Herbs & Medicinal जड़ी-बूटियाँ
Complete growing encyclopedias for 25 Indian herbs and medicinal plants — from mint to ashwagandha. Growing, harvesting, drying and medicinal uses.
25 Indian herbs और medicinal plants की complete encyclopedia — mint से ashwagandha तक। Growing, harvesting, drying और medicinal uses।
25 Edibles
Mint / Pudina
पुदीना
Mentha spicata (spearmint) | M. arvensis (corn mint — India menthol)
Mint / Pudina — grow FREE from market bundle in water (roots in 5 days!). ALWAYS container — invasive runner. India = world's largest menthol producer. Pinch flowers always.
🌱 Year-round from cuttings | ALWAYS in containers — invasive runner!
⏱️ 30-45 days from cutting | Continuous perennial harvest
Basil / Sweet Basil
बेसिल / तुलसी-सा मीठा
Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) — NOT tulsi (O. tenuiflorum)
Basil / Sweet Basil — NOT tulsi (different plant!). NEVER refrigerate (blackens). Sabja seeds = India's original chia seeds (falooda!). Pinch flowers always. Annual — resow every 6 weeks.
🌱 March-September | Annual — succession sow every 6-8 weeks
⏱️ 4-6 weeks from seed | Pinching essential for bushy growth
Lemongrass / Lemon Chai Ghas
लेमनग्रास / गवती चहा
Cymbopogon citratus (culinary) | C. flexuosus (East Indian — oil)
Lemongrass — grow FREE from market stalk in water (roots in 10 days!). Annual rejuvenation cut essential. Sharp leaf edges — wear gloves. India = world's largest oil producer. Chai essential.
🌱 Year-round from market stalks | Division from established clump
⏱️ 3-4 months from stalk propagation | Perennial 5-10 years
Ashwagandha / Indian Ginseng
अश्वगंधा
Withania somnifera
Ashwagandha — less water + poor soil = MORE withanolides! Cortisol -32%, Testosterone +22% (clinical). Rajasthan conditions ideal. Berries mildly toxic. Thyroid medication — monitor.
🌱 June-July or Feb-March | Direct sow | 6-8 months root harvest
⏱️ 6-8 months from seed — annual. Leaves yellow = harvest signal.
Brahmi / Bacopa
ब्राह्मी
Bacopa monnieri (true brahmi) — NOT Centella asiatica (South India brahmi)
Brahmi (Bacopa) — grows in WATER TROUGH (near-100% success!). NOT the same as South India brahmi (Centella). 12 weeks for memory benefit — patience. Fish tank growing possible. Daily 5-10 leaves.
🌱 Year-round from cuttings | Water trough propagation near-100% success
⏱️ Continuous from established plant | Grows in water containers
Giloy / Guduchi
गिलोय / गुडूची / अमृता
Tinospora cordifolia
Giloy / Guduchi — "Amrita" (nectar of immortality). Plant near NEEM = Neem-Giloy (most potent!). Virtually unkillable. Dengue platelet support clinically studied. Autoimmune: caution.
🌱 Year-round from stem cutting | Plant near NEEM for maximum potency!
⏱️ Pencil-thick mature green stems | Continuous perennial harvest
Stevia / Meethi Tulsi
स्टेविया / मीठी तुलसी
Stevia rebaudiana
Stevia — 200-300x sweeter than sugar, ZERO calories, ZERO GI! Less N fertilizer = sweeter leaves. Pre-flower harvest = peak sweetness. 200+ studies GRAS certified. Diabetic gold.
🌱 From cuttings (seeds unreliable) | March-September best | Pinch flowers always
⏱️ 3-4 months first harvest | BEFORE flowering = peak sweetness
Aloe Vera (Edible Uses)
एलोवेरा / घृतकुमारी (खाने योग्य उपयोग)
Aloe barbadensis miller
Aloe Vera — CLEAR GEL = edible. YELLOW LATEX = laxative (drain first!). Overwatering = #1 killer. India world's largest producer. IBS + blood sugar clinically supported.
🌱 Year-round from pups | Allow cut end to dry 2-3 days before planting
⏱️ Outer mature plump leaves anytime | Drain yellow latex before consuming!
Moringa Leaves / Sahjan Patta
मोरिंगा पत्ते / सहजन पत्ता / मुरुंगाई कीरई
Moringa oleifera — LEAVES PAGE (pods covered separately in vegetables)
Moringa Leaves — 7x Vit C, 4x calcium, 3x iron (all one leaf!). Leaves 10-25x more nutritious than pods. SHADE dry for powder (not sun — destroys Vit C!). Prune to 1.5m for easy harvest.
🌱 Year-round perennial | Prune to 1-1.5m for leaf access (pollarding)
⏱️ Young tender leaves continuous | SHADE DRY for powder (not sun!)
Showing 9 of 25 edibles
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