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Lovage: Cultivation and Interesting Facts About Maggi Herb

Lovage is also called maggi herb because its taste is reminiscent of the spice of the same name. Here you can find out more about the versatile spice and its cultivation.

The lovage belongs to the umbelliferae family. It originally comes from southern Europe and southwest Asia, but also grows in our gardens. The plant, up to two meters tall, has bare stems that branch out at the top and serrated leaves.

Growing lovage: This is how the Maggi herb thrives

Lovage is a perennial plant that sprout again in spring and can be harvested from April. Here are some tips on how to grow lovage in your home:

Lovage prefers to be in the light semi-shade.
Since the plant has extensive roots, the soil should be deep enough.
You have to water lovage regularly. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging. So the soil should be permeable.
Lovage needs a lot of nutrients to grow. You should therefore plant it in humus-rich soil and possibly fertilize it.
If you don’t have a garden, you can also plant the lovage in a flower pot on the balcony, but then the plant will not reach its full size.
Lovage plants draw many nutrients from the soil. That’s why you shouldn’t plant a piece of ground with lovage permanently, but give the ground several years to recover in between.

Cooking with lovage: spice for soups and sauces

The various components of lovage are mainly used for seasoning. The strong taste of lovage, reminiscent of celery, goes particularly well with hearty dishes. Here’s how you can use each part of the plant:

You can use the young leaves to flavor meat and fish dishes, soups, sauces and dishes with eggs.
You can blanch young shoots and serve as a vegetable side dish.
You can candy the lovage stems.
Lovage seeds can be used to flavor bread or other pastries.
Aside from its use in cooking, lovage has been used in natural medicine for centuries. It contains essential oils, is said to stimulate digestion and help against heartburn, stomach, intestinal and bladder problems. It has been scientifically confirmed that the root of the lovage has a draining effect and can be used to treat inflammatory urinary tract diseases.

Dry and store lovage

You can dry the various components of lovage without losing much of their aroma. The dried leaves taste a little less spicy than fresh, while the seeds and roots have a stronger taste. Store the dried lovage in a dark container in a dry, cool place.

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The World’s Best Cultivation Areas For Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular hot drinks worldwide and has been enjoying increasing popularity for centuries.

The origin of the coffee is very different depending on the variety. Nowadays it is produced worldwide and new growing areas are being created every day.

The enjoyable guardian convinces with a very individual taste and is available in many varieties. Even if it is an integral part of everyday life for many, most of them hardly know exactly where the growing areas of coffee are. Therefore, we go on a journey through the most popular coffee cultivation areas and also take a closer look at the two main varieties Robusta and Arabica.

The growing areas of coffee extend over the entire globe. The coffee beans we use come from the coffee plant. This is one of the rather sensitive plants and only thrives under optimal climatic conditions. Countries that are near the equator are preferably suitable for this. Together these areas result in a so -called coffee belt. The predominantly tropical and moist growing areas enable the coffee plants to grow excellent and a quick heyday. The two economically represented coffee types are the Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and the Coffea Canhora (Robusta). Arabica takes up the largest proportion of the growing areas with around 75 % and is the most popular worldwide among all coffee drinkers. But other coffee plants such as the Coffea Liberica, Coffea Stenophylla, Coffea Congensis and many more can be found in the vastness of the growing areas. Well -known places where coffee plants are bred are Brazil, Ethiopia, Nicaragua or Sumatra.

These are the most important production countries

The largest production countries of coffee are near the equator and together form the so -called coffee belt. Expressed, the areas of Central and South America, Africa and parts of Asia’s crucial cultivation areas are primarily to be put. The largest production countries form Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Vietnam, Thailand, Angola, Congo, Liberia, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, the Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Zambia and many more. In all places there are more or less optimal conditions for a coffee harvest. A billion -dollar industry has developed around the coffee today. The production countries increase their growing potential every day and thus meet the increasing demand for coffee. However, the individual growing areas do not all produce the same coffee. There are significant differences between quantity, cultivation and taste. On the one hand, this is due to the respective climatic conditions, and on the other hand also due to the differentiated cultivation methods. A Arabica coffee bean, which comes from Africa, therefore tastes very different from an Arabica coffee bean, which comes from Asia, for example. The variety of coffee is sometimes a reason for its popularity and offers every coffee drinker daily variety and aromatic wealth. Below we list the most important growing areas of coffee and discover their special features.

