Do you already know what you will put on the balcony again this year? Just combine the pleasant with the useful. It’s always nice to have herbs, and this year you can also try these fresh, trendy options.
Modern herbs are for everyone
Having a piece of nature on your balcony that not only tastes great, but looks like something from a prestigious housing magazine is no science. Forget the classic boxes with geraniums that only bloom. Lovers of home accessories and top chefs today also rely on herbs that have a style, texture and scent that will transport you to the Mediterranean or exotic Asia.
Here are three queens of extravagance, but also of tradition, which will turn your balcony into a green paradise. The return to herbs and their beauty in modern apartments and rural buildings is a trend that has been knocking on the door for a long time.
This trio of herbs complement each other wonderfully. Rosemary will provide volume and overhang, sage will add color and basil an exotic twist. In addition, you will always have ingredients on hand that will elevate even the most ordinary dish to the level of a restaurant.
How to pre-grow herbs? The following post from the YouTube channel will advise you
Garden rescuers.
Drooping Rosemary: A waterfall of fragrance for lovers of the South
While it grows as an upright shrub, its overhanging variant Rosmarinus officinalis var. Prostratus is literally a treasure for designers. It can create a dense, deep green waterfall that beautifully covers the unsightly edges of flower pots or concrete walls.
It comes from the rocky shores of the Mediterranean, where it has climbed the cliffs for centuries, so a sunny balcony is a great testament to it. When it starts to flower, it is absolutely irresistible.
Rosemary was already a symbol of loyalty and memory in ancient Greece. In the kitchen, he is a muscular guy, his needles can withstand long baking. Must not be missing in baked potatoes with garlic, with roast lamb or in Italian focaccia. Designers love it for its texture and the fact that it stays green even in the winter if you keep it away from hard frost.
Color sage: Paint palette in a box
is no longer just a gray-green tea leaf for a sore throat. There are cultivars such as Tricolor with pink and white edges or Purpurascens with a hint of purple.
It is this color variety that fascinates designers who work with it as a color accent. Sage comes from southeastern Europe and its name is derived from the Latin salvare, to heal. Sage also goes wonderfully well with similarly colored lavender and other herbs
In the Middle Ages, it was said that whoever grows sage in the garden will not die. It’s a natural antibiotic, but cooks worship it for its ability to tame fatty foods. It is absolutely essential in the Italian classics Saltimbocca alla Romanawhich they areveal slices with ham and sage, or simply fried on butter for gnocchi. Its velvety leaves add depth and elegance to the balcony. Even when the plant is not in bloom, they look beautiful and decorative.
Thai basil: Exotic with a licorice scent
If you know the classic basil, the Thai version of Horapha will surprise you. It has sturdier stems, often turning purple, and tiny leaves that smell like anise and licorice. Designers enjoy its contrasting colors and beautiful purple flowers, which turn the box into an exotic decoration.
It arrived in Europe much later than its Italian relative, but it is now an absolute star in modern gastronomy. Get more varieties of basil and impress with their texture and color in the garden as well as on the plate. There are so many!
It is considered a lucky herb in Thailand. Unlike European basil, Thai basil should be boiled for a short time, as the heat only develops its flavor fully. He is a pillar for Thai red and green curry or for Vietnamese soup Phở. Without it, the true Asian taste will simply never be complete.
