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No, it's not too late - just buy them at a nursery. I suppose it depends on what you cook, but I think basil, chives, oregano, thyme and rosemary are great basics for an herb garden. Maybe some mint too - just keep an eye on it. It will take over your garden. And the best part is everything I listed (except the basil) are perennials and will come back year after year (depending on your location).

It depends on where you live. I add to mine almost weekly. There's always something interesting at the nursery.

I have a round pot of soil in my kitchen with chives in the center (sporting beautiful purple flowers) and surrounded with basil, thyme, rosemary, sage and parsley. As long as I keep taking cuttings, it should work perfectly for most of my cooking needs. I also have a bay plant and another of Italian parsley because I use a lot of that. I'm hoping the basil will be enough. If not, I'll just plant more in another pot.

My mint and tarragon should be popping up soon outdoors.

@Pumpkinbear - We saw the Aerogarden at Sam's or Costco and my only concern about it is the counter real estate it gobbles. The thing itself looks great though and a wonderful way to have fresh herbs at your fingertips.

We have a bunch of pots in the yard. Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Basil, Oregano and Parsley all live there now but I frequently add to them. I love Purple Basil but I don't like the cross-flavors like cinnamon basil and lemon thyme.

PS - The biggest hint in keeping your herb plants healthy...Use them. My basil plants did not get bushy until I increased my usage of fresh basil. Next thing I know, they look like a hedge.

growing herbs outside (or on a sunny window sill) is easy! the more you use them, the more the plant is encouraged to grow. need to take trimmings, but don't have any herb specific cooking planned? cut some herbs, and put them in a vase of water, like cut flowers. they'll live indoors for up to a week.

just want a little herbs? some nurseries sell mixed herb planters. if you do a mixed herb planter, i suggest one that is 10" or larger, otherwise there really isn't enough room for all the stuff in it to grow healthy.

if you're going to grow any mint, put it in a planter, or sink a plastic bucket into the ground and plant it in there. although very tasty and useful, all mints (and lavendars too) are incredibly invasive and will kill anything in their path. although a yard full of mint or lavender could cut down on mowing. . . .

Ok Aerogarden fans, you have my attention.

I found one on Craigslist for $85. That's kind of a lot of money for me, but I might be willing to spend it if this truly is a (mostly) fail-safe way to get herbs. I read some reviews on Amazon that the pump gives out. Have you had any problems with it? Is it something that is always on? I have a cat and 2 dogs, and I dont know that I'd like to leave them with an electric device full of water.

Thanks.

@renzata -- I've never had a problem with the pumps on my AeroGardens. Now you've got me worried! LOL!

All that having been said, I'm not sure I'd leave a water-filled electrical device running with 2 dogs and a cat, either. My dog is little, and doesn't bother with it at all, but maybe yours aren't little, so that's a call only you can make.

Good luck!

@PerkyMac - Thanks. I may try the "container" trick. I love fresh Bay Leaves, and think a plant or bush would be wonderful to have.

@Brownie: I worked for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in one of my former lives and we used to tell people they needed to take bay trees inside in the winter as PerkyMac suggests. You might want to try outside if you live in an unusually warm area (down near the Cape maybe) or in a city AND you could plant the bay tree next to a south facing wall of the house AND there was wind protection (an ell of the house or a tall tight fence or wall) to the west. You would still need to do winter protection: something like tall stakes to support a burlap wrap all around the bay tree with loose salt hay or straw stuffed inside to entirely cover it.
If you are still inspired after all of the above, find a local garden club and see if anyone is growing bay, camellias or figs. Those people would know the right tricks for you to use.

i grow several of the herbs the other folks have mentioned, basil is the easiest, i also grow garlic in containers, just use the garlic cloves you buy at the grocery, plant it in october and you'll have fresh garlic in may. basil and garlic tend to be very forgiving plants and don't require special attention, all they need is soil, water and sun.

@Cassaendra - that is SO unfair. In Hawaii, you guys plant a toothpick and get an oak tree!

Reading this thread made me want to make a trip to a nursery, considering that I use plenty of herbs when I cook. Since I've never ever had an herb garden (and I'm not really sure I can grow anything, since even my modest cactus collection died on me some 20 years ago), I'll ask what will probably look like an absolutely daft question - is it better to plant seeds or to buy "ready" herb plants when you start an herb garden? Any particular soil recommendations?

I am in Fort Worth and we grow mint in hanging baskets on the patio. Not only do they look beautiful, but they smell so good and they are handy for mojitos. Basil, chives, rosemary, mexican oregano, bay, thyme, 2 kinds of parsley, mexican mint marigold do really well in pots or in the ground with morning sun and some protection from the afternoon heat here. Never put mint in the ground unless you put it in a pot at least 8 inches deep to keep it from spreading.

Thanks for the tips Blue Iris. When I read my previous comment, I realize that your interpretation was definitely the more sensible one. I threw out last years chives when I thought we were moving.

How long does it take to get a clump? Is there anything I should do to encourage this?

joyyy - I have an Aerogarden, and you need to add water once a week or so, and the nutrient tables that come with your seeds get added every couple of weeks, so pretty low maintenance. I wouldn't leave it for weeks at a time, but if you top it off before you go out of town, it should be ok.

I'm not much of a gardener (I'm famous for filling planters when I have house guests and never watering them after they leave.) but I do like my aerogarden. You won't get enough basil at a time to make a big batch of pesto, but for general seasoning needs you should be fine. I'm growing cherry tomatoes now and they're just about ripe.