Growing Parsley from Cuttings, Seeds, Planting, Care
A step by step guide for Growing Parsley from cuttings and seeds
Today, we learn the information of growing parsley from cuttings, seeds, planting, care and harvesting procedure. you can apply this information for growing parsley in pots, indoors, terrace, balcony, and the backyard. Parsley whose biological name is Petroselinum crispum is a biennial herb which is hardy and belongs to the family of Apiaceae. This herb is native to the Mediterranean regions. It has leaves which are bright green and also look like a feather. It belongs to the family of dill.
Parsley is a herb which is well-known and is mostly used as a flavor in many of the dishes. This herb is mostly seen as a garnish on many varieties of recipes. Parsley has the capability of neutralizing the bad breath. People generally chew on Parsley sprigs which are garnished on their plate after the meal is completed. This is generally done to freshen the breath. Parsley is a biennial plant which can be grown in an easy manner in the climatic conditions which are mild. This grows as an annual plant in the climatic conditions which are colder.
Preparation for the plantation of Parsley:
The first thing you will need to do is to select a Parsley type. This usually comes in two varieties. One is curly leaf and the other is a flat leaf. Flat-leaf type of Parsley is also called as Italian Parsley.
Flat-leaf Parsley will have a flavor which is somewhat stronger than the curly leaf type of Parsley. But, both curly leaf Parsley and flat-leaf Parsley are mild relatively. You will also be required to take a decision regarding the growth of Parsley from seed or growing it as a plant from a seedling or pot.
After selecting the type of Parsley, the next thing you have to do is to choose a location for growing Parsley. Parsley will work very well in any pot or even garden. It will not require specific growing conditions. It will be able to survive in any of the conditions. You will have to select an area which will be able to receive at least partial sunlight. You can plant it in its own spot or you can even plant it along with the other types of plants in your garden. If you have decided to grow your Parsley in a pot, then you will have to keep it on a windowsill which would get sunlight early in the morning like on a windowsill which is facing towards east.
Now, it’s time for the preparation of soil for the growth of Parsley. Parsley would prefer growing in a soil which is relatively loose and consists of a rich amount of nutrients or compost. Parsley would prefer the soil which has the level of pH in between 6 to 7. The pH of the soil has to be tested and the incorporation of peat moss into it has to be done if you find that the soil is too much basic. For the creation of soil mixture which is perfect, you will have to combine 50% of compost with the nutrients. This will lead to the creation of a soil mixture which is airy and light and it will make it easy for the root system of Parsley to get attached as it would be smaller.
Propagation of Parsley seeds:
You will have to soak the Parsley seeds in the water which is soapy. Then fill a large bowl with water which is warm. Remember that the water should be warm, but not hot. All the Parsley seeds have to be placed in the mixture and let them soak for an hour. The water heat and the dish soap will help to break the outer casing of the seeds of Parsley which would be tough in a notorious way and this will, in turn, help them to grow faster than they actually would without even soaking.
Now, the Parsley seeds have to be rinsed and moved to another bowl which consists of water. By making use of a small strainer, the water which is soapy has to be poured out and the seeds have to run underwater which is lukewarm. This should be able to take off any soap traces and then help in preparing them for the next step. The bowl has to be filled with warm water and the seeds have to be placed in it. These have to be soaked overnight for the continuation of the process of germination.
The seeds have to be dried. After 1 day of soaking the seeds in water, the seeds have to be removed by making use of a strainer and they have to be laid on a tiny piece of wax paper for the purpose of drying. When they are completely dried, then it means that they are ready for plantation.
The Parsley seeds have to be started in the indoor locations. If you are interested to quicken the time of plantation, you can also go for the plantation of Parsley somewhat earlier in containers which are small and you will have to then move them to their actual place after sprouting takes place. You can start planting your Parsley seeds in small containers before 2 to 4 months and make sure that you are watering them on a daily basis. This should give them a sufficient amount of time to start sprouting, which increases their time to bloom fully when they are planted in the outdoor locations or in a pot which is larger in terms of size.
How to grow Parsley from seeds:
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The seeds have to be planted at the right time. You will have to wait until all the chances of frost are passed and the seeds can be sown directly in your garden if you did not start them in the indoor locations. The plantation of seeds has to be done at the very early stages of the spring season.