Coffee growing areas in North and Central America

In North and Central America, Nicaragua in particular stands out as a coffee growing area. In the El Salvador and Santo Domingo regions there are numerous plantations that extend over miles and accommodate a wide variety of coffee plants. Many people in these areas live exclusively from coffee cultivation. The valuable coffee beans are shipped all over the world after harvesting. Another special cultivation area is Jamaica. Here the famous “Blue Mountain coffee” is bred. For this reason, the Blue Mountains from Jamaica are covered with large -scale coffee plantations. However, the excellent type of coffee has its price and has just under $ 120 per kilogram. Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most expensive varieties in the world. Tourists from all over the world visit the growing areas to take smaller quantities with you and try out the delicious coffee.

The state of Mexico is located in North America and parts of Central America. Here too, coffee is grown on large plantations. There are around 400 million coffee trees in one of the most important growing areas, Soconusco. This tremendous amount is expanded by other growing areas across the country. As a result, Mexico rises in the top ranks of the largest production countries. With the “Ruta del Café”, even a separate coffee road was established, with which the tourist value of the coffee -shaped landscape is to be increased. In addition to Mexico, growing areas from Costa Rica, Hawaii and Guatemala can also convince with tasty and famous types of coffee. Costa Rica scores particularly with aromatic, full -bodied flavors and intensely fragrant coffee. Hawaii is ideal for the coffee harvest, as optimal climatic conditions prevail here. The coffee beans from there have a mostly mild and nutty aroma. Finally, the most populous state of Central America is on the plan: Guatemala. The country has always been one of the most important production countries for coffee and produces coffee beans with an aromatic and spicy note. With altitudes around 2,000 meters and extremely fertile, volcanic nutrients, coffee trees grow particularly quickly here. This leads to high quality and first -class diversity.

Coffee growing areas in South America

South America is the continent with the strongest production countries for coffee. The two strongest countries are Colombia and Brazil. The coffee plant has developed into a real economic miracle and gives the population in addition to many jobs, but also new cultural diversity. The climate in the warm areas is constant all year round and provides the coffee harvested optimal conditions for high -quality cultivation. The ARABICA and Robusta coffee varieties are particularly well represented here and are distributed all over the world by central trading points. Dozens of tons of coffee from South America also arrive every day in Europe. In addition to Brazil and Colombia, places such as Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and the Galapagos Islands also play an important role. Each location convinces with individual advantages and a large variety of varieties.

Brazil produces around 34 % of the world’s total coffee requirement and is therefore considered a real heavyweight among production countries. The growing areas of coffee extends across the country and are largely responsible for economic success. With almost 287,000 farms on approx. 2,402,933 hectares on which coffee is grown, Brazil leaves all colleagues far behind. A single farm can be up to 25,000 hectares. The cultivation areas deliver around 45 million sacks with coffee beans every year, with each sack weighing about 60 kilograms. With 80% harvest content, Arabica beans are mainly bred. The remaining 20% ​​are robusta beans. The success of the coffee in Brazil is not only in sales alone. The Brazilians use a fifth of their harvested beans for their own use. Coffee has developed into a true culture in Brazil. In private and business areas, it is a good tone to offer your guest a coffee. A whole third of the exported raw coffee also goes to Germany and thus ends up directly on our domestic tables.

Behind Brazil and Vietnam, Colombia is the third largest coffee exporter worldwide in the list of the largest production countries. Coffee has traditionally been grown here for almost 300 years. More than half a million Colombian live from the industry and thus represent a driving force of the local economy. Even though Colombia had recorded a declining production in recent years and has even been replaced by Vietnam to third place, coffee plays one Important role for the people living there and the entire nation. Coffee is considered a cultural drink in Colombia and sometimes shapes society. The coffee farmers attach great importance to the quality of their coffee beans and breeds only the best standards. The country’s biologically high -quality cultivation distinguishes the country from many other production countries and makes “coffee made in Colombia” a strong branded product.

