Tips for Growing Parsley
Parsley, also known as Petroselinum crispum is a plant that has a life cycle of two years. 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.
In Medieval times, hungry people placed parsley on the tables and around their necks to absorb food odors. Makes you wonder what they were eating! Parsley was even used as an antidote for poisons. This would prove valuable to have handy for those at risk of food poisoning consuming rancid meat!
High temperatures are required in order for the growing parsley to germinate. It could take several weeks for the seeds to sprout. The seeds need to be soaked in warm water over night before planting. Seeds can be sown in pots and kept warm indoors until the seedlings have sprouted.
Plant parsley in early springtime. Place in rows around 12 inches apart from each other. The bed needs to be covered by about half an inch depth. Add bonemeal to the top layer of soil.
After seedlings grow to about 3 inches in height, they can then be planted outdoors. {Pick a spot for growing parsley that will get 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.
Provide the growing parsley with soil rich in organic matter. Your efforts will be rewarded in a healthy crop gathered from the garden. If you do not have enough space, or soil conditions are poor, consider planting the herb in pots.
If kept indoors, remember that parsley requires at least five hours on sunshine each day. Growing parsley should get a monthly dose of fertilizer to sustain growth through the season. Water often during the summer months to make certain the soil does not dry out. Add mulch to the soil to reduce moisture loss and prevent growing weeds. Later thin the plants to stand about six inches apart.
Parsley lasts all season, and the time between planting and harvesting is 12 weeks. The plant is biennial, which indicates that is will soon start to produce seeds, thus ending its use as a 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 pot benefits its long taproot system. To help parsley to withstand low temperatures, try lightly mulching.
Medicinal uses for Parsley
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!
With growing parsley, always remember to keep the plant bed wet, the herb fed regularly and kept warm.
You’re reward for its upkeep will be a beautiful presentation of green to put with any meal.
Tags: grow herbs, growing herbs, growing parsley, how to grow parsley
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