Malaysia is the best place to grow herbs and spices, whether you live in a landed property or high rise. This is because Malaysia is a tropical country with the perfect climate for many herbs. The British did after all colonize Malaysia in the past because they wanted our spices. Below is a list of the top 5 herbs you can grow on your balcony in Malaysia, which will not only green up your space, but also scent up your air delightfully and add to your dinner pot.
1. Planting Basil on Your Balcony
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To first understand what is the basil herb, you need to understand that there are several different species of basil. Some are more suitable for western cuisines such as the sweet basil which is mainly used on pizzas, salads and pastas.
Then there is the holy basil which appropriate to its name, is used for healing purposes. Typically used in Ayurvedic medicine, this species of basil is used as a traditional in India and China. The holy basil is thought to help with many common ailments, including the common cold, fever and flu. It is also thought to be good for various bodily functions including skin issues, kidney problems, and liver protection.
And then again there is the Thai basil which is native to southeast Asia. This species of basil is stronger in taste than the sweet basil, and has a slight licorice and anise taste to it. This gives the dishes it graces a distinctive taste that cannot be found in the other species.
There is also the lemon basil which begins to branch out from the pure basil herbs. The lemon basil is a crossbreed between the American and basil and common basil herb. This species is known for its fragrant lemon scent which adds a kick to spicy food, seafood, pork, and vegetable dishes.
Hence before you begin planting potted basil herbs on your balcony, you will first need to decide which species of basil you would most prefer to eat or use. The basil herb is fortunately an easy one to grow in Malaysia, as it is native to southeast Asia.
2. Planting Mint on Your Balcony
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There are a total of about 13 to 24 species of the mint herb according to Wikipedia, with the most common ones in our gardens being the peppermint and spearmint. The other more exotic mint species include the calamint, orange mint, chocolate mint, and pineapple mint, among the many others.
With so many different species, which should you pick? We recommend the most common and easy-to-grow ones in Malaysia – the mint and spearmint.
Mint is a great herb to plant on your balcony as it adds a kick to many dishes with it minty flavour. Some of the dishes include curry laksa, Thai stir fries, and Vietnamese stir fries. In fact, the mint herb is not only a flavour enhancer for many dishes, it is also thought to have many benefits. For thousands of years, people have been eating the mint herb to help with indigestion and an upset stomach, as well as soothing cold symptoms.
The taste of spearmint is similar to the mint plant, except that it has a slightly cooler and sweeter taste. It also carries many similar benefits to the mint plant, including assisting in nausea and indigestion, gas and vomiting. When it comes to food, this is where it differs from the mint. The spearmint herb is used mainly in flavouring confectionery and sweets, not so much savoury dishes. This is due to the nature of its taste.
The mint herb is another easy plant to grow in Malaysia. It is in fact a herb that can be quite invasive if planted in a garden, and can take over the garden if left alone. Fortunately if you are planting it on a balcony, you will not need to worry about this.
3. Planting Coriander on Your Balcony
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Here we come to the coriander – a love-hate plant among many. You either love it or hate it. The smell of the coriander can be quite overpowering, so it’s important that your family members and you do like the herb before you decide to plant it on your balcony.
The haters say it stinks. Some of them say coriander smells like soap, and some just hate the pungent smell. The lovers however adore the herb, and say it is a very fragrant lemony and floral scented herb that adds the much needed kick to many dishes. Some can even eat entire bunches of coriander at one sitting.
So what does coriander go well with? Well, for the lovers they would say everything. It goes well with soupy dishes, it goes well with stir fries, it’s a great topping on dishes. Some would even go as far as to make coriander the main vegetable complement in their meat stir fry dishes.
The hates will say it goes well with absolutely nothing.
Jokes aside however, the coriander herb does have many health benefits. It is believed to have antioxidant effects, and is also thought to reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol. People with blood sugar issues also drink boiled coriander leaves to reduce and stabilise their blood sugar. There is a long list of benefits to consuming the coriander herb, but that is a story for another day.
As to whether the coriander is an easy plant to grow on your balcony in Malaysia, the answer is a resounding yes. This herb is native to several regions including Asia, so your coriander plant will thrive on your balcony should you choose to plant it.
4. Planting Thyme on Your Balcony
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The thyme herb is a great choice of herb to grow on your balcony if you enjoy western cuisine. It adds a subtle aroma particularly to chicken and fish dishes, with its slightly minty and slightly lemony flavour. The thyme herb is in fact a great complement to seafoods, and can also often be found to be paired with baked or fried tomatoes. In Italian cuisines, thyme is often used in stews and soup stocks.
Besides being just adding amazing flavours to milder flavour food, the thyme herb also has many health benefits. Its oil extract, flowers, and leaves can be used as medication to treat various ailments such as bronchitis, stomach issues, and cough. It is believed to help with lung issues due to its high levels of vitamin C and vitamin A. There is however no scientific evidence to support these claims, as these are merely traditional methods passed down from past generations.
The thyme herb is however a tricky one to grow in Malaysia, as it is native to Eurasia. Thyme is used to more dry conditions, and prefers dry heat over to humid heat. Hence if you choose to grow this plant in Malaysia, you will need to have good control over its environment conditions.
5. Planting Rosemary on Your Balcony
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The rosemary herb is another herb that adds much flavour to western cuisine. It carries a similar flavour to thyme and sage, and has a woody and piney note to it. Rosemary is a natural flavour enhancer to many of the common food including butter, olive oil, confectionary, and savoury dishes.
The rosemary pairs beautifully with stews and stronger tasting meat as well such as goat and lamb. This versatile herb even goes well with other plant based food including potatoes, mushrooms, and onions. In short, the rosemary herb goes well with almost everything, and even makes for an amazingly soothing tea.
As with all the herbs in this list, the rosemary herb also comes with a long list of benefits. It is believed to be beneficial to metabolic health and promoting the body’s immunity functions. The rosemary herb is also supposed to be good for skin and hair nourishment and even cancer prevention among its many benefits.
The rosemary herb is another evergreen plant that will thrive in Malaysia as it loves the sun. So you can plant them on your balcony without any worries about it dying from the Malaysian heat.
Which Herbs Should You Grow on Your Balcony?
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As growing a garden on your balcony may be a little restrictive due to the limited space, we at PropSocial have picked out for you the top 5 herb plants to grow on your balcony in Malaysia. We suggest you make your selection depending on which plant you believe will benefit you the most – or which you will eat the most of.
Happy gardening on your balcony, we wish you an abundance of herby rewards in the coming months!
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(Written by Isabelle, 18th March 2021)