Most herbs grow best in full sun which makes them perfect for pots on a sun-drenched balcony or deck and they can be just as easily grown in pots on windowsills. Alternatively, a raised planter bed in the garden is great for herbs or simply plant them amongst existing plantings.

Herbs can be purchased in small containers and grown in them. Purchasing herbs this way will cost you about the same as a fresh bunch in the supermarket. The upside is you can keep potted herbs growing and harvest as required.

Picking is critical to good herb management, many gardeners, especially first timers, are reluctant to harvest crops or get the timing wrong. With herbs it's relatively simple, pick the tender young shoots as plants continue growing and add these to your cooking. Pinch shoots just above a leaf so the bud in the leaf junction where you have picked will become your next new shoot. This type of pruning encourages new growth and with herbs, those tender new shoots are the tastiest.

Try growing some simple herbs before venturing into the more difficult. Mint is very easy to grow but it is an invasive plant so don't plant it in the garden, grow it in pots where its rampant growth can be managed. Some of the more popular mint varieties include peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint and apple mint, also know as woolly mint.

Growing herbs from seed is extremely rewarding, sow seed fairly dense and thin out plants as they germinate. Coriander, dill, parsley and chives are perfect in any garden and often pop up as volunteers if allowed to go to seed. Others such as Oregano and Marjoram make excellent ground covers and as a bonus are ideal for suppressing weeds. The cooler months are ideal to get these fragrant beauties off to a good start and make the perfect accompaniment to the edible garden and culinary creations for all occasions, so get growing while you have thyme on your hands (pun intended).