Incidentally, particularly popular coffee also comes from the Dominican Republic. With this country, people associate sun, palm trees, beach and sea – the perfect Caribbean goal for an exuberant vacation. However, coffee is also grown here in large masses. There are almost 50,000 smaller coffee producers, which are scattered across the entire country. Because of the high temperatures in the north (30 degrees Celsius on average), the profitable growing areas are largely in the somewhat cooler south. Almost all production facilities specialize in the cultivation of Arabica coffee beyond this.

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How Rice Cultivation Works

Rice cultivation is increasingly being criticized due to its eco-balance. The high water consumption and the released methane are problematic for the climate. Here you can find out how rice cultivation works and what you should pay attention to when buying.

Southeast Asia: The most important rice-growing region in the world

Rice is a staple food for over 3.5 billion people and, according to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), it is one of the three most important cereals in the world along with corn and wheat. Rice cultivation thus has far-reaching effects on our climate.

According to the FAO, around 90 percent of the world’s rice harvest comes from South Asia and Southeast Asia, with China and India as the largest rice producers. According to statistics from the OCE (Observatory of Economic Complexity), India and Thailand are the main rice exporters, providing a large part of the world’s traded rice volumes.

Rice is also grown in the USA, Latin America, Africa and Europe. The main European rice producers are Spain, Italy and France. The following types of rice can be found there:

Spain: Bomba rice (for paella)
Italy: Arborio rice, jasmine rice and Venus rice (Piedmont as the main growing region of Italy)
France: Red rice from the Camargue

How does rice cultivation work?

There are various methods of rice cultivation, but the most common is wet rice cultivation. Irrigation is done differently depending on the location. Sometimes the farmers rely on natural flooding, sometimes fields are artificially supplied with water via sophisticated irrigation systems. Around 75 percent of the world’s rice harvest is based on artificial irrigation, as Ferrero and Tinarelli state in the introduction to their book “Pesticide Risk Assessment in Rice Paddies”. The water serves as a natural protection against weeds and pests for the plants.

There is also dry rice cultivation, which is much more laborious and less productive. Weeds and pests are not kept out naturally, which is why more fertilizers and pesticides are needed. An advantage of this cultivation method, however, is that less water is required and less methane is emitted. Due to the meager yields, this cultivation method is still less used.

Wet rice cultivation: How does it work exactly?

Growing rice is very time-consuming and is often still done by hand in Asia.

The rice seeds are sown in the dry field, which is then ploughed.
Later, the seedlings are transplanted into the paddy field by hand or with the help of jigs.
Now the fields have to be constantly under water before they are drained around three weeks before harvest. Depending on site conditions, this occurs through natural flooding or artificial irrigation systems.
In total, the rice plant grows for five to six months before it is harvested.
harvest and processing

Rice can be harvested one to three times a year, depending on the rice variety, site conditions and cultivation method. After harvesting, the rice is threshed and dried. The husks are then removed in a rice mill, leaving the actual grain of rice and the husk – the so-called silver skin. This product is sold as brown rice, whole grain or brown rice. Usually, however, there is a further step in which the silver skin and seedling are removed. What remains is the classic white rice, which has a longer shelf life but is less nutritious.

What are the consequences of rice cultivation for the environment?

Water consumption

According to Öko-fair, 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water are required for one kilogram of rice in wet rice cultivation. If the fields are artificially irrigated, this can lead to a falling groundwater level. This often poses major water supply problems for the cultivation regions, which are often water-scarce anyway. The energy required for the artificial irrigation systems is also high.

Methane emissions

According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), wet rice cultivation is responsible for around ten percent of man-made methane emissions worldwide. Methane is the second most important man-made greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and is 21 times more potent than CO2, according to the Max Planck Society.

The reason for the high emission values ​​are the flooded fields: microorganisms decompose organic substances here in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the formation of methane. How much methane is produced depends on how long the fields are under water. If they are drained regularly, less methane is produced – a simple step that would already make rice production significantly more sustainable. However, for many small farmers in Asia, this additional effort can hardly be implemented. In addition, leftover husks are often burned in the fields after harvesting, which releases CO2.

