Parsley, or Petrosilenum crispum, is native to the Mediterranean region. Parsley is a biennial plant that grows leaves in its first year of life, flowers in its second year, and then sets seed. Because of this, parsley is considered an annual produce plant, and it is best to sow seed every year.
Parsley is easy to grow, even in partial shade. Its fresh leaves add flavour and depth to food. You can plant it on borders or in containers. People more frequently use flat-leaf parsley leaves to enhance flavour, as they possess a stronger flavour compared to curly parsley, the variety commonly found in stores.
An old folktale states that parsley grows best in a home when the lady is the one who cares for the pants. Parsley is a fantastic addition to any herb garden, whether you prefer to cultivate it for its culinary and medical uses.
How To Plant Parsley?
The ideal growing conditions for parsley are full sun and lots of moisture. In areas with scorching, dry summers, it'll be happier in a position that provides some afternoon shade. It will withstand low soils but perform considerably better on rich, fertile ground. Improve your soil by adding compost and manure before planting or sowing.
Some gardeners soak seeds in water overnight or cover them with hot water after sowing in order to expedite the germination process. You can also purchase young plants or seedlings from the nursery and place them outdoors, taking care not to harm their roots. Don't forget to mulch and water.
As previously mentioned, parsley can bolt early to seed if it dries out; therefore, keep the water up when using hot water, especially on container plants.
How To Sow Parsley Seeds?
In well-prepared soil, sow parsley seeds directly into rows that are 30 cm apart and 1 cm deep. After lightly covering the seeds, water them well. Parsley takes a long time to germinate; seedlings may not appear for up to six weeks. Once seedlings reach a sufficient size, space them 15 cm apart.
If you have limited space, you can alternatively use a pot filled with seed compost, thinly plant the seeds, cover them with a thin layer of compost, and water them. Make sure to keep the compost from drying out. When the seeds reach a large enough size, thin them out and plant them in pots. Use a combination of garden and soil-based compost when transferring little plants to a larger pot to keep them from drying out.
To ensure a steady supply of parsley, sow batches of seeds a couple of weeks apart.
How To Maintain And Care For Parsley Plants?
To promote foliage growth, a parsley herb plant benefits from periodic feeding with general seaweed fertiliser. This plant requires plenty of water, especially in dry weather. Remove any yellowing leaves.
Is parsley evergreen? No, it won't return annually. Due to its biennial nature, you can postpone your plant's seed set by pruning off any blossoms that emerge. A biennial will wither away once it has flowered and produced seed. However, if you wish to save seed, allow the odd parsley flower and wait until the seed has turned brown before harvesting it.
Planting parsley in the ground will cause it to wither away over the winter. If you want your plants to survive the winter, cover them with a cloche. Alternatively, pot up your parsley plants and move them to a greenhouse or indoors, ensuring they sit on a bright windowsill.
Fertilising Parsley Plants
When planting, increase the amount of nutrients in the soil by adding compost, manure, or pelletised certified organic fertiliser. Refill this annually in the spring. During the growing season, apply a combination of OCP eco-seaweed and OCP eco-aminogro every two weeks to ensure a consistent supply of fresh, flavourful leaves for your meals.
Parsley doesn't require a lot of constant upkeep. To keep the plant from going to seed, simply cut the ageing leaves as soon as they turn yellow and remove budding flower stalks.
Harvesting
When needed, take the outer leaves at any moment. When gathering leaves, make sure to harvest the entire leaf, including the stalk, starting at the point where the leaf connects the plant's base.
Frequent harvesting will stimulate leaf production and make the plant thicker.
Diseases And Pests Of Parsley To Avoid
While pests and diseases are rare in parsley, the following individuals occasionally pose a threat:
- To protect seedlings from slugs and snails, use an OCP eco-shield.
- You can manually remove caterpillars before they cause significant harm, even though they might develop a fondness for your parsley.
- Young plants bolt to seed when they have dried out or experienced excessive root disturbance during their initial planting.
- Sapsuckers such as aphids, mites, whiteflies, and scale can occasionally emerge, but an organic insecticide can easily manage them.
Now that you know about how to grow and care for your own herb garden. You need to make sure you grow parsley to flavour up your dishes and make your kitchen more sustainable. You can also plant different varieties of parsley, which are rare to find in the same manner. Keep exploring!