This time of year, as the plant world explodes with shoots stretching up to reach the sun, we naturally tap into the deep, ancient urge to grow something. Medicinal herbs are among the most rewarding of garden projects, providing both a dose of aromatherapy and the materials to make high-quality, cost-effective herbal products. What's more, nurturing plants and making your own remedies are healing activities in themselves.

Here, you'll learn how to grow and use seven versatile herbs. The perennials -- peppermint, lavender, yarrow, lemon balm, and thyme -- take more than a year to yield a significant harvest if started from seed, so it's best to begin with a nursery transplant. The annuals -- chamomile and tulsi -- can be started from seed or a transplant. All the herbs grow well in pots, so there's no garden or yard required.

Herbs are forgiving to grow, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines.

Healthy Soil
Choose an organic, light potting soil; this provides good drainage and room for young roots to grow. (If you're starting plants from seed, you'll use a seed-starting medium.)

Abundant Sun
Unless otherwise noted, your herbs will thrive in full sun.

Water and Food
Water your plants daily (ideally in the morning), until water drains out of the bottom of the pot. If you're using a saucer under the pot, empty it of any water collected. The soil shouldn't stay soaking wet, nor should it dry out completely. Use a balanced organic fertilizer according to package directions. Keep in mind that plants can be killed with kindness; take care not to overfeed or overwater.

Adequate Air Circulation
Avoid crowding your plants; this helps cut down on fungal and pest problems.

Container Options
Garden stores carry a dazzling selection of containers, from terra-cotta classics to stone pots that recall a Zen garden. But feel free to use your imagination. A pair of old boots or a broken watering can look fabulous with herbs spilling out of them. Whatever container you choose, make sure it has a hole in the bottom (or make one) to allow for drainage. To prevent soil from washing out when you water, place a shard of a broken terra-cotta pot, a few stones, or a piece of screen inside the bottom of the pot over the hole.

Beyond these basics, each herb has a few quirks and preferences you'll want to know about. So pour a cup of tea, settle in, and find out everything you need to know to both start your garden and create relaxing teas and baths, sachets, and other remedies. And then discover what pleasure and good health they will bring you.

Start your own apothecary garden with plants such as lavender, mint, lemon balm, and thyme -- and make remedies for stress, digestion, immunity, and more.

Herbal Tea 101
You can make tea with fresh or dried herbs. Pour boiling water over herbs (1 teaspoon dried or 2 teaspoons fresh) in a teapot or mug. Cover and steep for five to 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy. Keeps for a day if refrigerated.

Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita)
Health Benefits
A symbol of hospitality in the garden, peppermint soothes indigestion and has mild stimulating and cooling properties.

Growing
Peppermint's creeping habit makes it a favorite for container gardening. (Growing it in a garden takes extra care; it can take over.) A perennial, it's best started from a transplant. Peppermint prefers shade but tolerates full sun if kept evenly moist.

Harvesting and Drying
Use fresh leaves as needed throughout the summer. To dry, cut the plant back to the bottom two or three leaf nodes (where a leaf meets the stem) just before it flowers; you'll see buds forming on the top. Place in a large basket or drying rack, out of the sun. Toss a couple of times daily until crispy-dry, typically a week or two. Run your thumb and index finger along the stem to remove leaves. (Discard the stems.) Store dried leaves in a clean, dry glass jar away from heat and light. Label and date; the leaves keep for a year. Each plant yields several harvests until the first frost.

How To Use
For a stomachache or gas, try a cup of peppermint tea. Chilled mint tea makes a cooling body spray or a refreshing foot soak for hot days.

Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Health Benefits
Prized for its aromatherapeutic benefits, lavender is among the best herbs for easing stress and boosting mood. It's also antimicrobial and antiseptic.

Growing
A perennial, lavender is best started from a nursery transplant. Be especially careful not to overwater or overfeed lavender.

Harvesting and Drying
When the buds are full but only a couple have opened, cut the stems above the top leaf node (where a leaf meets the stem). Bundle with a rubber band and hang in a dark area with good air circulation until crispy-dry (a week or two). Hang the dried bundle as is to freshen a room, or rough-chop it for use in a sachet. For tea, strip off the flowers and discard the leaves and stems. Store dried lavender in a clean jar away from heat and light. Label and date; it keeps for a year. Lavender blooms once per season.

How To Use
Make lavender tea and add to bathwater for a relaxing soak; cool lavender tea also soothes insect bites and minor cuts and burns. For portable stress relief, make a lavender sachet: Fill a small muslin bag with dried lavender and tie with a ribbon. Inhale the aroma whenever you feel tense.