjoy, add fresh thyme leaves to simmering tomato sauce, or fold the leaves into room-temperature butter before melting over steamed vegetables.
For a healthy garnish: A microgreen medley
“A tiered server of microgreens is a perfect addition to a lunch buffet—leave scissors nearby and snip greens to sprinkle on tea sandwiches or warm soup,” says Goetz. With their tangy flavors, microgreens like curled cress, red radish and Daikon radish add complementary flavor without overpowering. To create this display, add moist soil to plates, press in seeds and cover with plastic wrap; set in a warm, sunny window. Once seedlings sprout, remove the plastic wrap and keep the soil moist until greens are 2" to 3" tall. To enjoy, use in place of lettuce on a chicken, egg or tuna salad sandwich.