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Parsley
Veg Type:
Leaves
Growing Location:
Indoors and Outdoors
One of the most popular herbs in the world, parsley is the classic “stock-pot” herb and a quintessential part of any herb garden. This herb can also successfully grow inside, so it is perfect for any Urban GIYer – or just someone who wants to brighten up their kitchen.
Sowing
- Parsley can be sown direct or sown in modules and transplanted.
- Outdoor sowings can be made from April to June.
- Indoor sowings can be made from from March to June.
- If sowing direct, sow curly parsley thinly in rows 15cm apart and large-leafed parsley in 30cm rows, at 0.5cm deep.
- If sowing in modules, sow a small pinch of seeds in each module and thin to one plant when seedlings emerge.
- Keep in mind parsley seed is slow to germinate, so be patient – this is dependent on temperature, but usually germination takes three weeks.
Growing
- When seedlings emerge, the plants can be thinned to 15cm apart. This is not essential but usually gives better results.
- If you have sown direct make sure to regularly check for weeds. Weeds can often take over the bed before plant begins to germinate.
- Plant out module-grown seedlings at the same spacing (15cm apart) when they are 7-10cm high. Transplant carefully as they hate root disturbance.
- Parsley should be kept moist to prevent bolting. Water well in dry weather.
Harvesting
- Cut leaves with scissors at 6-8cm from the soil, this ensures good re-growth.
TIPS
- Eating parsley at the end of a meal aids digestion and sweetens the breath.
Problems
- Bolting is a problem with parsley – this is a natural part of the plant’s growth, but can be discouraged by minimising root disturbance when transplanting, and ensuring the soil never dries out.
- Early sowings will often bolt in the summer – a later sowing usually ensures no bolting till the following spring.
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