An overview by the WWF makes the extent of methane emissions in rice cultivation clear. It shows the respective amounts of greenhouse gases that occur during the production of different foods. With 6.2 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per kilogram, rice is significantly higher than potatoes (0.62 kilograms), fresh milk products (1.76 kilograms) or even poultry meat (4.22 kilograms).

More problems in rice cultivation

Rice often has high levels of arsenic compared to other grains. The reason for this is the cultivation method. The standing water on the fields makes the arsenic contained in the soil more available. Rice plants absorb a particularly large amount of arsenic through their roots. In addition, groundwater, some of which is contaminated with arsenic, is used for irrigation, which means that more arsenic gets into the rice. You can find more information about rice and arsenic in our guide.

Many fertilizers and pesticides are also used in conventional rice cultivation, especially in the high-yield varieties cultivated on a large scale. This puts a strain on both the environment and the health of consumers. The use of pesticides also means that small fish and crustaceans, which are an important source of protein for many small farmers in Asia, can no longer survive in the rice basin.

Sustainable rice: You should pay attention to this when buying

Fair trade rice: Rice is mainly grown in less developed regions of the world. A Fairtrade certification shows you that the producers receive fair wages and work under good conditions. Many Fairtrade-certified rice suppliers enter into their own small cooperations with individual rice farmers in order to be able to offer ecologically and socially sustainable rice. In this way, cultivation conditions can be clearly traced and made transparent for consumers. You can usually find information about such cooperations on the provider’s website or directly on the product. In general, the more specific the information about origin and growing conditions, the better. It is worth taking a closer look at the products before you buy them.
Organic Rice: When you buy certified organic rice, you not only protect yourself and the environment from synthetic pesticides: Organic farming also protects rice farmers from constant exposure to harmful pesticides at work.

Rice from Europe: In the meantime, you can also find rice from European cultivation in the supermarket or health food store. So you can avoid long transport routes. In addition, the environmental guidelines in Europe are generally higher than in Asia and many European rice farmers value more sustainable rice cultivation.
Rice from dry cultivation: Although not the global solution, dry rice – especially from European cultivation – is often the more environmentally friendly alternative, as the Austrian daily newspaper Kurier shows using the example of the domestic rice producer “ÖsterReis”. Dry rice cultivation releases significantly less methane and uses less water. For example, the Swiss risotto rice branded “Terreni alla Maggia” or the Austrian rice from “SO-Fröhlich” come from the dry cultivation method. In dry cultivation, however, farmers increasingly have to contend with weeds and pests, which is why this method is much more labor-intensive – especially in organic cultivation. In order for rice from dry cultivation to actually be a sustainable alternative, you should only obtain it from organic cultivation. This is because more pesticides are often used in dry cultivation. While organic dry rice is a sustainable option, it is not a real solution on a global scale. Because the harvests in dry cultivation are too small and it can by no means cover the worldwide rice demand.
It doesn’t always have to be rice: there are many regional alternatives to rice that have a much better ecological footprint. For example, German potatoes or local cereals are the more sustainable side dishes. Spelled rice, for example, is a good alternative to rice. According to the WWF, the cultivation of lentils and legumes also emits fewer harmful GHG emissions, although they cannot compete with potatoes or cereals in this respect.

First steps towards sustainable rice cultivation

A step in the right direction is the International Platform for Sustainable Rice (SRP), which has developed a standard for sustainable rice. The project supports Thai rice farmers in making rice cultivation more ecological and campaigns for better local working conditions. Research institutes, large companies such as OLAM and international organizations such as GIZ or the United Nations Environment Program are involved.

According to GIZ, up to 50 percent fewer greenhouse gases are released as a result of the project measures, water consumption falls by a fifth and the farmers get by with fewer pesticides. At the same time, small farmers can increase their profits. The rice is certified accordingly and commercially available. For example, the Uncle Ben’s brand says it sources its rice exclusively from farmers supported by the SRP.

The Thai-German project Thai Rice NAMA also aims to make rice cultivation more sustainable and there is worldwide research on “anti-methane strategies”.

