Plant decorated pots of herbs

HERBS are scented plants whose leaves are harvested for use for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Herbs not only smell great they have healing properties and can transform the taste of food.

They are also fun and easy to grow.

What you need:

■ pots (plastic or clay) ■ potting mix ■ seedlings (or seeds) ■ water

How to:

■ Fill each pot with potting mix.

■ Make a well in the potting mix as deep as your seedling.

■ Tap the bottom of the container to loosen the roots and gently prise the seedling from its container.

■ Plant into your pot, making sure the new soil stays level with the soil the seedling is planted in.

■ Press down firmly around the plant to compact the soil a little.

■ Give them a good watering to help them settle into their new soil.

■ Herbs need plenty of sun to thrive so make sure you choose a sunny spot for them.

Tip:

Herbs require moderate and regular watering, particularly during the hot summer months. Be sure to cut back herbs before they Mix all the dry ingredients then add oil. Add the food colouring to water. Slowly add the water until the desired consistency is reached. Knead the dough to improve the texture and mix the colour in well. It will keep a few days stored in a container. start growing flowers. This encourages the plant to focus on growing more leaves.

Suggested herbs to grow:

■ basil ■ chives ■ coriander ■ rosemary ■ parsley ■ lavender ■ mint ■ dill ■ sage ■ oregano