Growing herbs (and I don't mean pot)

I'm really excited about growing my own herb garden this year! We're going to get a window box, and maybe keep a couple individual pots indoors (although I'll have to figure out how to keep them away from the cats). Here's the list of herbs we'd like to grow:

-Basil (for tomato and mozzarella sammichs!)

-Rosemary (I don't use it often, but Adam wants it)

-Oregano (Adam's favorite herb— he puts it in everything!)

-Thyme (Again, I don't use this often, but Adam requested it specifically, and he's the master chef, so...)

-Catnip (how much would my cats LOVE me?)

-Mint (for desserts and Mint Juleps/Mojitos)

-Stevia? Maybe? I don't know how to use the leave, exactly, but it was in the Burpee online catalogue and it sounded cool)

I've yet to understand much about herb planting, though. Should I wait until spring to plant these? Do any of them need special care? Anything in particular that I should have in the box but haven't listed here?

What can you tell me about herbs?