Catmint is generally milder and less smelly than catnip but can still have a feelgood effect on felines. It has a minty aroma and produces spikes of beautiful deep violet flowers which will attract bees, potentially leading to some amusing but painful cat v bee interactions. Grow along the front of a border or in a raised bed, to spill out giving your kitty a nice comfy spot in the sun.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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A pot of catnip growing on a windowsill could send your kitty into euphoric raptures. Not all cats respond to the smell of nepetalactone, an essential oil, but those that do have a feelgood reaction – becoming stimulated, then wacked out! Like their feline friends, catnip will enjoy a warm sunny location, prefurring at least six hours of sun every day but liking afternoon shade and a drink now and again.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.  

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Roman or common chamomile is grown for its flowers, a different, creeping variety ('Treneague') is used for lawns. The flowers produced by Roman chamomile are primarily used to make a soothing and relaxing tea. Like its toga wearing namesakes, it loves lounging about in the sun, so plant somewhere warm and bright. An indoor windowsill is a good place. Keep moist especially in hot weather. Chamomile will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Chives are a kitchen garden staple and if allowed to will seed quite happily about the garden. They’re a member of the allium family, alongside onions, garlic and leeks and have a mild onion flavour too – which is perfect for sauces, dressings, marinades and garnish. Easy to grow, choose a pot or at the front of a border in sunny or partially shaded spot. When harvesting, cut individual leaves down to just above the base – let some flowers grow for the bees and your salads. Chives will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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Garlic chives are an allium like chives, but a different species altogether; allium tuberosum. They originated in China and spread throughout Asia before the rest of the world. Larger and more vigorous than chives, with flatter, broader leaves and a distinct garlicky taste. Garlic chives are easy to grow and actually considered invasive pests in some countries. They enjoy the same conditions as  regular chives, including being particularly suited to pots.

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Dill is a wonderfully aromatic plant and is worth a place in any herb garden. The leaves are prized for their sweet anise flavour which has none of the liquorice strength of fennel, and the seeds for their pickling power. Generally grown as an annual because it’s not hardy, it will be ok over winter in a greenhouse and suits growing in deep pots – to accommodate the long root. Grow in a sunny position and keep moist.  Dill is pretty vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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Fennel is a large, upright herb with a dense clump of stalks covered in delicate, ferny, liquorice smelling leaves. If you’ve only room for one, then bronze fennel is the best to grow. It’s common fennel’s identical twin but you get the added benefit of a beautiful, coppery hue to the wispy foliage. It too is easy to grow and vigorous, also producing intense yellow, hoverfly landing pads of flowers. Grow a single plant in a wide, deep pot in fertile, moist, well-drained soil and you’ll be richly rewarded.  Fennel is very vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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Fennel is a brilliant herb and would grace any garden on looks alone. But it has style and substance; tall delicate stems and wispy leaves are topped with vivid yellow umbels of flowers in late summer and its subtle flavour is prized in all manner of culinary dishes. It’s very easy to grow and vigorous too, enjoying fertile, moist, free draining soil. On a patio or balcony, grow in a deep pot to give the tap root plenty of space.  Fennel is very vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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