"Growing parsley in your herb garden"

Growing parsley is fairly easy, but sometimes seeds can be dificult to germinate. And they are nearly always slow, often taking more than 6 weeks to get going. Some gardeners soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting to hurry up the process a bit.

Parsley has traditionally been used as a garnish to decorate a meal. But parsley is one of the most under-used plants in the herb garden. It is very high in vitamin C content ( gram for gram parsley contains more vitamin C than citrus fruits! ) and also is rich in iron and other vitamins and minerals.

Parsley freshens your breath, puts a sparkle in your eye, and strengthens the blood, and should surely be included in all herb gardens. :-)

Growing parsley - positioning:

Parsley likes to grow in full sun and rich soil. It will tolerate some shade but the soil will need to be even richer to make up for the lack of sun.

Make sure lots of well-rotted organic stuff has been dug into the ground before you plant parsley. And prepare to feed the plants during the growing season.

Parsley can be successfully grown in pots. Keep in a very sunny position and make sure the container is well-drained, and kept well watered. A healthy parsley plant can survive right through the winter in a sunny kitchen.

Be imaginative when positioning herbs in your garden. Place a few within a couple of strides of the back door, so they are always available at meal times.

Sowing the seed and planting out:

The varieties of parsley differ so greatly that it's hard to tell they belong to the same family sometimes. Compare the flat leaved italian varieties with the tight curly types... Grow a few different varieties and add more shapes and colours to your everyday meals.

Thompson & Morgan online seed retailers have some parsley seed varieties available..

"Big mountain" "Envy"

Growing parsley in the UK
Growing parsley in the US
Thompson & Morgan worldwide

Sow a few seeds in each pot and keep watered and warm for the duration. Parsley really does take ages to germinate!

When the seedlings come up, leave the strongest looking plant in the pot and discard the rest. NB: You could try re-planting the rejects but you're probably better off putting them in the salad bowl.You'll only need a few parsley plants in the garden, and your energy is better used elsewhere once you've got 5 or 6 pots with good strong plants growing.

Parsley can be sown directly outside but you'll need a fairly long growing season for it to fully develop.

When the plants are ready to plant outside, make sure the ground is well prepared and give the plants at least 12 inches of space to grow into.

Growing parsley - and looking after it!:

Once the long tap root of the parsley plant has taken hold you shouldn't need to worry about it too much. Give the plants a little organic feed once a month to keep them producing more leaf.

Parsley needs watering well. If the roots dry out, the plant will suffer dramatically.

Keep weed-free.

Cut stalks for use regularly, from the outside of the plant. Cutting stalks will encourage the plant to produce more. Leave a couple of inches on the plant.

Start cutting after stems have reached at least 8 inches in height.

Growing parsley - Harvesting:

Parsley is a bi-ennial and in most climates, the plant will over-winter so you should be able to pick fresh parsley on even the coldest of winter days. ( Remember to add it to stews and soups. The vitamins and minerals will help prevent colds and flu ).

Although bi-ennial, parsley often runs to seed very early the following year, making it unusable. Plant parsley every year so you have a good healthy crop at all times.

As soon as the stems reach 8 or more inches long, start cutting. Cut whole stems as you need them from the outside of the plant.

Growing parsley - storing:

Parsley stores well, but with a little careful planning, you should be able to have a fresh supply all year.

Drying

Simply hang whole stems or lay on racks, turning regularly, in a cool, dry and airy place.

When completely dry, crumble leaves and store in airtight glass jars.

Freezing

Parsley will freeze quite well. Freeze whole stalks quickly and store in sealable freezer bags or plastc containers. Label.

Growing parsley for your health!:

Medicinal

As mentioned above, parsley is packed with vitamin C and plenty of other vitamins, making it a perfect prevenative medicine. Use as a vegetable and get the most from parsley's high B12 content, making it rich in iron.

Parsley also freshens the breath and is a great addition to garlic bread!

Culinary

Parsley has long been used as a garnish to pretty up a meal. And it works very well! It can also be used as a vegetable - put sprigs into soups and stews, or cook with the cabbage or other green veg. Or chop parsley and use to make sauces and flavoured butter. A perfect addition to garlic butter!

You can find more about parsley and even a few recipe ideas in my book recently published with Findhorn Press. Grow Your Own Pharmacy You really can grow enough fruit and veg to keep your family glowing with good health!

Happy Gardening!

More "Parsley" Reading

www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingparsley.html