How to Start a Home Garden for Fresh Cocktail Ingredients: A Beginner’s Guide
Fresh herbs and edible flowers lend themselves to all types of culinary quests, whether to grind them into a paste and make marinades out of them or infuse them into cocktails to introduce new flavours into them. Growing your own produce—in your balcony, terrace, or backyard—allows you to get hold of the freshest ingredients without having to make a trip to the market.
If you have been considering the thought of starting a home garden, here is how to grow fresh ingredients steps away from your kitchen counter:
Setting Up the Garden
Depending on how much space you have at your disposal, you can either go for container gardening or plant them directly into the soil in one corner of your terrace garden. Herbs such as mint, coriander and basil can fit into containers; whereas, for lemon or lemongrass, you can plant them in larger pots or on the ground.
It is also essential to create a drainage system for the soil, because herbs do not respond well to being overwatered. Mint and basil, specifically, need loamy soil that is a mix of silt, sand and clay in equal proportion, to thrive. Adding compost or organic fertilisers to aid the process can aid too.
On the other hand, ginger and coriander can grow in drier, sandy climates.
To ensure the roots of the plants do not rot, hang your pots above the ground and select a pot that has draining holes. This way, even if you end up overwatering your plant, the excess water will drain away.
Another key element of herb gardening is the daily sun exposure. Even if you have an indoor garden, it is vital to expose the plants to direct sunlight for at least 5-6 hours every day, so that there is no insect or bacterial infestation.
But do keep in mind that summer months can be challenging for plants too, so make sure to cover the windows with a soft cloth to prevent the leaves from getting scorched.
Hold the Fort
Once you have set up your home garden, the next step is to maintain consistency. Pruning it is regularly required, especially herbs like mint and basil. For ginger or lemongrass, you can harvest them every few months depending on their individual growth cycle.
Ingredients to Opt For
Mint: Mint is a low-maintenance herb that can live well in both humid and hot climates as well as dry and temperate regions. Just ensure you drain the pots regularly to prevent the roots from rotting.
Basil: Tulsi, or basil, can already be found in many rural homes of India where there are still spaces for inner and outer courtyards. Its peppery, sharp taste pairs effortlessly with gin-based cocktails.
Lemongrass: A staple in rum and vodka cocktails, lemongrass is an easy-to-grow perennial that not only infuses heaps of fragrance into your drink, but also repels mosquitos.
Coriander: Coriander seeds and leaves can be incorporated into spirits like vodka and gin for a subtle taste.
Ginger: An ideal ingredient to grate into any cocktail, ginger grows well in humid climates.
Do remember that like everything, alcohol is best consumed in moderation. Always drink and serve responsibly!
