There’s nothing I love more than infusing fresh herbs from my kitchen herb garden into whatever I’m cooking or cocktailing.  And whether you consider yourself an expert or novice gardener, mastering a small indoor herb garden is easier than you think.  

To get started, gather planters of different shapes and sizes (these are from Anthropologie), organic potting soil and your preferred seeds or already-planted herbs. When selecting your preferred herbs, think of how you’ll use them.  Sprigs of thyme add a crisp bite to everything from roasted vegetables to hearty soups.  Fresh cut basil is the perfect way to garnish a salad, and a necessity for any margherita pizza.  Parsley garnishes every dish with a much-needed pop of color.  Mint is a mojito staple and will make your entire kitchen smell heavenly.  And if you find yourself regularly cooking with one herb more than others, plant that herb in one of the larger planters and double up on seeds.  

When moving the herbs from the store containers to your planters, gently break up the roots with your fingers and place the herbs in the center of your planter. Then, surround the plant with additional soil. Lightly pat down the soil, but make sure not to overcrowd the herbs or add too much soil—you want to always give the plant room to grow. (See the slideshow below for an easy four-step tutorial.)