A bowl of green chutney, a pot of dal or a plate of chaat — so many everyday Indian meals feel incomplete without that final handful of fresh coriander. 

It is the kind of herb most of us buy almost every week. We use a little for lunch, a little for dinner, and before we know it, another bunch is back on the shopping list.

At her home in Ludhiana, the herb keeps making a return to the kitchen, not because she buys it repeatedly, but because she grows it. Sometimes she starts with seeds, just as most gardeners do. At other times, she takes a route that begins with the very bunch of coriander she has brought home from the market.

Instead of throwing away the roots after using the leaves, she plants them. A few days later, fresh green shoots begin to appear.

For Mona, who has spent years growing vegetables and herbs at home, coriander is one of the easiest and most rewarding plants for beginners. It grows well in containers, takes up very little space and can keep producing leaves for weeks when cared for properly.

Here is how you can grow it at home, either from seeds or from the roots of a market-bought bunch. 

1. Decide whether you want to grow it from seeds or roots 

Seeds are the most common way to grow coriander at home. They take a little time to sprout, but they usually give you a healthy crop.

Mona also uses a quicker method. Whenever........

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