How often should I water my herbs that I'm growing in my kitchen?

Question

Lemon Thyme
Mint
Parsley
Chives
Tarragon
Corriander
Oregano

Just wanted to say a big Thank You to all who have answered this question. The advice and suggestions are very gratefully recived. Thanks.

Answer 1

About 3 times a week but don't water if they are still damp.

Answer 2

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.

I often feel that I am battling popular notions about raising plants that are quite wrong. For instance, people often ask, "How many times a week do I water my herbs?" and I will answer bluntly that I don't know. I always say herbs need to be checked frequently, and only watered if the soil feels dry to the touch. In the winter that might work out to once a week while in the summer that might be once a day. Your finger is a marvelous water meter, so use it to check the soil moisture.

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.

While many herbs can thrive in poor garden soils, they need decidedly more nutrition when grown in containers. That's because the container restricts the range of the root system and the plant cannot exploit as much soil volume as it does in the garden. We like to apply a fertilizer such as liquid fish emulsion or a 20-20-20 chemical formulation. Use half the recommended concentration biweekly but only during the periods when the herbs are actively growing.

Answer 3

I have herbs in my kitchen in a window box.

I usually work on the weight of the pot to check if it needs water. If its well watered it is heavy if it needs water it feels light.

I check them daily in summer and every other day or even once a week in winter. I also mist them in summer as well as watering.

Herbs generally don't like to be soggy - mint is the exception although it grows like a weed in most situations, it particularly likes water.

Unless its a winter mint the mint will tend to die down in winter, as will the chives and parsley. The best way to keep parsley from going to seed, by the way, was passed on to me by an elderly lady - pick it from the middle not from the outside.

Tarragon grows quite tall so may not be the best in the kitchen.

Happy growing.

Answer 4

Leave til almost dried out and then sit in tray of (room temperature) water until the top of the soil feels wet, then lift out of water, put back in it's usual place and repeat when necessary.

This will vary with the heat of your kitchen, the amount of sun coming through the window, the growing cycle of the plant etc. so it's best to use this specific check on each plant.

Answer 5

I would water just like any houseplant. I normally water just once a week. You will be able to tell if the plant isn't liking it. Then you will need to adjust. If your herbs are planted in clay pots, they will need to be watered more often, as the water evaporates quicker. If you have them in a south window, they will probably need to be watered more often also.

Answer 6

Easiest thing is to put the herb pots in a container, put water in that and just make sure it never empties.

The plants will draw up the water they want.

Answer 7

Rosemary is a competent resiliant herb to strengthen, you are able to flow it outdoors whilst it gets sufficiently enormous too. i do no longer know precisely how in lots of cases you water it, yet I water mine approximately as quickly as a week and it style of feels super! (provide it a splash bit plant-nutrition to boot, you ought to purchase this at backyard centres). Parsley does somewhat nicely interior to boot, as does a curry plant, and that they provide off a great smell!

Answer 8

depends on how humid your kitchen is really. as a general rule don't let them dry out for too long. push your finger onto the soil and if the soil sticks then there is moisture in the soil... p.s. lemon thyme is fantastic mixed with olive oil and rubbed into chicken breasts before grilling...

Answer 9

Every 2 days. I have Coriander, Oregano, Dill and Basil. Anytime I go longer than that I find them drying out a bit and generally not looking as healthy.

Answer 10

At least 2 times a week.