Indoor gardens may be limited by the variety of plants they can grow, but they also come with a lot of benefits. You don’t have to worry about pesky rabbits and other rodents eating your crops, nor do you need to worry about weather conditions and other facets that might otherwise inhibit a regular growing season. With a little effort, the right tools, and a sunny window, anyone has the ability to add some spice to their cooking life with an indoor herb garden. Here’s how to do it (and do it properly).

Now that you’ve got your herb garden growing, here are some ways to keep it healthy.

Tip 1: Eat it — Your herb garden is your in-home grocery store, and it’s there to be used. Trimming and eating your plants is not only good for you, it’s also good for the plants.

Tip 2: Start small — You don’t need to plant every herb you get your hands on all at once. Start with a particularly hardy herb, like chives, before adding more finicky plants.

Tip 3: Rotate your pots — If your herb garden is only getting light from one window, you’ll probably need to rotate your plants about once a week.

Tip 4: Smarten up — There are boatloads of gardening apps, like Homegrown, that will guide you through the growing process, should you find yourself lost among the leaves.