How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden

Make a list of the foods you eat or cook often. Write down what herbs are in these recipes. Plant herbs frequently used in your recipe list along with common kitchen herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro and dill.

Place the herb garden in a prime location right outside the kitchen door. You'll use herbs more frequently when they are easy to access. If outside ground is not available, use planter pots on the porch or a row of colorful flowerpots on a lit windowsill. Make sure your herb garden will get enough light and water in the intended location.

Buy small herb plants at a greenhouse or nursery for an early harvest.

Remove the herbs from the pots by flipping the plant upside down into your hand. Then, shake off any excess soil from the root system.

Place the starters upright in a hole that is slightly deeper than the length of the roots. Fill soil around the plant's base, pat the soil firmly with your hands and water immediately.

Water daily and pinch off any dried leaves and stems.

Cut the herbs for cooking with scissors above the bottom leaves, leaving a stem in the ground for additional growth.