• 1). Visit friends and relatives who grow herbs, and ask for a small section of their herbs. Many herbs are perennials that return each year in larger clumps. Eventually, they need to be divided to preserve the health of the plants.
  
  
• 2). Offer to trade a piece of your perennial flowers for a section of their herbs. Most gardeners are happy to share their herbs, especially when they are ready to divide them.
  
  
• 3). Dig up the herbs in the fall. Use a spade or garden fork to dig under the clump of herbs. Lift the clump free of the soil and cut off a section for your garden with the blade of the spade or a sharp knife.
  
  
• 4). Transplant the herbs to a prepared garden bed as soon as possible. Most are fine for a few hours as long as they are protected from direct sunlight. If you must wait longer, place the herbs in a bucket with a few inches of cool water and put in a shady location.
  
  
• 5). Plant your new herbs in similar soil and lighting conditions as the mother plant was growing in. Position the herb plants to the original planting depth and fill in around the roots with soil. Firm the soil down with your hands to secure the plant.
  
  
• 6). Water thoroughly to moisten the soil to the root level. Water newly planted herbs deeply once a week until the ground freezes.
  
  

Seeds

• 1). Purchase inexpensive seed packets or gather seeds from existing herbs. You can often find packets of herb seeds for a dollar or two. Seed packets often contain more seeds that you can use. Consider swapping seeds with a friend or neighbor so that each of you only has to buy a few packets.
  
  
• 2). Fill seed trays or flats with seed starter. Mist to moisten the soil. Soil should be slightly damp, but should not be soggy.
  
  
• 3). Plant herb seeds in late winter or early spring, following the directions on the seed packet. Most herbs prefer to be lightly covered with soil or seed starter.
  
  
• 4). Mist to moisten the seeds, and place the trays in a warm area to germinate. Some herbs, such as mints, require 21 to 30 days to germinate; others, such as basil, may germinate within a week.
  
  
• 5). Place in a sunny location once the seedlings emerge. Transplant to your herb garden once the danger of frost has passed in your area.