For the new gardener, starting with herbs may be a great way to ease into establishing a vegetable garden. Herbs are hardy and fairly easy to grow in the sunshine state. And planting them can give a newbie gardener added confidence. Florida Horticulturalist Portia Chavonelle recommends growing seven classic herbs.

• basil
• parsley
• thyme
• marjoram
• oregano
• mint
• tarragon
• And, of course, there are many more you can grow that may be best to cultivate in Florida during the fall, winter, and spring.

To start, consider planting herbs in terracotta pots. According to Tom Hewitt of the Potted Herb, these pots are useful because they “breath better than most other materials, and drain readily.” He recommends planting herbs in pots no less than 8 inches deep or 10 inches across because small pots dry out quickly.

Remember, herbs like to grow in a sunny location. If planting them indoors, place them near a window that gets plenty of sunlight. Herbs should be grown in potting soil and should be watered once a week (and twice during extreme heat/drought conditions). You know you’re overwatering your herbs if they become yellow and fall off or the stems and roots break easily.

You can also consider growing herbs in a hydroponic unit. Over at Epic Gardening, they have an extensive tutorial on how to establish a hydroponic herb garden.