Welcome to cheftalk crookcook,
I would suggest buying plants from local garden centers, greenhouses or nurseries. This way you can have an instant garden and be harvesting in no time.
The following past threads should answer several questions you may have:
Picking herbs discussion on planting on pots or in ground.
Herb Garden
Small Herb Garden
If you can plant in the ground, by all means, get them in the ground, they will grow bigger and most will come back bigger and better next year.