I started sage from seed this year. The package says for zone 9, you should start seed from Feb. through May. You should be OK to start Thyme now. I have grown both of these from seed successfully. Sage is easy, Thyme for me required a little extra effort. I planted seed in March, and found it needed bottom heat to germinate. How about growing Chives (perennial)? Easy to grow from seed and very useful herb. Rosemary is a perennial. Since yours is small, it may need extra attention the first year. Mostly protection from cold wind. It thrives for us in 7B, and once it is established it should do even better for you in zone 9.

Basils and cilantro are annuals. You would do better with cilantro if you purchase a pack of seed and sow a few seeds every week. It goes to seed very quickly and although places sell cilantro it is a waste of time and money to purchase plants.

Try the regular garden sage. I think that depending on where you are in the bay area you might be able to grow some of the more colorful ones such as varigated and purple.

Thymes come in many different types. Try more than one.

Even though seed packages give times to sow they are not cut in stone as many in the winter sowing group have found. Some like parsley should not be sown in the fall because they will send up seed stalks next year and are more fiberous.