Growing Parsley – How to Grow 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.

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 at night 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. The bed needs to be covered by about half an inch depth. Add bonemeal to the top layer of soil.

The seedlings can be planted out-doors when they are about three inches tall. {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.

The growing parsley needs to 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 5 hours of sunlight everyday. 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 is an all season herb. From planting time until harvest is about twelve weeks. Because it is a biennial, the herbs will begin to produce seed, which ends the plants use as an herb. In the fall, leaves may be dried and stored in tight jars. For growing parsley indoors, transplant into plant pots beforehand. Removal of the flower in the next springtime should help the plant to remain active.

Advice for growing parsley

To benefit its long roots, growing parsley in a deep pot is a good plan. If lightly mulched, parsley can tolerate colder temperatures.

Medicinal uses for Parsley

The herb is also full of nutritious ingredients, minerals and vitamins. The use of parsley is believed to be a relief for arthritis. The herb is a known diuretic used to treat the symptoms of patients with kidney and liver problems. A tea made from parsley seeds is a natural remedy for colic, and indigestion. Parsley is a well known breath freshener when chewed. Others uses in herbal medicine are as a cough expectorant. It is also claimed to be a mild aphrodisiac

With growing parsley, always remember to keep the plant bed wet, the herb fed regularly and kept warm.

The herb will repay you in a green presentation to adorn your culinary creations.