Forget 'weather' and instead think 'climate'. All herbs originated from Somewhere, and once you know where Somewhere is, you can find out what the prevailing climate is Somewhere. Hence, you can find out just what conditions each herb prefers, and you can do your best to emulate those conditions. For example, from your list: Lemongrass is native mainly to South Asia. Climate in South Asia is tropical or nearly so. Tropical climate means hot and humid all year round, with frequent (often daily) heavy rain. Rain runs off quickly except in monsoonal seasons where flooding can occur. From that, you can deduce the following: lemongrass likes the heat - that means HEAT. It likes a lot of water, but prefers that water to drain away quickly. You can also deduce that: it doesn't take kindly to frost, and may not survive a severe winter. It may need to be brought indoors if you want to keep it alive, but it must have plenty of water. From the fact that it's called lemonGRASS, you can deduce that it likes plenty of sunlight, and that it can be cut down heavily and still grow. Cut, grow, cut, grow. You can research the rest of the herbs on your list in the same way to learn what is likely to do well where you live, and what won't without special care. Obviously, outside its preferred climate, a plant won't behave it quite the same way as 'at home'. It could grow more slowly; it might die extremes of weather (too hot or too cold); its growth might be stunted. Etc. Take a look, while you're researching, at the temperatures the plant prefers to germinate from seed. That will tell you a lot, too. If it lives at high altitudes, it's probably accustomed to cooler temps, and its seeds might like refrigerating or freezing (stratifying) before they'll germinate. So - botany and geography can't really be separated, when it comes to plants! I live in the subtropics, so most plant will grow here all year round, and do very well, But I can't grow things like French Tarragon or Meadowsweet, and coriander is a winter-only crop, because even in shade the temperatures here are just too hot for them. The link below is a good starting point for finding out the native habitat of a lot of herbs. The URL below is a good site for learning about the kinds of conditions herbs require (including in many cases, temperatures). http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/D_search.html Here is a link that might be useful: herbs and spices

You've got a lot of really great feedback but after reading through the posts I'm inspired to post as well :-) So, yes, in agreement with those who say close to the stove, I strongly recommend the drawers or cabinet close to the stove. Considering that most spices are added during "cooking" phase and not "prep" or "finishing" phase, it's better to have them close to the stove.

Lascatx's recommendation to grow bay laurel is an excellent tip for cooks living in climates where the shrub can overwinter in the ground. It's even worthwhile for cooks in zone 7-and-colder who use bay leaves often enough to make it worth being vigilant against scale for the half of the year that the potted plant is indoors. Nothing beats fresh or freshly dried herbs. As long as they're the real thing; that's another important advantage of growing your own that I just recently learned about. It seems that a lot of what is sold in markets as fresh bay leaves are from a different plant -- similar in looks, but with a much, much stronger and less pleasing taste. Seattle chef Jerry Traunfeld (of Herbfarm) spells it out: :: Bay laurel leaves come from the tree Laurus nobilis, known as Turkish bay or sweet bay. California bay leaves also come from a large tree, the totally unrelated Umbellularia californica. There is some similarity in the scent but California bay is ten times stronger than bay laurel, and if you substitute it in a recipe calling for bay laurel you will ruin the dish with its overpowering flavor. The shocking thing is that when you buy fresh bay leaves in the supermarket, nine times out of ten they are California bay, even though they don't say that on the label. ... When you tear or crush a bay laurel leaf you will smell a mild, sweet, nutmeglike scent, whereas a California bay leaf will smell powerfully of menthol and petroleum overtones :: p.79, The Herbal Kitchen (Wm. Morrow, 2005) The page includes a helpful photo of the leaves of the true bay and the imposter side by side. The bay laurel leaf edge curls a bit; while the California bay's edge is completely smooth; it's also just a bit narrower overall than a typical bay laurel leaf, and darker green. Now I realize why I've been so unhappy with the results of cooking with "fresh bay leaves" from a local greenhouse grower unless I use only a quarter leaf.

