When you have a Vegehome Jardin or Oasis, you’ll be collecting delicious, nutritious herbs, greens and vegetables year-round — which may, at times, have you wondering about the best ways to make use of your perpetual harvest! From salads to infused oils to, yes, even cocktails, the possibilities are endless. Don’t believe us? We’ve listed some of the best ways to make the most of your Vegehome crop below:
Dig in
You probably know this one already: the best thing to do with your Vegehome bounty is to, well, eat it! From fresh salads to delicious pizzas and pastas to steamy stir frys, there are hundreds of ways to use your Vegehome-fresh vegetables and herbs in your meals at home. Need some inspiration? Check out our recipe collection! If you’re new to the kitchen, however, don’t fret — we’ve listed three effort-free tips below:
Go for the garnish: If you’re growing herbs such as dill, parsley, basil or marjoram, using your Vegehome crop can be as simple as tossing a few fresh herbs on top of whatever you have planned for dinner. Steamed or grilled salmon or trout goes great with chopped-up dill, while many pasta dishes benefit from a sprinkling of basil. You can even spruce up ready-made or packaged meals: toss chopped-up chives into a bowl of instant ramen, for instance, or dress up frozen perogies with a dash of fresh parsley.
It’s easy being green: Hearty, leafy greens like kale, leaf mustard and chard are incredibly versatile and super easy to cook. Consider mixing these greens into easy egg dishes, like omelettes or frittatas, or simply sauteing them in oil with a bit of salt and pepper for an easy, vitamin-packed side dish.
Keep it fresh: Salad greens, like red lettuce, butter lettuce, or crisp lettuce, are delicious as fresh salad bases. And they’re especially great for leftovers: top a bed of fresh leafy greens with leftover proteins, like grilled chicken, steak or fish, then add some of your favourite chopped vegetables (grilled veggies are great in a salad, too). Toss with your favourite dressing, and voila! A complete, nutritious meal, no cooking required.
Cocktail hour
Herbs like basil, parsley and dill are fantastic when incorporated into cocktails, as they add a fresh, lively punch to drinks — which can be especially refreshing when the weather outside is chilly, and you’re craving a little taste of summer (and, lucky for you, your fresh herbs will grow year-round).
One of the best ways to incorporate herbs into cocktails is by muddling: add a handful of herbs to the bottom of a sturdy glass or cocktail shaker, along with some sugar, and mash them together. If you don’t have a muddler — which is a long, blunt tool designed for the job — you can do this with the handle of a wooden spoon. Then, add your spirit of choice to the glass, and top with soda water or a citrus-based mixer. Muddled basil, dill and parsley go well with gin- and vodka-based drinks, while dill can also be delicious with vodka or mezcal. You can also use a fresh herb sprig as a garnish.
You can, of course, forego the alcohol! Muddled and fresh herbs add refreshing character to non-alcoholic drinks, like citrus-based sodas or plain sparkling water.
Incredible infusions
Making herb- or pepper-infused oils is another great way to use up your Vegehome harvest, and it’s one that will allow you to add herbal flavour or a spicy kick to just about anything you cook.
To make an infused oil with delicate herbs like chives, parsley or dill, blanch the herbs (which means cook them quickly — for about ten seconds — in boiling water), then put them immediately in an ice bath. Drain them, and puree them in a food processor or blender along with some olive oil. How much olive oil you use will depend on how herbaceous you’d like your infused oil to be! More oil will mean a less intense flavour. Then, drain the puree in a cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve over a clean bowl. Don’t press into the cheesecloth or sieve — it’s best to let the mixture drain overnight. The next day, pour your infused herb oil into a clean glass mason jar or glass bottle.
You can drizzle your herb-infused oil over pastas, pizzas, egg dishes, grilled meats or fish… really, the sky’s the limit.
To make chili-infused oil, well… check out our recipe here!
Put it on ice
Freezing vegetables is a great way to preserve fresh produce that you can’t eat at the peak of its ripeness. For greens like spinach, chard, and mustard greens, blanch them (see note above!), then drain and cool them completely. Once they’re cooled, put them in a freezer-safe plastic bag or container, and make sure to remove any air. When you thaw your greens, they’ll be ready to eat!
