Propagating herbs from cuttings
Here at ASUW Student Food Cooperative, we aim to support our local communities through resources and tips to help encourage healthy food habits, all the while taking your wallet into consideration. Regrowing herbs from cuttings is a simple way that you can achieve both of those goals — as well as promoting an ecological sustainable system through its prevention of excess waste.
Fan of herbs?
Herbs can turn a dish from bland to WOW. Not to mention they are good for you too! Fresh cilantro topped on street tacos, rosemary added to a harvest soup, lemongrass added to a thai dish, the options are limitless! We hope that by propagating your own fresh herbs, you will feel inspired to cook healthy and heart-warming dishes.
Ways to incorporate herbs in healthy dishes
Soak in a vegetable broth and strain for a hearty vegetable soup
Chop up and add to a stir fry
Add to yoghurt dips
Add to vegetable roasts
Soak in marinades
Below are some common herbs that take minimal effort to re-grow and offer plentiful nutrients.
Basil
Cut the base of the stem at an angle, with 4 inches remaining. Place in a clear glass or mason jar
Avoid placing it in direct sunlight, but keep it inside.
Once you observe a couple inches of roots forming, transplant to a small soil pot.
Health + : antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin K
Thyme
Strip off sprigs to create about 2 bare inches of stem.
Cut the tip at a 45 degree angle
Propagate from root division during the spring months
Health + : antimicrobial, vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium
Sage
Cut a sprig with at least three leaves present.
Strip off any leaves near the bottom to create a minimum of 6 cm bare stem.
Plant the cutting in compost soil and ensure that the soil is always moist.
Health + : antioxidants, antimicrobial, vitamin K
Cilantro
Cut the stems and place in a glass of water
Face it towards a window for natural light.
After a couple of inches of the roots form, transplant to a soil pot.
Health + : antioxidants, vitamins C, vitamin K, vitamin A, potassium, manganese
Rosemary
Take shoots from the mother stem, ensuring there is some green in the stem and flexible
Cut with 5-6 inches of the stem
Strip the lower 2 inches of the sprigs with fingers
Place cuttings in water
Health + : manganese, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, copper
As you can tell, there are a multitude of herbs out there that can be easily propagated through simple cuts, and with a decent supply of sun and water. We hope that you find some inspiration to follow some of these simple instructions and sustainably source your very own supply of herbs. Good luck, and enjoy seeing them grow!
Sources
https://www.urbancultivator.net/regrow-vegetable-cuttings/
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/health-benefits-herbs/