This is a list of plant suggestions for an herb garden. As I do more research I will add names to it as I find them, so do check the list frequently for new additions. Plant zones are SUGGESTED, in your garden a plant may be less or more hardy so it important that you research all herbs before growing them to understand their individual needs, and to see if your garden suits them and that they will thrive in your planting zone. In general most herbs will grow well in poor soil. Fertilize with a just shovelful of compost as a top-dressing during Spring and Autumn. Water established plants only during excessive drought. Herb List Achillea ageratum - SWEET NANCY Z3-10 Achillea millefolium - COMMON YARROW Z3-10 Achillea millefolium - PINK-FLOWERED COMMON YARROW Z3-10 Aconitum napellus - GARDEN MONKSHOOD Z3-7 Agastache rugosa - GIANT HYSSOP Z6-10 Agrimonia eupatoria - AGRIMONY Z6-9 Agrimonia pilosa - CHINESE AGRIMONY Z5-9 Alcea rosea - HOLLYHOCK Z3-9 Alchemilla alpina - ALPINE LADY'S-MANTLE Z3-9 Alchemilla mollis - LADY"S MANTLE Z3-9 Alkanna tinctoria - ALKANET Z4-9 (biennial) Allium cepa - EGYPTIAN ONION Z4-10 Allium sativum - GARLIC Z4-10 Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon - SERPENT GARLIC Z4-10 Allium schoenoprasum - PROFUSION CHIVES Z4-10 Althaea officinalis - MARSH MALLOW Z3-9 Anemone tomentosa - GRAPE LEAF ANEMONE Z4-8 Angelica atropurpurea - GREAT ANGELICA Z4-9 Anthemis tinctoria - DYER'S CHAMOMILE Z4-9 Apocynum androsaemifolium - INDIAN HEMP Z3-9 Armoracia rusticana - HORSERADISH Z3-8 Arnica chamissonis - AMERICAN ARNICA Z7-9 Artemisia abrotanum - LEMON-SCENTED SOUTHERNWOOD Z3-9 Artemisia absinthium - WORMWOOD Z3-9 Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa - FRENCH TARRAGON Z3-9 Artemisia vulgaris - MUGWORT Z3-9 Asclepias tuberosa - BUTTERFLY WEED Z3-9 Astilbe - PLUME FLOWER Z5-8 Bellis perennis - ENGLISH DAISY Z4-8 Berlandiera lyrata - CHOCOLATE FLOWER Z7-9 Campanula rapunculus - RAMPION Z4-7 Campanula rotundifolia - BLUEBELL Z4-7 Chamaemelum nobile - ROMAN CHAMOMILE Z4-8 Chelidonium majus - CELANDINE Z4-8 Chenopodium bonus-henricus- GOOD-KING-HENRY (annual) Clinopodium vulgare - WILD BASIL Z6-9 Convallaria majalis - LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Z2-7 Dianthus gratianopolitanus - CHEDDAR PINK Z3-8 Dianthus plumarius - COTTAGE PINK Z3-9 Digitalis lanata - GRECIAN FOXGLOVE Z4-8 Echinacea pallida - CONEFLOWER Z3-10 Echinacea purpurea - PURPLE CONEFLOWER Z3-8 Elymus glaucus - BLUE WILD RYE Z3-8 Foeniculum vulgare - FENNEL (annual) Galium odoratum - SWEET WOODRUFF Z4-8 Galium verum - YELLOW BEDSTRAW Z4-8 Geranium maculatum - WILD GERANIUM Z3-8 Geranium pratense - CRANESBILL Z3-8 Helenium autumnale - SNEEZEWEED Z3-8 Humulus lupulus - COMMON HOPS Z3-8 Hypericum perforatum - ST. JOHN'S WORT Z3-8 Iris versicolor - WILD IRIS Z3-9 Iris x germanica - ORRIS Z3-8 Lavandula angustifolia - ENGLISH LAVENDER Z5-9 Marrubium vulgare - COMMON HOREHOUND Z4-8 Melissa officinalis - Lemon BALM Z4-8 Mentha - MINT Z4-9 Mentha pulegium - PENNYROYAL Z4-9 Mentha spicata - SPEARMINT Z4-9 Mentha x gracilis - DOUBLEMINT Z4-9 Mentha x piperita - PEPPERMINT Z4-9 Monarda didyma - BEE BALM Z4-9 Monarda fistulosa - OSWEGO TEA Z3-9 Monarda menthifolia - MINT-LEAVED BERGAMOT Z4-9 Nepeta cataria - CATMINT Z3-8 Origanum laevigatum - OREGANO Z5-10 Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum - GREEK OREGANO Z5-10 Ocimum basilicum - BASIL, assorted varieties (annual) Perovskia artemesioides - RUSSIAN SAGE Z5-9 Persicaria polymorpha - FLEECE PLANT Z4-7 Pycnanthemum muticum - MOUNTAIN MINT Z4-8 Pycnanthemum pilosum - HAIRY MOUNTAIN MINT Z4-8 Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum - ORNAMENTAL RHUBARB Z5-8 Rubia tinctorium - MADDER Z6-10 Rumex sanguineus - BLOODY DOCK Z3-9 Salvia lyrata - CANCER WEED Z5-8 Salvia officinalis - COMMON SAGE Z6-9 Salvia pratensis - MEADOW CLARY Z4-8 Sanguisorba officinalis - GREAT BURNET Z4-8 Solidago canadensis - GOLDENROD Z3-8 Stachys byzantina - LAMB'S EARS Z4-8 Stachys officinalis - BETONY Z4-8 Symphytum officinale - COMMON COMFREY Z4-9 Tanacetum cinerariifolium - PYRETHRUM Z4-9 Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum' - GOLDEN FEVERFEW Z4-9 Teucrium chamaedrys - GERMANDER Z5-9 Teucrium scorodonia - WOOD SAGE Z5-9 Thymus - THYME Z4-8 Thymus herba-barona - CARAWAY THYME Z4-8 Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus - WOOLLY THYME Z4-8 Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus 'Minor' - CREEPING WOOLLY THYME Z4-8 Thymus vulgaris - GARDEN THYME Z4-8 Thymus x citriodorus - LEMON THYME Z4-8 Trifolium pratense - RED CLOVER Z4-9 Valeriana officinalis - COMMON VALERIAN Zz5-9 Veronicastrum virginicum - CULVER'S ROOT Z4-8 Viola odorata - SWEET VIOLET Z3-7