It’s easy to grow your own herbs, even if you don’t have a lot of space. You can start with seeds or get little plants from a store. Plant your herbs in pots or tin cans, and make sure to water them when the soil gets dry. If you put your plants in a window that faces south, they will grow faster. When the plants get bigger, your child can help you pick the leaves to use in cooking. Here are some good herbs to start with:

Cilantro

Cilantro grows very quickly, especially when it gets lots of sun. The leaves can be used in guacamole, tacos, nachos and salsa. Save some of the seeds from your plants so you can plant cilantro again.

Mint

There are many kinds of mint plants, each with a different flavor. Choose from spearmint, peppermint, lemon mint or even chocolate mint! You can use the leaves in tea or juice. Or, tear them into tiny pieces to add to fresh fruit or a smoothie.

Basil

Basil plants need lots of sun, so make sure to keep them in a bright window or on a porch. Basil is great in foods like spaghetti, soups and pizza.

Chives

Chives are a member of the onion family and they add a nice flavor to soups, casseroles, and baked potatoes. If you have older children, they might enjoy using safety scissors to snip the chives off the plant — it is like giving the plant a haircut!