Rising parsley, the underutilized herb

Parsley is one of the most popular herbs in the culinary world and is underutilized by many home cooks. Growing parsley in the culinary garden is an absolute necessity for me as it can be used in almost anything!

It has a unique taste profile that can be described as slightly bitter with an earthy taste and is widely used to balance hearty dishes and lighten the flavors. Parsley has a subtle, refreshing scent and can be used in all soups and sauces, vegetable and meat dishes.

This plant belongs to the Apiaceae family and is harvested and consumed fresh or dried. Parsley not only adds a special taste and color to your favorite dishes, it also offers a number of health benefits. It contains many minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is beneficial for bone health and blood circulation.

While both curly and flat parsley taste almost the same, the flatter leaves are generally considered to be the tastier of the two. They're also easier to cut into a finely chopped shape for use in cooking. Curly-leaf parsley is often placed whole on the table as an edible side dish.

Good products for growing parsley:

Brief instructions for care

Growing parsley is well worth the effort. Source: GrowForFood

Everything about parsley

Parsley plants lay a deep taproot for food. Source: Goosmurf

The botanical name of the parsley is Petroselinum crispum. However, in the culinary world, it goes by the common name parsley. It is light green in color and is usually grown as an annual herb around the world.

But is parsley a perennial? Not quite. It can be grown as a biennial and produces foliage in the first season before dying again in winter. In the spring of the second year, the flower and seed production begins immediately. As soon as the parsley bloom is complete and it sets seeds in the second year, it dies for good. This is why most grow it as an annual.

What does parsley look like? Depending on the variety of parsley, the plant can have flat or tightly curved leaves. Curly leaf parsley usually grows 8-12 cm tall, with Italian parsley (sometimes called Italian flat parsley) being 18-24 cm tall.

Parsley is used by the ancient Greeks and Romans and is native to the eastern and central Mediterranean. Because of its popularity and easy growing conditions, parsley herb is widespread around the world.

Curly parsley is often grown for culinary decorations. Its taste is comparable to flat-leaf varieties like Italian flat-leaf parsley, but the frilled leaves of parsley herbs make for an edible decoration.

Plant parsley

Parsley flowers are small, yellow, and understated. Source: GlennFleishman

This is all easy once you know how to grow parsley. When to plant can make a huge difference in how much yield you will have when it is fully grown!

The best time of year to plant parsley seeds is at least 3-4 weeks before the final frost. As a slow starter, parsley can take this long to germinate. Starting earlier in colder climates will also give you time to get your parsley used to the outside temperatures.

Your soil temperature should be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit to aid in initial germination. A seedling heating mat can be of great use for starting seeds. Also aim for a warmer soil temperature when transplanting, as parsley roots spread more easily in warmer temperatures.

For larger flat leaf varieties, grow parsley in a sheltered place. These larger varieties can be easily damaged by wind. Curly leaf varieties sit lower on the ground and are more resistant to a stiff breeze.

Growing containers is an option when considering how to grow parsley. Remember that your plants will need a reasonably deep container for good root development.

Do not plant your parsley seeds too deep when sowing. Instead, plant parsley seeds no deeper than ¼ ”. If you put the seeds on the surface of the soil and press lightly with a finger to slightly indent the soil, you can brush a little bit of soil over them and your parsley seeds should be fine.

For transplanting, prepare your planting site in advance. Once the soil has been changed to your liking, place the plants at the same height as in their starter pot. Then pour them well so they can recover from the transplant process.

Don't let your young parsley plants linger too long in their starter pots. Parsley develops a long taproot, and waiting too long can cause it to become root-bound.

maintenance

Curly parsley is both beautifully decorative and edible. Source: gr8kayte

Once established, parsley is a low maintenance plant. But that doesn't mean you can neglect it. Let's consider how parsley is grown in optimal conditions.

Sun and temperature

These plants are suitable for both full sun and partial shade. You need at least 5 hours of sunlight per day or high powered plant light to thrive.

The ideal temperature range for growing parsley is between 22-30 ° C. It can withstand colder conditions up to light frost and thrive in USDA growth zones from 5a to 9b.

Irrigation and humidity

Established parsley plants have moderate water requirements. It takes about 1 inch of water per week and it is best not to let the floor dry out. Refrain from overwatering as this can lead to root rot. Many find that a waterer hose can provide slow, deep watering of the type that parsley prefers.

Watering your parsley 2 to 3 times a week should be enough, even if the need for watering increases in dry weather.

ground

Parsley needs loamy, well-drained soil. Rich soil is ideal, although parsley seeds can be started in a standard seed starting mix and then transplanted into a richer soil mix. If you are growing parsley indoors in a container, consider using good quality potting soil. In-bed outdoor growers may want to compost their soil in advance to ensure their parsley is growing well.

The ideal pH for growing parsley is between 6.0 and 7.0.

Fertilize

A good, balanced 5-5-5 organic fertilizer is usually all that is required to grow parsley plants in your garden beds. Apply fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.

Container-grown parsley plants indoors can benefit from similar fertilization programs. However, they may need a little more fertilizer as there is less soil to hold the nutrients the plants need. Consider an extra burst of fertilizer if your plants seem to need it late in the season.

