All about Parsley
This article will tell you everything you need to know about growing parsley. However, before anything else, allow me to give you a little background on parsley and how it can be used in your dishes.
Parsley can be usually found on the Mediterranean shores and has been cultivated for nearly 2,000 years. As early as five centuries ago, there have been records explaining the developments of parsley in terms of variety. Currently, it has the largest number of varieties among all garden herbs.
There is a reason why Parsley has been part of our herb gardens for a long time. It is considered as one of the most versatile herbs. Although commonly used as garnish, it is more popular used as spice, especially in Middle Eastern cuisine. Parsley has a light scent and fresh taste which makes it so easy to use, from soups to sauces to vegetables. It is used as one of the main ingredients in Middle Eastern dishes such as tabbouleh. As a garnish, it is normally chopped and sprinkled in soups or mixed with ground meat, such as lamb.
So just how do you grow parsley?
Sowing
Growing this interesting herb requires more patience than other herbs. Its seeds take a longer time to germinate, taking it a period of about three to four weeks. In addition, germination requires warm temperatures so it is highly advised that you sow seeds inside a warm room first, before you decide to transfer outside. To ensure that the seeds will sprout and the plant will grow, since it will not survive freezing conditions very well, you can start planting at the last freeze or into the early summer; the warmer the temperature, the better it will do. You may also want to station sow several seeds in a pot, in case some seeds do not germinate. If, instead, all of the seeds sprout; you can thin all except for the strongest.
If you wish to transfer the plant outside, wait for the sprouts to grow strong roots before carefully transferring it to a pot or a spot in your garden. Remember, as well, to choose a spot that is exposed to the sun for at least six hours, although it can also tolerate partial shade, as long as it gets the warmth it needs.
Cultivating
When it comes to cultivation, you can conduct your first thinning around the month of May. You can space each plant two inches apart, but when they start crowding, you can start to harvest each second plant.
In terms of soil requirements, parsley likes a well-drained, moisture retaining soil. If you decide to grow the plant in containers, make sure that each container has adequate drainage holes. Parsley requires extra care as it needs its soil to be rich in nutrients that come from rotten organic matters such as leguminous crops or from stable manure.
Harvesting
Now comes the time to harvest your parsley. You can harvest it fresh with the leaves and the stalks, as both could be eaten. On the contrary, before you actually cut the leaves or the stems, look for striped caterpillars or their eggs first. These caterpillars help nurture your plant by their nibbling of the leaves and stems. Their trimming assists the growth of new leaves and new branches. On top of that, they also provide nourishment through their excrement, which serves as fertilizer.
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