Herbs belong in every raised bed. But in addition to the classics like basil, there are other herbs that you shouldn't miss.
You don't necessarily need a huge garden to garden. Thanks to the ingenious invention of the “raised bed”, you can garden practically anywhere. On terraces, in the paved backyard or even on the balcony: a raised bed opens up completely new possibilities for gardening. Raised beds have been in trend for some time. In addition to the “standard vegetables” such as lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and carrots, the first herbs also find their way into the raised bed in spring. You should experiment with your selection. Because as delicious as chives and basil are, there is so much more to discover in the world of herbs.
The city gardeners present their 5 crazy favorite herbs below:
Herb of immortality: anti-aging miracle in the raised bed
This herb belongs on the edge of the bed! Because within a summer it grows with its lush green leaves climbing over the raised bed and just looks decorative and chic. In professional circles it is called Jiaogulan, but "herb of immortality" simply sounds more pompous - a name that the plant has definitely earned! The pumpkin plant from the Far East is considered to be life-prolonging. And this claim is no coincidence: in the region of the herb Guizhou in southern China, a surprising number of people over 100 years old live. And that's supposedly mainly because Jiaogulan tea is drunk there every day. Well then, an anti-aging miracle in the herb bed!
Tip: In our Plantura herb growing set you will not only find seeds for various classic kitchen herbs, but also all the materials you need for sowing.
Stevia: It doesn't get any sweeter
This plant is definitely one of the particularly crazy herbs in the bed. Why? Take a leaf and chew on ithereabouts. The taste is almost too sweet to be true! Because of its intense sweetness, stevia is also called sweet herb or is even referred to as “the sweetest plant in the world”. Depending on the environmental conditions, stevia is 70 to 450 times sweeter than cane sugar. No wonder that it is used industrially as a sweetener. And the leaves of the stevia plant can also be used at home to sweeten drinks and food. In addition, the natural sugar substitute contains no calories and is therefore downright "he althy". It is only unsuitable for coffee lovers. Because the substance promotes the bitter substances in the coffee through its taste-enhancing effect.
Pineapple sage: South Sea feeling in the raised bed
The exotic scent of pineapple fills the air as soon as you touch the leaves of this plant: an aroma to bite into! The pineapple sage originally comes from Central America, but has adapted perfectly to our climate. In fact, he feels so comfortable that he can easily reach a height of up to 120 cm. In summer, the plant unfolds its full splendor when the shimmering red flowers appear. These contain a lot of sweet nectar and therefore attract numerous bees. But you can taste it, too, because the flowers are edible and a real eye-catcher as a plate decoration!
Expert Tip: Check out our top 10 most bee-friendly plants in this article.
Long story short: With the pineapple sage you get a useful plant in the bed that can refresh your eyes, nose and palate!
Maggikraut: Proven seasoning mix
Who doesn't know the Maggi herb? The plant, which is also known under the name lovage, does not bear the second name for nothing. The taste of this crazy herb is very reminiscent of the popular Maggi spice from the supermarket shelf. Strangely enough, lovage is not part of it. Nevertheless: The tall herb tastes great and gives hearty dishes a special touch! And that's not all: Maggi herb is said to have a positive effect on the digestive and urinary tract systems.
Blood Sorrel: He althy and Beautiful
Sorrel is known to everyone, but did you know that there is also a beautiful sister? Her name is blood dock. The plant received this name because its juicy, dark green leaves are traversed by violet-red veins, which are very reminiscent of blood vessels. A real eye-catcher in the raised bed! Blood dock is similar in taste to sorrel, but a little milder. It is best to eat the herb, which is rich in vitamin C, fresh or sauté it like spinach. The same applies here: Enjoy in moderation, because the oxalic acid contained in larger quantities is harmful to the kidneys.
Just in time for the new garden season, the city gardeners are launching their new book "Fresh from the raised bed - the practical book". For all hobby gardeners and those who want to become one, this is the ideal beginner's book for gardening in raised beds. In addition to the classic "herb garden", the book presents 5 themed beds, which you can garden thanks to illustrated step-by-step instructions. The beds "House Pharmacy" and "Cocktailbar" also include many interesting, exotic herbs that are guaranteed to provide new inspiration in the kitchen!
If you are enthusiastic about craftsmanship and want to know more about raised beds, please take a look at our article "Building a raised bed" with video instructions! Information on special raised herb beds can be found here.