Little climate awareness when it comes to rice

Converting rice cultivation to uniform ecological standards is not that easy. Because there are too many individual small farmers from different countries where different environmental regulations apply. There is also often a lack of ecological awareness in the less developed countries of Asia, and for many small farmers, rice cultivation primarily means securing their survival. So they have no capacity to think about climate issues.

Projects for sustainable rice cultivation, such as those implemented by the SRP, are therefore all the more important. But the topic of sustainability is not only little present on the part of the producers. As consumers, we are also little aware of the poor ecological balance of rice – in contrast to products such as palm oil, avocados or meat, to which we are much more sensitive. It shouldn’t be any different with rice.

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Black Radish: Cultivation, Use and Cough Syrup Recipe

Black radish tastes sharper and more aromatic than other varieties. You can grow it yourself – find out here what you need to look out for and how you can use the winter radish.

Also called winter radish, black radish is a particularly undemanding type of radish. It has a thick, mostly dark brown or almost black skin – hence its name. Inside, however, the root vegetable is white.

You can use black radish both as a food and as a home remedy for coughs. Since it is quite easy to care for, you can also plant it as a beginner when growing vegetables. To ensure that it thrives in your garden, you should follow a few tips.

How to grow black radish

Plant black radish: Depending on the species, sow the black radish from mid-June to August. You can find out the exact time from the seed packet. Preferably buy organic seeds. Proceed as follows when sowing:

First, make furrows in the soil into which you will later scatter the seeds. Keep a distance of at least 20 centimeters between the individual rows.
Now scatter the seeds in the rows of plants.
Cover round seeds very lightly with soil. If you bought a species with elongated seeds, you need to sow the seeds about two centimeters deep.
Finally, water the seeds generously.
The right location: Similar to white radish, black radish prefers full sun to half shade.

The right soil: It is best to plant black radishes where the soil is nice and loose, deep and rich in humus. Mix some compost into the soil about a month before sowing.

The right care for the black radish

Black radish is quite easy to care for. With a few tricks you will soon be able to harvest the first tubers:

Watering: Water regularly, because the black radish needs a lot of water, especially during the growth phase. Rainwater is best; you can, for example, collect rainwater.
Weeding: Black radish grows relatively slowly. To ensure that it always gets enough sunlight and water, you should regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds.
Fertilizing: If you have fertilized the soil with compost before sowing, you do not need any further fertilizer. After a month you can mix some horn shavings or other organic fertilizer into the soil if needed.
Harvest: Depending on the variety, you can harvest the first radishes after eight to thirteen weeks. It is only important that you do not leave the black radish in the ground for too long, otherwise it will become woody. First loosen the tubers with a digging fork before you pull it out of the ground.

How to use black radish

You can use black radish in different ways:

In the kitchen: Similar to the white radish, black radish is particularly popular as a raw vegetable. Peeled and finely grated, you can eat it as a radish salad or on a piece of bread. If you sprinkle it with salt, you reduce its sharpness a bit. You can also pickle black radish or cook it in vegetable soups. For example, you can replace the horseradish with black radish in this recipe: Horseradish Soup: Easy Recipe and Tasty Variations.
As a medicinal plant: Black radish contains a lot of vitamin C, mustard oils, magnesium and potassium. These and some other ingredients make it very interesting for medicinal and folk medicine. It is used there, for example, to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism, gout and respiratory diseases.
As a cough syrup: black radish gets its typical spiciness from the mustard oils it contains. These have an antibacterial effect and can help with dry coughs, for example. Therefore, you can make an effective cough syrup from the tuber.

Black radish cough syrup recipe

For the black radish cough syrup you need:

a black radish
honey, sugar or rock candy
This is how you can use the cough syrup in the quick version:

Halve the black radish with a sharp knife.
Place both halves in front of you with the white insides facing up. If the halves wobble a bit, cut off a small piece at the bottom so they stay put.
Take a teaspoon. In the center of each half, dig a hole about two inches wide and one inch deep. You can eat the inside of the radish right away or use it in a dish.
Place each halves in a small bowl. Now put your sweetener in the hole.
Leave the bowls for a few hours until the sugar has drawn liquid out of the black radish. Then you can spoon out the cough syrup and enjoy!
Then enlarge the hole to continue using the halves.
If your black radish sits small and shriveled in the bowl, the sugar has drained all of the liquid and it’s time to discard it.