You can freeze tomatoes using the same method, but it’s important to note that they’ll lose their firmness — but not their flavour — in the freezer. This means that, once you thaw them, they’ll be great for sauces, stews or soups.
You can also freeze fine herbs like basil and parsley by pulsing the herbs with olive oil in a food processor, and placing the resulting mixture in an ice cube tray.
Can it
Canning is the oldest, most tried-and-true method of preserving food, but it might prove intimidating to first-timers. Don’t worry: it’s much easier than it seems!
To can vegetables, such as tomatoes or hot peppers, first, sterilize your mason jars by boiling them in hot water for ten minutes. Carefully remove them, and fill with your canning mixture — if you’re using tomatoes, you’ll want to blanch and skin them first; if you’re canning peppers, consider adding them to a pickling mixture of salt, vinegar and sugar, plus spices of your choice. Whatever you’re using, make sure to pack the can tightly. To seal the can, screw on the lid tightly and submerge the can again — standing up this time — in a pot of boiling water. You’ll know the can is sealed when you hear the lid pop.
If you’re interested in starting an indoor garden, you’ve come to the right place! Growing an indoor garden starts with understanding certain principles. Indoor gardening is quite different from outdoor gardening. Not only is indoor gardening more affordable and convenient, but it also allows you to grow herbs and vegetables all year round.
Beginner gardeners have access to the ultimate garden sanctuary they can control in the privacy of their home. As long as you’re properly prepared, indoor gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience resulting in plentiful greenery to enjoy.
Where Will You Grow Your Indoor Garden?
When beginning your indoor gardening process, consider each step. The first and arguably most important step is deciding where you want your garden. Understanding how much space you have in your location is critical. That also plays a role in the types of plants you can grow. If you’re interested in growing smaller herbs, vegetables, and succulents, they’re best suited in an area with a small windowsill. However, with a Vegehome Indoor Garden, you can grow your herbs or vegetables anywhere!
What Will You Grow In Your Indoor Garden?
There are a variety of different herbs and veggies available. After deciding the location for your indoor garden, it’s time to consider what you want to grow.
Indoor Herb Gardening
With a Vegehome Indoor Garden, you can select the herbs you love and easily grow them all year round. Grow delicious dill, basil, parsley, or arugula right at home.
Indoor Vegetable Gardening
If you love the idea of homegrown, pesticide-free produce, consider Vegehome. Our indoor garden is a personal farmer’s market! Select the types of vegetables you want from our pod selection for the most exotic and delicious vegetable seeds.
How and When Do You Water Your Indoor Garden?
Some plants require more water than others. Previously, garden owners would have to estimate when their garden needed water. With a Vegehome Indoor Garden, you don’t have that worry. The Oasis garden tells you when the water level is too low by flashing a light at the top. As long as you follow that identifier and fill up the garden when it is time, you’re giving your garden enough water.
Bottom Line For Indoor Gardening Beginners
Growing a thriving indoor garden is an enjoyable, healthy, and rewarding experience. Understanding the requirements of specific herbs and vegetables and setting up your indoor garden accordingly is key! With knowledge and care, your indoor garden will be fruitful all year round. Set up, sit back and enjoy!
Your Guide To Must-Have Herbs and Vegetables For Summer BBQs
Summertime and grilling go hand in hand! This grilling season, BBQ owners can enhance their delicious dinners and lunches with fresh, flavourful herbs and vegetables. Having healthy herbs and vegetables available at your disposal when you’re ready to fire up the grill is essential. Interested in growing your own savoury vegetables and herbs for the summer? Not only are herb and vegetable gardening a fantastic hobby, but it’s also affordable and helps relieve stress! So which herbs and vegetables are the most ideal for summer BBQs?
For the must-have herbs and vegetables to grow and BBQ this summer, check out the Vegehome guide:
Three Delicious Herbs and Vegetables To Grow
If this is your first time tending to vegetables, tomatoes are a practical place to start. Not only are tomatoes rather simple to grow, but the taste is also even more delectable when home-grown. Growing tomatoes provides you with an abundant harvest. Harvest time is any time with Vegehome, so you do not have to worry about when to grow your vegetables or herbs. Sweet & neat tomatoes are fairly easy to grow, require much less space and minimal care. They are selectively bred based on their size and the sweet flavour they possess. There is very little shortage of selection when it comes to dwarf tomatoes as well!
