Alright, so yesterday I decided to dive headfirst into making some authentic Thai food. I’ve been obsessed with Thai flavors lately, and figured, why not try to grow some of the key herbs myself? Here’s how it went down.
First, I did a bit of research. Turns out, a lot of Thai dishes rely on a few core herbs: Thai basil, lemongrass, galangal (Thai ginger), kaffir lime leaves, and cilantro. I figured I’d start with Thai basil and lemongrass since they seemed the easiest to get my hands on.
Getting Started: Hunting Down the Goods
- The Hunt: Went to my local nursery, and they had Thai basil seedlings! Score! Lemongrass was a little trickier. They didn’t have any plants, but they did have stalks of lemongrass for cooking. The lady there said I could try rooting them in water.
- Soil Prep: Grabbed a bag of organic potting mix. Nothing fancy, just something that drains well. I already had some pots lying around, so I cleaned them up.
Planting the Basil: A No-Brainer
This was super easy. I just gently took the basil seedlings out of their little plastic containers, loosened the roots a bit, and popped them into the pots. Gave them a good watering and put them in a sunny spot on my balcony.
Lemongrass Experiment: Rooting in Water
This is where things got a little more experimental. I chopped off the top few inches of the lemongrass stalks, leaving about 6 inches of the bottom part. Then, I stuck them in a glass of water, making sure the bottom part was submerged. I put the glass on my kitchen windowsill and promised myself I’d change the water every couple of days.
The Waiting Game: A Few Days Later
Okay, so the basil is doing great! It’s been about a week, and they’ve already grown a bit. I’ve been watering them every day, and they seem to love the sun. The lemongrass, on the other hand, is a different story. I’ve changed the water like I promised, but I’m not seeing any roots yet. I read online that it can take a few weeks, so I’m trying to be patient.
First Harvest (Basil): Thai Green Curry Here I Come!
The basil is going crazy! It’s been about a month, and I’ve already harvested some of the leaves. Used them in a green curry last night, and it was amazing! So much fresher than the basil I get at the grocery store.
Lemongrass Update: Success!
Finally! After about three weeks, the lemongrass started growing roots! I was so stoked. I potted them up in a larger pot with the same organic potting mix and put them next to the basil. They seem happy so far.
The Takeaway
Growing your own Thai herbs is actually pretty easy, especially basil. The lemongrass took a little more effort, but it was worth it. Now I just need to figure out how to get my hands on some galangal and kaffir lime leaves. Maybe next year I’ll try growing them from seed.
Next up: I’m thinking of trying to make my own Thai chili paste. Stay tuned!