By making use of a small trowel, you can prepare your garden rows. These should be at a distance of approximately 12 inches from each other and their length should be sufficient enough for the seeds to be sown at an interval of 3 inches. The sprouts or seeds have to be covered with 0.5 inches of dirt so that these rows or holes will not be required to have too much depth.
The transplantation of the seedlings which are started in the indoor locations has to be done to your garden after the completion of the last frost and when the plants reach the length of a minimum of 3 inches. The seeds have to be placed in such a way that each individual plant is at a distance of a minimum of 10 inches from all the other plants. While placed in rows, the distance should be 6 inches from each other. This will provide the Parsley with an adequate amount of space for growth through which it will take complete advantage with the starting of the end of the spring.
How to grow Parsley from cuttings:
The stems of Parsley have to be cut from the parent plant. Ensure that the cuttings have the stem which is at a length of at least 4 inches and many leaves which are healthy at the top.
Then place the cutting in a bowl which is containing the cool water. This has to be done immediately after cutting the stem from the parent plant. The knife which you use has to be disinfected by making use of rubbing alcohol in between the cuts for the prevention of the spread of disease.
Combine equal amounts of sand, perlite, and peat moss.
Fill the tray or planter with at least 5 inches of the potting medium.
The cuttings have to be removed from the water and you have to keep the stems which are cut at an inch depth into the potting soil mixture. The mixture has to be packed in a gentle manner surrounding the base of the cutting.
Watering of this cutting has to be done with 2 inches of water or with the water which would be sufficient to keep the soil in the moist condition, but make sure that you are not soaking it. The plants have to be watered once a week for maintaining the moisture of the soil.
The tray or plant has to be placed in bright light but it should be indirect. The cuttings have to be monitored regularly for roots after 15 days by brushing the soil away from the plant’s base in a gentle manner.
The garden bed has to be prepared by combining at least 2 inches of the organic compost into the top 5 inches of the soil. You can make use of how or tiller to add compost and make the soil loose. Select a location which is well-drained and will also receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight in a day.
The new plants have to be removed from the potting soil mixture and holes have to be dug in the garden at the same depth and width as the plants’ roots. The cuttings which are rooted have to be placed in the holed and these holes have to be filled with soil which is available in your garden. The soil around the plant’s base has to be packed in a gentle manner by making use of a trowel or you can also pack it manually by making use of your hand.
Care and maintenance of Parsley:
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Watering of the Parsley has to be done in deep water at least one time per week for encouraging the development of a taproot which would belong. You may be required to water in a more frequent manner at the time when the climatic conditions are extremely dry and hot. If you are going with the plantation of Parsley in pots, keeping them in the indoor locations, you will have to provide them with sufficient water so that the soil will be barely moist. You can also take into consideration setting up a drip system if you are not able to water the Parsley on a regular basis.
Weeds are the ones which get blended easily along with Parsley, but they take all the nutrients which are valuable from the soil and they also block the sunlight which the Parsley plants are receiving. Mulching has to be done around the plants as this would help the soil in restoring its moisture and will also not encourage the growth of weeds. After that, you can pull any type of weeds which you see and throw them away from your garden.
At the time of growth, thinning of seedlings has to be done so that there would be only one plant for every 10 inches of space. Once you see that the seeds are starting to raise into plants, take a pair of scissors and remove some of the plants which are smaller or somewhat less healthy. Transplanting Parsley has to be done carefully. If you want these plants to be transplanted to a different location in your garden, then you can dig them in a careful manner by making use of a small space.
The Parsley has to be fertilized one time in a month by making use of general-purpose fertilizer. This is used for sustaining the herb production for the complete season. You can also go with the addition of compost to the soil which will help it in keeping the nutrients, which will, in turn, give the Parsley an additional boost.
Harvesting Parsley:
When you see Parsley sprouting up with a set of three leaves which are developed in a complete manner, then it means that it is ready for picking. The Parsley has to be harvested slowly all across the season by cutting the outer stalks of the Parsley plants which would be just above the level of the ground. This would encourage the extra growth of the plant. If the leaves of the Parsley plant are harvested from the top of the plant, then it would decrease your yield.
