Basil

• Basil is a versatile herb that is a staple in many Italian dishes such as pesto or chopped and placed over tomatoes or pizza. Basil requires a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day and needs to be watered on a weekly basis. If your basil begins to flower, be sure to pinch or cut off the buds immediately, as the flower will stop the fragrant leaves from growing. If grown indoors, basil will continue to sprout new leaves all year. When harvesting, be sure to take off the top-most leaves first and do not remove all of the leaves from a single plant at one time.
  
  

Rosemary

• Rosemary is an excellent herb for soups, stews and for stuffing in turkey or chicken. To start your own cultivation of rosemary, it is best to cut two inches from an established plant and then use it to begin your own rosemary plant. Most people believe rosemary is difficult to grow, but that is not the case if starting with pieces of a healthy plant. Remember that rosemary is not fond of cold weather and does best in a sunny location. Rosemary grows quickly, and if grown indoors it might need to be re-potted yearly.
  
  

Cilantro

• Cilantro is an essential herb for dishes that herald from south of the border. Homemade salsa with fresh cilantro is a flavor explosion in your mouth, and it is an excellent garnish for taco salads, burritos or Mexican casseroles.
  
  When growing cilantro, be sure to keep it away from overly warm temperatures and prune regularly. Cilantro has a short growing season, so plant seeds every few weeks throughout the growing season to ensure a steady supply. Also make sure the stalks are planted within a few inches of one another so the leaves of the herb helps shade the roots, which helps keep it cool.