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If you’ve ever wanted to grow something but felt like you don’t have the space, the time or the “green thumb,” start with herbs in pots. They’re forgiving, they don’t need a yard, and there’s nothing like snipping fresh basil or parsley right before dinner. In our kitchen, where veggies get the spotlight, fresh herbs make simple meals taste special.

The easiest herbs for beginners

• Mint: almost impossible to kill. Always grow it in its own pot, because it spreads like crazy in the ground.
• Chives: come back year after year and are great on potatoes, soups and eggs-free scrambles.
• Parsley: steady, hardy and useful in nearly everything.
• Rosemary and thyme: love sun, like to dry out between waterings, and are perfect for roasted vegetables.
• Basil: a summer favorite that loves heat and sun. Pinch the tops often to keep it bushy.

You can start from an herb seed variety pack or pick up small starter plants from a nursery, which is the quickest way to get going.

What you’ll need

• Pots with drainage holes. This is the big one. Terracotta pots are classic, pretty and let the soil breathe, which herbs love.
• Good potting mix, not garden soil. A light, organic potting mix drains well so roots don’t sit in water.
• Saucers to catch water if your pots are indoors or on a porch.
• A small watering can with a gentle spout. A long-spout watering can makes it easy to water at the soil instead of the leaves.
• Plant markers are optional but cute. Wooden plant labels help when the little seedlings all look alike.

Sun and water

Most herbs want at least 6 hours of sun a day. A sunny porch, patio or south-facing window is ideal. If your indoor light is limited, a small grow light can make a big difference in winter.

For watering, check the soil with your finger. If the top inch is dry, water deeply until it runs out the bottom. Rosemary and thyme like to dry out more between drinks, while basil, mint and parsley like it a little more evenly moist. More herbs are lost to overwatering than underwatering.

Harvest often (it helps them grow)

This is the fun part. Regular snipping actually makes most herbs fuller. Cut just above a pair of leaves, and never take more than about a third of the plant at once. A pair of small garden snips makes it quick and clean.

Group them for a pretty kitchen garden

A cluster of terracotta pots on a sunny step or a tray on the windowsill is one of the simplest ways to make a space feel cozy and lived-in. Grouping herbs with similar needs together (sun lovers with sun lovers, thirsty with thirsty) makes care even easier.

Which herb would you grow first? Tell me on Instagram.

Put those herbs to work: fresh herbs are lovely in this honey balsamic vinaigrette for garden salads from our bee blog.

Keep reading: The plant-forward pantry staples I always keep stocked, and browse the prints and gifts in my shop.