This is how you prepare the cough syrup a little more complex:

First, use a sharp knife to cut the top of the black radish straight off. The upper end must later act as a “lid”.
Now scoop out the radish with a teaspoon or knife in a cone shape. Finely chop the radish insides and set aside.
Now poke a few holes in the bottom of the radish. It is best to use a skewer or a knitting needle for this. The cough syrup later runs through these holes.
Now fill the hollowed-out radish halfway with honey and add the remaining radish pieces.
Give everything a quick stir and put the radish “lid” back on.
Place the stuffed radish on a plate or in a jar and let it sit for a few hours.
Pour the reserved syrup into a clean jar and store in the refrigerator.

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Yellow Beets: Everything about Taste, Cultivation and Use

Less well known than its red counterpart, the yellow beet is gaining in popularity. Here you can find out how red and yellow beets differ, what is important when planting yellow beets and how to use them in the kitchen.

In addition to the beetroot, you will increasingly find yellow or white beets at the weekly market or in the vegetable displays of some supermarkets. Beetroot is often less conspicuous because of its less intense color – but it is a healthy, tasty and regional winter vegetable that you can use in many ways in the kitchen. We will explain what makes them different from beetroot, how you can plant and harvest them yourself and which dishes they are suitable for.

Yellow beetroot and beetroot: That’s the difference

Both the beetroot and the yellow beet originally came from the wild beet (Beta vulgaris). Today’s beet is a cultivated form of this plant. Other types of vegetables that go back to the wild beet are, for example, the sugar beet or Swiss chard.

From a botanical point of view, the yellow beet is just a variant of the beetroot – it is not a separate variety. The dye betaxanthin is responsible for their yellow colour, while the strong red of beetroot comes from the dye betanin.

Apart from the colour, yellow and beetroot differ only slightly. Their nutrient content is similar: Both types provide various B vitamins in particular, as well as iron and folic acid. Both betaxanthin and betanine belong to the betalain family, which have antioxidant effects.

Basically, the yellow beetroot is a little milder and sweeter in taste than the red variety. For people who are bothered by the slightly earthy taste of beetroot, the yellow version can therefore be a more pleasant alternative.

Planting yellow beets: you should pay attention to this

If you want to plant yellow beetroot in your own garden, you should choose a sunny and deep location: The beets develop so-called taproots that reach far into the ground. In addition, humus-rich soil is recommended for good growth. Apart from that, the yellow beet is relatively undemanding. Only very heavy soils (clay soils) can cause problems.

It is best to buy the seed for the yellow beet in organic quality – you can get tips and information on the advantages of organic seed in our overview. Between May and July you can sow the yellow beet seeds directly into the bed.

How to plant yellow beets:

Make seeding rows 4 inches apart and place the seeds 8 to 10 inches apart in the bed.
After sowing, cover them with soil about an inch or two deep.
After about two to three weeks, the seeds should start to germinate. If you then find that the plants are too close together, you may need to separate them – for the beets to grow well, they need enough space. In this case, loosen the soil around a plant with a toothpick, carefully remove it, and replant it in a suitable spot.
You should also water the plants regularly during growth: always keep the soil slightly moist, but avoid waterlogging. Apart from watering, the yellow beet does not need any additional care.
By the way: The yellow beet is well suited for mixed cultures. It’s best to choose plants that grow low so they don’t take away the sunlight from the yellow beets. You can plant kohlrabi, radishes or chives in the same bed, for example. Be careful not to plant yellow beets in a spot where you have previously grown goosefoot or foxtail plants. These include, for example, spinach, chard or sugar beets. With such a crop rotation, the yellow beets are susceptible to diseases and the soil loses nutrients, because these plants have very similar requirements.

Harvesting and storing yellow beets

You can harvest the yellow beets from September right into the winter months. It usually takes about three months between sowing and harvesting. You should get the yellow beetroot out of the ground before the onset of frost at the latest – they can cope with temperatures down to zero degrees Celsius, but they don’t tolerate sub-zero temperatures.

