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I am attempting to grow some herbs in my kitchen and I was wondering how frequently I should water them? Also my kitchen isn't the warmest so I am attempting to keep them near the radiator, is there anything else I can also do, e.g. insulate them or something?
Thanks very much for any help
Different herbs will vary, but make sure they don't dry out, also that they are not soaking (which could lead to rot/etc). They will dry out more quickly near a radiator.
They also need light. is the radiator below a window? Is so the sill could be an excellent place - especially if it gets a lot of sun.
The radiator probably isn't helping unless it's below freezing. Your biggest problem is going to be lighting. Most herb need direct sunlight.
DIRECT SUNLIGHT!
Maybe your kitchen uses natural lighting but getting direct sunlight indoors is difficult.
This is what the experts have to say:
Herbs need as much light as possible, preferably the natural variety from the sun. Direct sunlight, at least four or five hours a day, is the minimum herbs need. Even with that, and with plants positioned close to a south, east or west facing window, I like to recommend supplying supplemental artificial light from growlights.
If you don't have direct sunlight you should consider either a hydroponic lamp or simply rotating indoor/outdoor pots every few days.
As for watering:
When watering, it is better to water more throughly and less often. A good principle to follow is to water until water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the container.
And don't forget about soil:
Inexperienced gardeners may think that if soil in the garden is good enough to grow herbs or other plants, then the same soil must be good enough for potted herbs. That’s wrong because of the water drainage factor. Good garden soil drains well enough in the garden, but in a container the walls of the container restrict the movement of water in the soil column. Even in unglazed terra cotta containers it is important to use a good potting mix that contains amendments such as perlite or vermiculite or sharp builder’s sand to allow water to move freely.
Quotes taken from this great resource: Growing Herbs Indoors
