Growing Parsley
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is a biennial herb but grown as an annual. Its popular curled variety is most recognizable as a fresh garnish for American food. Even the sprigs from growing parsley can be eaten, and can add a nice flavor to soups, main meals, and especially salads.
According to history, parsley was used in medieval times to absorb odors from foods. Makes you wonder what they were eating! It was also used as a poison antidote. I’m sure this would be most useful for those who became ill from consuming any rancid meat…
The growing parsley seed has to have high temperatures to germinate. But it could take a couple of weeks to a month for the leaves to begin to sprout. Soak the seeds in warm water overnight before planting. The seeds can be kept inside the house and sewn in pots, until the seeds begin to sprout.
Plant parsley in early springtime. Place in rows around 12 inches apart from each other. Cover the bed 1/2 inch deep. Bonemeal should be added to the top of the soil.
The seedlings can be planted out-doors when they are about three inches tall. {Pick a spot for growing parsley that will receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day!Although parsley enjoys direct sunlight, it should only receive between 6 – 8 hours per day}. It performs best in full sun to part shade.
The growing parsley should be in soil that is enriched with organic matter. Follow these directions, and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy crop. Consider planting in a container if you have poor soil conditions or not enough space.
Growing parsley indoors requires a minimum five hours of sunlight everyday. Fertilizer should be added to growing parsley to maintain growth throughout the season. During the summer, water the herb often to ensure the soil remains damp. Mulch needs to be added to the soil, which will reduce water loss, and prevent weeds from growing. After a while, thin the plants out so they stand around 6” apart form each other.
Parsley is an all year round herb. From planting time until harvest is about twelve weeks. Because it is a biennial, the herbs will start to produce seed, which ends the plants use as an herb. As for drying parsley, the leaves can be dried in the Autumn and placed in air-tight containers. For growing parsley indoors, transplant into plant pots beforehand. Removal of the flower in the next springtime should help the plant to remain active.
Growing parsley tips
Growing parsley in a deep container benefits its long taproot system. To help parsley to withstand low temperatures, try lightly mulching.
Parsley medical uses
Parsley is a nutritious food, full of vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. Parsley can be used for relief of arthritic pain. It is also good as a diuretic for liver or kidney problems. A tea made from parsley seeds is a natural remedy for colic, and indigestion. Parsley snips are nature’s breath mints. Others uses in herbal medicine are as a cough expectorant, and has been claimed to even be used as an aphrodisiac!
When growing parsley it is important to keep them warm, fed regularly, and be sure to wet the bed!
You’re reward for its upkeep will be a beautiful presentation of green to place with any meal.