Liquid fertilizers work well for your parsley plants, especially for growing parsley indoors. Apply a dose of liquid fertilizer every six weeks throughout the growing season.

clipping

If you're wondering how to prune parsley, don't be afraid. Most of your pruning is actually done for harvesting purposes. You can always harvest some of the plant's new growth if you need small amounts for cooking.

Unless you're trying to grow parsley for seeds, remove any unexpected flower stalks. This prevents the plant from setting seeds and instead focuses on developing new foliage.

Multiplication

Parsley is generally propagated by planting seeds. Since it takes a while for the parsley to germinate, this method is slow but reliable. Starting from seeds is also the easiest method.

While it is possible to propagate parsley from cuttings, it is usually not very reliable. To do this, put freshly cut parsley stalks in a glass of water. Change the water 1-2 times a day to make sure it is fresh and clean. However, this method is often not as stable as a taproot. Therefore, it is recommended to start from seeds.

Harvesting and storing

Chop the parsley to save by freezing. Source: Abbyladybug

Whether you are growing curly parsley or flat-leaf parsley in your garden, harvesting is a rewarding experience. So let's see how to properly harvest parsley!

harvest

Parsley is ready to harvest within 70 to 90 days of planting the seeds. Wait for the stems to have at least three segments before cutting. It indicates that the stem is ready to be harvested.

Instead of cutting from the top, cut at the base of the stem to encourage growth. It gives you bushier plants and an improved yield. It's also better to pick longer, more mature stems from the outside of the plant and leave the middle stems alone.

Since most parsley treats for a year for good herb production, it is recommended that you harvest all of your plant's foliage at the end of the season. But to make sure it doesn't go to waste, you need to store this large crop.

storage

Parsley can be stored in the refrigerator in two ways. You can put dry parsley stalks in a plastic bag and leave the top open to allow airflow. Alternatively, you can place the stems in a glass of water and change the water every day to make sure it stays fresh. Both methods will keep your parsley intact for 5-7 days.

You have two options for longer storage: freezing or drying.

Freezing is good if you want to keep the fresh parsley flavor. Just chop up your leaves and put them in an ice cube tray. Use just enough water to hold the leaves together. Freeze the solid, then take the parsley cubes and place in a freezer bag.

The parsley should be dried at cool temperatures if possible. Too much heat can affect the taste of the herb. You can hang parsley in a paper bag or use a low-heat dehydrator. Both methods work well. After drying, crumble the leaves and place in an airtight container. Dry parsley lasts up to a year.

Troubleshooting

Yellowed parsley may have problems with excess water. Source: Tony Austin

There are a few problems that can arise when growing parsley. While they aren't always severe, it is important to treat them if they should arise.

Pests

Aphids may appear on the underside of the leaves or on the stems. They secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that can develop sooty mold. Pruning is the first line of defense against aphids. Usually one application of neem oil will kill most aphids, but for bad infestations use a pyrethrin spray.

Carrot and celery fly larvae both cause similar damage. In both cases, the larvae hide in the soil and gnaw tunnels through the roots of your plants. Unfortunately, this also includes parsley root. Consider planting parsley with allium family plants to deter these fly larvae. Covering your parsley with a floating row cover will prevent the flies from getting near the plants and laying their eggs in the soil around them.

The Swallowtail moth larvae are insatiable caterpillars and like to devour your celery leaves. Bacillus thuringiensis var. Israelensis, commonly known as BT, is an effective way to get rid of several species of caterpillars.

Diseases

mildew is caused by fungi and appears as a powdery growth on the leaves. It is a good idea to use neem oil regularly as a preventative. However, if an outbreak does occur, remove mold-covered leaves and apply an organic fungicide to the plant to kill any remaining spores.

Sorted Leaf spots can appear on parsley. While these aren't always life threatening to the plant, they can make the leaves unattractive or inedible. If symptoms of a leaf spot persist after removing damaged leaves, use a copper fungicide to kill the leaf spot fungus.

Moist soil can create the perfect environment for the fungi that cause stems and stems Root rot. Make sure your soil is well drained. Ideally, it should stay moist, but not muddy, and not over-saturated.

frequently asked Questions

The leaves of the parsley are a culinary gem. Source: Emily Barney

Q: Does parsley grow back after being cut?

A: Parsley will grow back for the first year after cutting. To make sure there is enough foliage to grow back, don't cut the center of the plant; instead, take it from the outside.

Q: Does parsley come back every year?

A: Parsley is technically biennial. However, by the second year it bolts directly to the seed instead of producing a lot of foliage. Most people choose to grow parsley annually.

Q: Why is my parsley plant turning yellow?

A: There are two possible reasons, both of which are related to watering. Overwatering can cause the plant to yellow and fall off. It can also encourage fungal root rot to develop. Avoid overwatering and make sure your soil drains off excess water.

Q: How often can you harvest parsley?

A: It depends on how much you are harvesting at any given time. You can prune and reuse harvesting methods to regularly harvest small quantities, and are only limited by how quickly the plant will regrow.

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