The easiest herbs to grow at home (plus gardening tips for beginners!)

I've got zero experience gardening, though I'm really over buying expensive fresh herbs at the grocery store, and am determined to start my own mini indoor herb garden. It doesn't seem that hard either: I've been researching the simplest varieties to grow and there are plenty to choose from, and I also came across a few helpful tips I thought I'd pass on to the rest of you who are considering testing out your green thumbs.

According to wisegeek.com, among the hardiest, disease-resistant, versatile herbs to grow at home are: dill, oregano, basil, sage, thyme, rosemary, sweet marjoram, tarragon, parsley, garlic chives, mint, and lavender, and each one is as fragrant and delicious as the next. Naturally, you'll want to choose based on your own cooking preferences, but since I tend to use basil, chives, rosemary and parsley most frequently I'll probably start with those.

The site also offered some handy pointers: for starters, it's best to opt for clay pots instead of plastic ones, since clay is porous which makes it easier to keep soil damp. I was planning on doing this regardless, since I also like the idea of grouping different kinds of herbs in terra cotta containers on the dining table as a centerpiece.

For growing purposes though, you'll want to place the pots near a windowsill that gets somewhere between 4-6 hours of direct sunlight everyday. You shouldn't need to bother with fertilizer, since most edible herbs grow best in low or medium soil fertility conditions. Also, cooking herbs are apparently most flavorful just before they bloom-a good thing to keep in mind when harvesting.