Ideal for summer salads, tasty dishes or as a simple snack, dwarf tomatoes are the perfect vegetable to add to the BBQ this summer.
Dill is a zesty, culinary herb with a flavour similar to celery and fennel. It’s the ideal herb for seasoning potatoes, salad dressings, meats or fish. Dill plant leaves can be harvested at any point in time. Normally, it takes dill eight weeks to bloom after its sowing. With The Vegehome, you can expect that blooming period to be cut in half. Plus, caring for a dill plant is easy. A small amount of dill goes a long way when seasoned onto a special dish!
The red Biquinho Brazil Pepper, also known as “Sweety Drops,” originates from Brazil and packs quite the punch! This rare pepper is from the same species as some of the hottest peppers on the planet! Biquinho red peppers contain a fruity flavour with a habanero-esque kick. They can be consumed raw in salsas and salads or sautéed on the grill. When paired with other vegetables, meats or poultry, the pepper adds a smoky taste. The Biquinho red peppers are self-sufficient! They’re one of the best low-maintenance vegetables available.
Start Growing Delicious Herbs and Vegetables Today
The Vegehome indoor hydroponic garden offers you the opportunity to grow your own herbs and vegetables all year round. So why wait until the right season to grow your favourite plant? The Vegehome allows you to grow your choice of vegetable or herb in the comfort of your home. Our smart garden acts as your own personal farmer’s market with ingredients from various cultures and locations across the globe. Enjoy herbs and vegetables of your choice every season!
As spring comes into full bloom, so do many herb and vegetable gardens outdoors! While Vegehome allows you to access fresh, homegrown food year-round, our indoor hydroponic garden can also be used as a handy way to sprout your greens before they are transferred to your garden.
Outdoor plants are a great way to personalize your garden, balcony, patio, or backyard. With your Vegehome smart garden, you can start growing these plants ahead of time, transplanting them outdoors when the time comes.
Here are a few handy tips to ensure you have a bountiful harvest with your Jardin or Oasis!
Spring Clean Your Vegehome
Show your indoor garden some extra love by giving it a deep clean between uses. To ensure your plants are healthy and reduce the risk of plant diseases, it is best to keep your Vegehome clean.
The plants growing in the Vegehome will only take up nutrients in a specific ratio depending on which plants you are growing. The remaining nutrients will remain in the water and slowly rise to toxic levels. We recommend changing the water at least every four months to ensure your plants stay healthy.
To drain your Oasis, place the pump’s outlet tube over a drain and turn on the pump by holding the power button until the pump starts. Once the system is empty, refill it with fresh water and add a new dose of nutrients!
Whenever you drain its system, clean the reservoir with soapy water by adding 60 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide to 8 liters of water to the reservoir and keep the pump running for one hour. Ensure thoroughly rinse the reservoir with water and wiping it dry after disinfecting before refilling.
To clean your Jardin, simply remove all debris from the reservoir, clean with soapy water, and wipe dry before use.
Choose Herbs and Vegetables That Appeal to You & Your Climate
Vegehome pods are notorious for their unique herbs and vegetables from around the world. You can grow such exotic greens thanks to our cutting-edge lighting technology that ensures your plants receive the perfect amount of light needed for a plentiful harvest.
When choosing which pods you would like to repot outdoors, ensure that they receive the proper amount of sunlight and are placed in a space with nutrient-rich soil. For example, bok choy can be planted in an area that receives full sun; however, it’s best to grow in part-shade not to burn the leaves.
Use sites like Gardening Know How to research what your Vegehome pods will need once they are transferred to your outdoor garden.
Repot Outdoors as The Weather Improves
The final step before you can enjoy your exotic Vegehome pods in their new space is repotting. Here’s how to tackle this step for the best results:
Repotting pods such as herbs and lettuce can be done throughout the summer months, giving you optimal space to grow even more both indoors and outdoors! When outdoors, be sure that you are protecting your plants from unwanted animals like squirrels and hedgehogs. This can be done by placing it out of reach or wrapping chicken wire around your potted plants.
Happy Gardening!
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