Growing parsley is easy if you have access to a window sill with sufficient light. If you do not have a south-facing window sill, place your planters under grow lights or supplemental LED lighting. Water your plants regularly when the top couple of inches of soil dry. For best results, water from below, rather than from above, to promote deep root growth. Here’s some information to help you get started.
Growing parsley
You can grow your own parsley sprouts by using seedlings or a combination of seedlings and potting soil. Seedlings will need a slightly damper growing medium than seeds. Parsley seeds need plenty of moisture, so it’s important to start them as early as possible. Growing parsley from seeds will be easier and more rewarding if you have a few tips and tricks up your sleeve.
Sow parsley seeds about two to three weeks before the last frost in your area. After they sprout, thin out the plants to six inches apart and place them in a sunny windowsill. Then, water the plants well and thin them regularly. When you’re finished with your first crop, you can plant new seeds every few weeks. Parsley seeds can be transplanted every few weeks if space is limited. After six weeks, the plants are large enough to grow.
The parsley plant is an annual in the north, but can tolerate a little frost in mild climates. The second year, after they bloom, they are frost-resistant. You can buy young plants from a nursery or plant seeds directly from the ground. Sprouts will produce more parsley for a longer time if you harvest them regularly. Just make sure to harvest the seedheads and rip them before the plant dies.
After seedlings have sprouted, plant the parsley indoors on a sunny windowsill or outdoors. For best results, sow seeds thinly in a container of soil, covering them with 1 cm of soil. Parsley seedlings will germinate more quickly if they’re in a weed-free area. Plant parsley seeds six to eight weeks before the last spring frost date. It’s important to give parsley time to get accustomed to outdoor conditions.
Sowing seeds
Growing parsley from seed is easy and can yield a rich harvest. Parsley is an important culinary herb, whose leaves and stems add a wonderful flavor to a variety of dishes. Parsley is a biennial plant that blooms in its second year. For best results, harvest parsley leaves as needed throughout the growing season. Parsley can also be grown as a multiple plant for a constant supply of parsley.
Because parsley seeds are small, many gardeners choose to broadcast sow them, as it saves time. However, this method tends to waste seed, so start new seeds each season. To sow seeds for parsley sprouts, spread them thinly in the soil, using a hand. When seedlings appear, thin them to six to eight inches apart. Keep the soil moist and at a comfortable temperature.
If you’re starting parsley seeds indoors, choose a well-draining potting mix that is rich in nutrients. Herb-specific potting mixes are generally recommended. To grow parsley indoors, start seeds in biodegradable peat pots. After the first year, plant the seeds outdoors once they’ve reached their mature size. Parsley will continue growing into the second year. And don’t forget to save your seeds for a harvest!
You can start parsley seeds indoors by placing them in individual pots or in open ground. For outdoor plants, dig a hole about the size of the pot and place the parsley roots in the hole. Press the soil firmly around the roots and water thoroughly. Make sure the soil is moist and warm before watering the plants. You can harvest parsley sprouts in just a few weeks if you start the seeds indoors in advance.
Watering
Parsley seeds should be planted in a shallow pot or in the open ground. Prepare the planting medium by adding organic matter and watering well. Once seedlings have sprouted, you can transplant them indoors to a windowsill. Keep the soil moist during prolonged dry periods, as too much dryness can cause the plant to bolt. Water parsley sprouts daily. If you are growing curly-leaf parsley, be sure not to overwater it.
When watering parsley sprouts, use the most mild water. Soak the seeds in water for 12 hours before sowing them. Water the seeds regularly, and keep them evenly moist. It will take about four weeks for the parsley seeds to sprout. Water parsley sprouts frequently, and feed them every couple of days with seaweed fertiliser. After they have sprouted, thin the seedlings to a few leaves each.
If you’re growing parsley indoors, use a shallow water solution. Parsley is sensitive to over-watering, so keep it low to avoid damage. Also, do not use overhead watering, as it may cause the plant to become infected with bacteria from the water. To avoid this problem, choose disease-resistant varieties. When the stem has three separate segments, harvest the leaves. Leave the inner growth for another time. Fresh parsley keeps better when it’s kept in a glass of water.
Parsley sprouts need ample light. Place the planters under supplemental LED lights or grow lights. Water them when the top few inches of the soil are dry. Parsley is in the carrot family, so be careful of carrot root flies. A cloche will protect the sprouts from the eggs of the carrot root fly. It’s best to keep the soil moist from below, as this will promote deep root growth.
Pests
Carrot root flies can cause serious damage to your parsley plant. Female flies lay eggs in the soil and hatch into legless worms, which feed on the roots and cause stunted growth. A good organic treatment is a solution of 35% hydrogen peroxide in water. This mixture rapidly breaks down in the soil and releases oxygen, which kills the worms. You can also spray your parsley with a homemade solution of garlic water to keep them at bay.
While most parsley pests do not damage the plant, the presence of these insects should raise your concern. The following pests may cause damage to your parsley crop:
Parsley is susceptible to several fungal diseases, such as crown rot and root rot. It can also become infected with leaf blight or Septoria leaf spot. To prevent these diseases, ensure that your parsley is planted in nutrient-rich soil that has adequate drainage. During warm, wet weather, parsley plants may become infected by fungus known as Botrytis blight.
If you’d like to grow parsley in your garden, you can start the seeds indoors or direct sow them outdoors. Parsley seeds should be sown indoors or in containers about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date. When planting, make sure not to disturb the roots or transplant them into the ground too soon, because the taproot is delicate. Parsley is a slow starter and needs plenty of water to germinate. It can tolerate light frost once it has become established.
Insects that attack parsley plants include the black swallowtail butterfly, which eats the leaves of the plant. This insect is approximately two inches long and has black stripes on its back and yellow dots. The adult butterfly is harmless, but in the caterpillar stage it can be a pest. While it can damage the plant, the butterfly is responsible for pollinating flowers in your garden. Parsley worms should be kept to a small area.
Harvesting
Parsley is a biennial plant, which means that it puts its energy into flowering and seed production in its second year. If you harvest parsley at the end of the second year, it may not store well and will not sprout in the spring. It is best to harvest parsley when the flower heads are brown and dry. Once they have died down, simply cut off the flower heads at the base of the plant and the seeds will fall to the soil. Store the dried seeds in a cool, dark location. They will keep for two years and are also available in organic form as seeds.
Once the parsley seedlings have reached an inch tall, they are ready to be thinned. If the seedlings are not yet a true leaf, they should be placed under a grow light. They do not need light to germinate, but they do like a little light to grow. If you have a grow light, set it to go on for 12 hours at a time. This will encourage healthy root growth.
Seeds of parsley can be soaked for 12 to 24 hours. Keeping parsley seeds moist and in a sunny spot will improve germination rates. Parsley needs a temperature of fifty to eighty degrees Fahrenheit, which is also the temperature range that it requires indoors. Ensure the soil is moist and well-drained to encourage sprouting. Parsley seeds need to be planted at least a quarter inch deep. Pulling multiple sprouts from the same plant will increase the chances of success.
After the parsley seedlings are large enough, they can be transplanted to a sunny spot in your kitchen. You will need to thin them and pot them up as they grow. During the winter, you can transplant them to a warm, sunny area of your kitchen. Depending on the climate, parsley will grow throughout the winter in a protected area under a cloche. If you are growing parsley indoors, make sure you start the seeds in the spring or early summer.