Ahh, mint: delicious, fresh, and more than capable of taking over your garden if you let it! Mint is known for growing like a weed, so bringing it indoors in its own pot is a great way to keep it contained and have an easy plant to grow for beginners. Give it very bright light – direct light is fine – and water thoroughly when the soil feels dry to the touch and you’ll have plenty of mint for all your culinary adventures. Not sure what to do with all your mint? Cool down this cherry, mint and lime julep recipe.

Basil is a kitchen staple and, luckily, easy to grow. Unlike mint, basil doesn’t like to dry out, so it’s best to keep the soil slightly moist (but not soggy). Stick your potted basil in a sunny window that gets six hours of light or more. If you notice it starting to get quite leggy, cut each stalk of basil back to where you see tiny leaves budding on either side of the stem. This will encourage your plant to fill out and get bushier.

Thyme is a hardy plant and a versatile herb to keep on hand in your kitchen. It’s drought-tolerant, so it can tolerate a little neglect as long as it gets enough light. You can pot it in a planter together with your mint because their care requirements are similar: let it dry out a bit between waterings and give it a good amount of bright, even direct light.

Parsley comes in many varieties, and is as nice to look at as it is to eat. In the outdoors, parsley thrives in full sun, so you’ll want to give it as much light as possible indoors. You can pot it together with basil, as the care is similar: keep them both in soil that is slightly moist but not too soggy, which can encourage root rot.

A well-draining soil mix and a pot with drainage are key to a flourishing rosemary plant. You’ll want to avoid putting it in a location with lots of temperature fluctuations, so avoid that drafty windowsill or shelf beside the heating vent. Give it direct light and prune or harvest it every so often to encourage growth.

Chives are one of most versatile herbs to grow indoors. They can be added to virtually any savoury dish for a burst of colour and subtle oniony flavour. Keep it in a sunny kitchen window or another window in your home that receives the most sun, as this is a full sun plant. They like to be consistently moist, so water when the soil is just shy of dry.

If you love to make pizzas, pastas, soups and sauces, oregano is a must-have in a well-stocked kitchen. Luckily, it’s also one of many easy plants to grow for beginners, as they can tolerate a bit of neglect. Let your oregano dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly.

In lists of easy herbs to grow, lavender is often overlooked. But this fragrant plant is good for more than just potpourri! You can infuse it into sugar or milk to add a delicious floral flavour to your baked goods. Like many herbs, lavender needs lots of light and prefers to dry out between thorough waterings. To avoid overwatering or underwatering, thoroughly water when the pot feels light or the soil feels dry to the touch.

Lemon balm is an herb in the mint family, and it resembles mint in appearance and care. This plant is a favourite among pollinators like bees and butterfli, and the mild lemony flavour from its leaves can be used to make herbal teas, desserts, and more. Give your lemon balm lots of light and prune it back regularly to keep it from getting leggy.

If you struggle to keep your cat out of your plants, why not give your feline friend a plant of their own? Catnip and cat grass are super easy to grow. Keep it in a windowsill in bright direct light. Prune it often to encourage new growth and you can give the clippings to your cat.