Here is an article by Kathy Hester.  I thinks it is great for spring!

Nothing shows me spring is finally here than some of my perennial herbs like mint, thyme, and oregano finally greening up their pots. If you’re like me, you may have to scrape off some of those fall leaves you never got the time to deal with.

If you haven’t grown anything, herbs are a fine place to start. You just need a few things to get started and before you know it, you’ll have more types of mint than you can possibly keep up with.

Start with a container, herb seeds or seedlings, and potting soil. If you have a friend that gardens already, she may be able to help you on out on all three.

You can get pots at a local craft store, off of freecycle, or in a garden store. I like to get cheap clay pots at A.C. Moore with 40% off coupons. The downside to clay is you need to water a little more frequently. Check out thrift stores too, you can often find old pans, salad bowls, and metal cookware to use. All you have to do is drill drainage holes. I’ve even seen herbs planted in an old rubber boot.

Why potting soil? Because it is already mixed up and ready to go. You can mix your own, but that involves buying a few different bags. It’s fun to do once you’ve been gardening for awhile, but if it’s your first time take the easier and cheaper way out. The good news is that organic potting soil seems to have hit the mainstream.

Now the fun part – deciding what to plant. Think of herbs that you like and then do a little research on the web. Some herbs are not easily grown from seed, but others are. Basil and cilantro are easy, but basil grows in the heat of the summer while cilantro likes the cool of spring and fall. They are both annuals. Mint is almost impossible to kill once it gets settled in so it’s a great seedling to buy, or ask a friend for a cutting and put it in some water. It will sprout roots and then you can plant your free plant.

Orange, lemon, or lime mint is a great addition to a mojito. How about serving it up with a pasta salad tossed with a pesto made out of oregeno and thyme? It looks great on a Noritake Colorwave plate.

If you have a garden in your yard you can incorporate some herbs into, but avoid mints and lemon balm because they are aggressively invasive. Believe me, I have a ton of it trying to invade my front yard. If you must plant mint in the ground, plant it in a container you bury in the ground. Also be mindful of what herbs are perennial (come back every year) in your zone. There is nothing wrong with annuals like yummy basil, but if you know that in advance you’ll feel less like you killed it!

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