We don't really know why, but there's something deeply appealing about the prospect of tending to our own little herb garden.

Perhaps it's the Country Living-style fantasy of casually plucking a handful of fragrant homegrown basil and tossing into a bowl of creamy orecchiette with cherry tomatoes.

Or maybe it's the idea that nurturing our own private patch of nature - even if it's just a clutch of pots on a windowsill - offers some sort of respite from the chaos of our busy urban lives.

Whatever it is, we want more of it.

And happily, the green-fingered experts over at Good to be Home are here to help. They've created an infographic cheat's guide to growing your own herbs, whether you're working from a backyard, a balcony or a tiny slice of window sill. 

The beautifully illustrated guide include these starter tips:

Let there be light
Herbs need 4-6 hours of sunlight every day to grow healthily indoors. 

Give the roots proper drainage
During winter, herbs will drain slowly. To prevent root-rot, make sure they have proper drainage i.e. drain holes, rocks or plastic foam.

Take cuttings with care
Snip off a four-inch section, measuring back from the tip. Strip the lower leaves and place the stem into a moist, soilless mix, i.e. perlite and/or vermiculite. Cover the cutting with glass or clear plastic and keep it medium-moist.

Don't eat the herbs' solar panels
Larger leaves are the plants' energy providers - make sure you cut off a mix of mature and brand new leaves (and never cut off all the leaves at once). 

Propagate from existing plants
Many herbs - including oregano, thyme, rosemary and sage - are best propagated for indoor growing by taking cuttings from outdoor plants. 

As well as these basic tricks, the infographic contains a wealth of information on how exactly to care for different kinds of herbs, from dill to fennel and lemongrass.

It also shows which herbs are best suited to indoor and outdoor growing.

So whether you're thinking of starting an office herb garden or fancy growing your own seasoning at home (rather than heading to the supermarket), get set to embrace your inner gardener with this handy cheat's guide, below.

(click to enlarge)

Photos: ThinkStock