Several years ago, a friend told me that basil was the easiest herb to grow. "It sprouts like a weed", she says, "and it's really forgiving when it comes to how often you water it". I gave it a try, and I was able to kill the thing within a week. It wasn't totally dead, actually, but it was pale yellow and pretty sad looking. Turns out, it's possible for a plant to get too much light and water. Who knew!? Since then, I've learned that while starting an herb garden isn't super difficult, it does take a little bit of...