Herbs are easy to grow and easy to care for, and are the perfect way to introduce gardening to your kids this summer. From compact pots in your kitchen to big backyard gardens, get kids involved in the process from start to finish! Just add a little water and sunshine and see what grows! Here are our favorite kid-friendly herbs to grow — and eat!
 
Basil
Best known as the main ingredient in pesto, basil also tastes great in a fresh marinara sauce, or on top of homemade pizza or tomato soup. Try slicing ripe, juicy tomatoes and cool cucumbers, toss in a handful of fresh picked green beans from the garden or farmer’s market, and sprinkle with sweet Italian basil and your favorite balsamic vinaigrette, for a crunchy salad kids will love — no bland lettuce here! Other varieties of basil that will appeal to kids include Thai, opal, purple, lemon, lime and Genovese basil.
 
Basil can grow as big as three feet tall and wide if you let it. The more leaves you pick, the more leaves it will grow! Just be sure to pinch off flower spikes before they form, or your basil will get tough and stalky. It needs regular water and a good amount of sunlight to thrive, so keep your basil in a sunny spot in your garden, or on a windowsill.
 
Mint

Mint is another easy to grow herb that kids love! Choose from varieties like sweet mint, spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint. Keep the soil moist, and keep mint in full sun or part shade. Mint tastes great in a refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot day. Or make homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream for a special summertime treat!
 
Chives

Kids actually like the delicate flavor of chives — that’s why they are the onion of choice for sour cream and onion potato chips! Chives taste great in dips and scrambled eggs, but potatoes truly are their perfect match. It’s fun to sprinkle chopped chives like confetti on top of a hot, buttery baked spud. Or pair it with some bacon, broccoli, cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream for a quick summer meal. Chives grow best in well-drained soil and they like lots of sun.
 
Oregano

If your kids like pizza, chances are they like oregano too — after all, it is a main ingredient in pizza sauce! Oregano doesn’t need as much water as other herbs, but it does need sunlight. Like basil, regular trimming will help it stay bushy. Oregano does well in containers, but it also makes a great groundcover. Sprinkle it on garlic toast, or use it to season grilled chicken. Or make a Greek pasta salad with black olives, cucumbers, Feta cheese and fresh oregano tossed with your favorite Greek dressing.
 
Cilantro

Cilantro does not like a lot of heat, so it tends to do well in a kitchen container. Cilantro tastes great on tacos (a kid favorite) and pairs well with avocados or tomatoes. Add some chopped fresh cilantro to a creamy guacamole or tomato salsa for a delicious and nutritious taste kids will love.
 
This June, July and August, TheRTAStore is featuring a special DIY Kids blog series. Next month we will bring you another fun, boredom-busting activity you can enjoy with your kids this summer, so stay tuned!
 
At TheRTAStore we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) cabinets, Pre-Assembled cabinets, and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let one of our friendly kitchen designers help make your kitchen dreams come true!