I would normally have a bit more heat in the kitchen at this time of year @steevjpRkG-SgIs, but - like many folk, the heating's being used more sparingly! It's only on for about half an hour in the morning these days, and rarely at night. Unless it's sunny, which hasn't been the case much in the last month, the temps in there rarely get beyond mid teens, and overnight is around 12. My basil has been slower than usual to germinate, and that's the main reason. It's a different variety from the one I normally use, but that shouldn't make too big a difference. The other thing to remember with things like basil is to do regular sowings through the year, so that you have a decent supply. It's easy to use a fair bit at one meal.
For other herbs, it might be worth waiting a few weeks for sowing. I used to do rosemary from seed, but I did it in May or June so that it could just be done outdoors and it was warm enough to germinate. My windowsills are usually full of other things like tomatoes and hardy annuals through April, waiting to be put outside or in the growhouse. Next month would probably be easier for many herbs because they tend to need those higher temps.
I've just noticed what @BenCotto said about basil - but it depends on your usage. I can get through a fair bit with bolognese or tomato pasta dishes through the spring/summer, and loads when the toms are going and we have Bruschetta regularly. I try to have enough to freeze some later in the summer for autumn use.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl we do use a lot of Basil too for various things, i downloaded a compass to get the way our windows are facing and kitchen is North East and North West
Might be a bit cool, apart from the morning, but you can only try. They'd be ok a bit later in the year. Have you any other windows facing south-ish? Wife's going to be thrilled with you if there's basil all over the bedroom....
My front windows are roughly north west, but the sun isn't high enough yet to have an effect on them - totally different in later spring/summer. You could try moving them from one sill to another during the day depending on whether the sun is getting in well enough. Sometimes- it's just a case of experimenting. Avoid trapping them in between a curtain/blind and the glass though
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
bedrooms and front room which she has already given a "no" to lol
You can only push it so far The other thing you can try are some lettuce crops if you like that. They don't need high temps, and actually do better with a bit of shade. You can grow them as a cut and come again crop, which is basically what it says on the tin. I keep a few pots inside for spring, and have some outside later on.
I bought all the seeds today with varying types of Basil (Sweet, Lemon, Cinnamon, Thai, Greek) and as a bonus bought some Rosemary too. Bought some compartmentalised trays and misted them generously afterwards and put them on a windows sill which I think is south facing I need to work out what direction my flat faces.
So, some questions
1: how often should i mist/water them. I was thinking every other day but I dont know if that is too much or not enough.
2: I noticed that when filling the seed compartments with soil, some of it is very clumpy and whilst you can break some down a lot of it is still pretty big, Ive seem Soil Sieves, are they any good or a waste of time, I assume some of the soil/compost you can get i finer than others so better soil/compost may be the answer there.
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The other thing to remember with things like basil is to do regular sowings through the year, so that you have a decent supply. It's easy to use a fair bit at one meal.
For other herbs, it might be worth waiting a few weeks for sowing. I used to do rosemary from seed, but I did it in May or June so that it could just be done outdoors and it was warm enough to germinate. My windowsills are usually full of other things like tomatoes and hardy annuals through April, waiting to be put outside or in the growhouse. Next month would probably be easier for many herbs because they tend to need those higher temps.
I've just noticed what @BenCotto said about basil - but it depends on your usage. I can get through a fair bit with bolognese or tomato pasta dishes through the spring/summer, and loads when the toms are going and we have Bruschetta regularly. I try to have enough to freeze some later in the summer for autumn use.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Wife's going to be thrilled with you if there's basil all over the bedroom....
My front windows are roughly north west, but the sun isn't high enough yet to have an effect on them - totally different in later spring/summer. You could try moving them from one sill to another during the day depending on whether the sun is getting in well enough. Sometimes- it's just a case of experimenting.
Avoid trapping them in between a curtain/blind and the glass though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The other thing you can try are some lettuce crops if you like that. They don't need high temps, and actually do better with a bit of shade. You can grow them as a cut and come again crop, which is basically what it says on the tin. I keep a few pots inside for spring, and have some outside later on.
We have a current thread which another forum member started as they were doing it for the first time. It might be handy
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1071468/sowing-lettuce-seeds/p1
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...