How to harvest yellow beets:

To harvest, use a small shovel or special digging fork to loosen the soil around the beets.
Then you can easily pull them out.
When there is plenty of excess soil on the beets, roughly pat them off. If you intend to store your harvest, you should leave a little soil on it – this increases its shelf life. While you can gently twist off the root of the beetroot about an inch below the beet, you should not remove the leaves.
A sand-filled box in the basement or a storage pit (earth heap) in the garden is best suited for storing yellow beets. With cool temperatures of around zero to one degree Celsius, the beets last all winter. If you don’t have a basement or a storage pit, you can also preserve the yellow beets by boiling them down. You can do this in the same way as with beetroot.

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Fresh Herbs from Home Cultivation!

Fresh kitchen herbs, such as basil or mint, are healthy and also spice up every dish. How about a herb mousse, for example, or try making your own pesto. However, chives and the like taste best when they have planted themselves. We give you helpful tips so that you can soon enjoy fresh herbs from your own garden.

Have you already harvested the herbs? Then you will find everything you need to know about storing fresh herbs here.

Do I need a garden to grow herbs?

No, not necessarily. Herbs can be grown almost anywhere, in the bed in the garden, or in pots on the balcony. A particularly space-saving solution is the herb snail, with which many herbs that have different needs can be planted at the same time.

Appropriate planters are also required for the herb garden on the balcony. Both square balcony boxes and plant pots in various designs and sizes are used. Above all, the depth of the planters should be considered, as some herbs have deep roots, such as lovage or dill. If you observe the following tips, then nothing stands in the way of enjoying fresh herbs by growing them yourself.

The 10 most suitable herbs for the balcony

Parsely

Parsley is probably the best-known and most popular kitchen herb in Austria. The aromatic herb is missing in almost every herb garden. When watering it should be noted: This herb does not tolerate waterlogging at all, but the soil should not be too dry either.

Mint

Mint has a unique aroma and gives the mojito, for example, its characteristic taste. Due to the menthol-like scent, the mint also has a wonderfully refreshing effect. Mint is considered easy to care for and undemanding. But be careful: it spreads incredibly fast!

Chives

Few herbs are as easy to grow as chives. The growing pots need evenly moist soil. The soil should not dry out, otherwise, the green culms will begin to bend. As soon as the temperatures outside are no longer below zero, chives can also be sown directly outdoors.

Basil

Basil is a herb from the south. It, therefore, requires a bit of care to thrive in our climate. Basil likes it sunny and should therefore be grown in a warm, sunny place, for example on the windowsill.

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the Mediterranean herbs and therefore prefers a dry, sunny and calcareous location. Rosemary should be cut regularly, otherwise, it tends to become woody. You can harvest rosemary all year round, although you should then cut off a whole branch.

Sage

The European garden sage is easy to grow. Sage likes sunny places because the essential oils cannot form in shady locations. Sage grows quickly and survives short periods of drought very well. Waterlogging should be avoided.

Lemon balm

Lemon balm is extremely easy to care for and can “take care of itself” very well. You should be careful not to spread the lemon balm too much. In a sunny location and with enough light and space to develop, lemon balm usually thrives very well.

Lovage

Lovage, also known as Maggi herb, does not require too much care and location. The chosen location on the terrace or balcony should be in partial shade if possible. Please note: Maggi plants can grow up to 2 m tall.

Marjoram

Marjoram likes it very warm. In the best case, it should also be sown in warm soil, at the earliest in mid-May. The sunniest spot on the balcony or in the garden is just right for marjoram. If the marjoram feels comfortable in its location, it will grow almost by itself.

Thyme

Thyme comes from the Mediterranean region and therefore thrives best when it is in a sunny spot in dry soil. What should be avoided at all costs so that the thyme thrives in the best possible way is waterlogging. Once the thyme is rooted, it does not require too much care.

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Bread Clover: Origin, Cultivation and Use

Bread clover is particularly common in Alpine regions. But the aromatic herb also grows in the garden. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the origin, cultivation and use of bread clover.

