Has anyone suggested growing Parsley in your garden? Are you curious to know how to grow the plant? If yes, then this guide is for you.
Parsley is a herb that works as the perfect garnish with the richness of iron and vitamin. Although it’s a biennial that grows native to Mediterranean Europe, it’s annually planted throughout herb gardens.
Parsley can attract hoverflies which can get rid of harmful insects. It’s also a useful herb for companion planting to boost growth, improve flavors, and repel pests.
As it’s a useful herb, Parsley deserves a good place in your herb garden. Wondering how to grow them? Read through:
Things Required for Growing Parsley
Before growing Parsley, go through the below-mentioned checklist to ensure its better growth:
Sun: Full exposure,6-8 hours a day
Water: 2-3 times a week
Temperature: 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit
Soil: Well-drained, moist, loamy
Soil pH: 6-7
Hardiness zone: 2-11 (USDA)
Spacing: 9-12 inches
Germination period: 21-28 days
Other: Herb growing accessories
Soil Requirements for Parsley
Parsley grows in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It should be moist, well-turned, and loamy. The soil should be fertilized once or maybe twice during the growing season. If you are planting Parsley in the ground, break and crumble the large soil.
Make sure to keep the soil amendments minimum, or the plant may lose its flavors.
How to Grow Parsley?
Parsley may take some time for germination. So, if you want to grow Parsley quickly from seed, soak it in warm water before sowing. Once your seed is ready, proceed with the steps given below:
Growing Parsley from Seeds/Cuttings
To grow Parsley through seeds, take the soaked-up parsley seed and sow it within 1 cm or half inches deep inside the soil. Keep the seeds about 6-8 inches apart. If you are growing larger plants, it’s worth separating them about 8-10 inches apart.
Make sure the soil is warm, and do not let the soil dry out. Wait until the seedling appears. It can take about 6-4 weeks before the seedling appears, so you have to be patient.
If you are growing Parsley with seeds indoors, then use a grow light to help the seedlings grow. Maintain a distance of about 2 inches between the leaves and grow light.
Just like that, you can also grow Parsley through cuttings. Take about 4-5 single stems cut from next to the soil. Get rid of the lower leaves and put the stem into the water. Once the new root appears, transplant the stems into a container before growing them in the herb garden. Acclimate the herb before transplanting it outside.
Parsley is ready to harvest when the leaf stem has at least three segments. When it’s ready to use, cut the leaves from the outer stem of the plants and not the inner ones. The inner parts should be left to mature.
Growing Parsley in Pots
When choosing pots to grow Parsley, choose a container that is large and 12 inches deep. Fill the pot with seed compost and scatter the seeds throughout its surface. Add in some more seed compost and water gently.
Place the pot in a partially shaded place to germinate. Make sure that the compost isn’t dried.
Growing Parsley Indoors and Outdoors
You can grow Parsley indoors and care for it easily. For that, you just have to keep the soil lightly moist but do not overwater it. Also, add some half-strength fertilizers of fish emulsion every two weeks. The plant grows pretty well on a sunny windowsill inside your home, so provide them with the same.
To grow Parsley in an outdoor herb garden, sow the seeds in spring or early fall. Make sure the temperature is mild. Keep the seeds about 1-2 inches apart and ¼ inches deep in well-drained soil. Also, expose the plant in an area with full sun to partial shade.
How to Maintain a Parsley Plant?
Like any other plant, Parsley requires some care and maintenance. This includes:
- Water the plant/herb and keep the soil moist during prolonged dry periods.
- Once the herb starts flowering, remove the flower head.
- Cover the plants with cloche during winters to ensure pickings for a long time.
- If the pots become overcrowded with seedlings, thin them out.
- Apply seaweed solution and watch out for snails and slugs.
- You should also keep the plant away from black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
That’s it. Hopefully, now you know everything about growing Parsley at your home.