Storing Parsley:
The leaves of Parsley have to be frozen for using them later or you can even dry or store them in the containers which have air-tight lids. You can also use the Parsley which is stored within one year to get the best flavor.
Facts about Parsley:
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Parsley which is grown in the indoor locations will need at least six hours of sunlight per day or you can also replace the sunlight with plant growing lights which give high output. Parsley will grow very well in the soil which is loamy and has a rich amount of nitrogen in it. Parsley will be able to grow very well in full sun or partial shade. Parsley has the capability to overwinter if it is being mulched in a light manner at the time of extremely cold climatic conditions.
Parsley is a biennial plant and it lives for two years. At the end of the second growing season, Parsley will flower and will also undergo production of seeds. When you are growing Parsley for the production of seeds, you can take off every weak or unhealthy plant so that the plants which are healthy will be able to fertilize one another.
Caring the Parsley which is grown in the indoor locations is simple. The soil has to be kept moist in a light manner and the saucer has to be emptied under the pot after each and every watering so that the roots will not sit in water. The Parsley plants have to be fed for every 15 days with fish emulsion or a liquid fertilizer which has half strength. You can also grow other types of herbs in the container which has Parsley in it if you wish.
The Parsley has to be sown in the outdoor locations when the temperature of the soil has reached 10°C. Parsley will grow at its best when the temperature of the air is about 18°C. In the regions where the climatic conditions are hot, you can choose to start the Parsley in the outdoor locations at the time of autumn and allow it to grow all across the winter.
Similar to most of the herbs, Parsley will also grow well when placed in full sun. Partial shade is also advantageous in climatic conditions which are hot and humid, though Parsley will not need shade for growth.
Parsley is a herb which is versatile. Parsley is easy to grow in any type of garden. Parsley which is fresh would be great if used as a garnish and is also a healthy food to consume.
As Parsley is an easy plant for starting from seed, the process of germination would be slower than many other herbs. The seeds have to be sown directly into the soil present in your garden prior to three to four weeks of the occurrence of the last frost. That would be the best time to plant Parsley.
Parsley is a herb which can only be spread by seeds. So cutting off the flower head before the development of seeds will lead to the prevention of the plant from getting spread. As a garden herb, Parsley is generally harvested at the ending stage of the first season of growing.
Sometimes you see while leafing tips for Parsley. This is due to the issues in the environment. This may either be too much exposure to sun or wind which will cause severe damage to the cells of the plant. Another cause for Parsley having leaf tips which are white is due to lack of water.
When soil is kept moist in a uniform manner, it would make the Parsley plants happy. But when there is overwatering or too much less watering, it would lead to wilting of Parsley. The locations which receive full sun at the time of summer may lead to drooping of leaves and steps. This happens as, at the time of summer, plants evaporate more amount of water than they usually take.
You may also see parsing turning yellow and this happens because of root rot. There is a fungal infection which is called as leaf spot and that might also be the reason. The leaves will turn yellow in color on both of its sides which is slowly turn dark brown in color with small black spots at the center of the leaves and an outer border which is yellow. This will weaken the leaves and gradually, the leaves start wilting and drop off suddenly.
You can plant Parsley near the plants like Chilli, Carrots, Chives, Corn, Roses, Onions, Peas, and Tomatoes. Asparagus is the plant which is specifically benefited when grown along with Parsley. Make sure that you are not planting Parsley with lettuce of mint as it gives bad results.
Difference between Parsley and coriander:
Coriander and Parsley are the herbs which look similar to each other, but they are not at all the same. The flavors of these two herbs are completely different.
The aroma of coriander is much stronger than Parsley and the best way to check the difference is by crushing the leaves of both Parsley and coriander and see which one has an aroma which is stronger. It would obviously be coriander.
The leaves of coriander which is slightly lighter green in color and its leaves will be rounder. Whereas Parsley has the leaves which are dark green and has leaves which are pointy and sharp.
In India, Parsley is termed as “Ajmod” whereas Coriander is termed as “Dhaniya”.
That’s folks about growing parsley from cuttings and seeds.
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