Strictly speaking, bread clover (Trigonella caerulea) is a collective term for various bread herbs from the legume family. What is meant by bread clover is the so-called Schabzigerklee.

Bread clover originally comes from the Caucasus, the Mediterranean region and Central Europe. Today, the spicy herb is mainly found in alpine regions and is valued as a traditional spice in Switzerland and Tyrol. In the high mountain climate, the bread clover develops a unique aroma.

For example, rustic breads, dips or hearty dishes can be enriched with bread clover. In Germany, the spice plant is less common – but it is worth cultivating and processing.

Interesting facts about bread clover

Bread clover is a versatile herb. It is particularly well-known as a component of traditional breads and baked goods in South Tyrol and Switzerland. Bread clover develops its aroma after the leaves have dried and is usually used in powdered form as a spice.

The taste is described as spicy, woody and slightly bitter. Bread clover is reminiscent of the aroma of lovage or curry. This is why the herb goes particularly well with hearty and rustic dishes.

Schabzigerklee tastes a little milder than the related fenugreek. Bread clover, like fenugreek, is also valued as a medicinal plant. In folk medicine, the butterfly plants (Fabaceae) are considered appetizing and digestive. The bitter substances and essential oils contained in bread clover are also health-promoting and taste-enhancing. However, meaningful scientific studies on the healing effects of bread clover cannot be found.

Cultivation of bread clover

Bread clover originally occurs in southern regions and alpine locations. At altitudes of 1,000 meters and above, the herb develops its traditionally spicy aroma and special taste. Due to the extreme weather conditions in the high mountains, however, clover grows very slowly there.

The bread clover is not only popular for its aroma, but also as an ornamental plant. The light blue flowers are pretty to look at and at the same time attract bees and other insects. They are a valuable source of food and nectar for pollinating insects. Bread clover can therefore be grown well with other bee-friendly shrubs.

If you want to grow bread clover yourself, you can plant it in the garden, in a bucket or on the balcony. Bread clover is not suitable as a houseplant.

Sow your own bread clover

If you want to sow bread clover yourself, first choose the right location. Please note the following:

Make sure the bread clover has enough room to grow. It grows herbaceous and reaches an average height of 60 centimeters.
Choose a sunny location. Bread clover prefers open areas with regular sun exposure.
Bread clover thrives best on calcareous and humus-rich soil. But bread clover can also grow on poor soil. Grow your plant in a suitable substrate so that the bread clover is always supplied with sufficient nutrients.
Simply sow the bread clover seeds in the garden or in the bucket. You can choose the size of the area yourself. Bread clover can be sown in a small pot on the balcony or over an entire lawn.

Prepare a piece of soil in the garden and make sure that no weeds grow there. Bread clover needs sun to grow and should not be overshadowed by other plants. Alternatively, fill a planter or pot with the appropriate substrate.
Scatter the seeds over the soil. The seeds can be quite close together (about an inch or two apart).
Gently spread the soil with your hands so that the seeds are lightly covered.
Water the seeds gently with some water. Make sure the water doesn’t wash them away.
Once planted, bread clover requires little maintenance. If the dryness persists, you should water it occasionally. Bread clover multiplies quickly and therefore only needs to be sown once a year. The best time is in spring.

Harvest the leaves of the bread clover just before or after flowering, when they are at their most aromatic. Bread clover blooms in June and lasts through August. So you can harvest bread clover for several months. To use them as a spice, dry the harvested leaves afterwards.

Use bread clover in many ways

If you want to use bread clover, you can either grow the herb yourself, dry it, and grind it, or buy it powdered. Bread clover is particularly popular in

bread and baked goods
dips and spreads
sauces
cheese dishes
potato dishes
rustic dishes and meat dishes
For example, use bread clover as an ingredient in a bread spice. The Schabzigerklee harmonizes perfectly with spices such as caraway, fennel and coriander.

Tip: Bake the traditional Vinschgau flatbread from Tyrol with the bread clover. A hearty dip with quark, garlic and olive oil goes well with it. Or serve your bread with a homemade herb quark, which you refine with the bread clover spice.

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