BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Grow Parsley

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Parsley usually appears as a green leafy garnish on a plate of food. Quite often, it doesn't receive the recognition it deserves as a good source of Vitamins A and C when used in cooking. Though very safe when used in recipes, the essential oil of parsley can be toxic when used excessively for medicinal purposes. Easy to grow in your herb garden, parsley deserves a place at the table.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Choose a location to grow your parsley. It grows best in a well-drained, alkaline soil in full sun or partial shade. Parsley grows well in containers and is a good plant for your kitchen windowsill. Just be sure to have good drainage in your pot and make sure it gets good sunlight.

Step2

Plant your seeds in the early spring, summer or autumn. Place the tiny seeds on top of the soil and keep moist until germination, which is 2 to 3 weeks. Thin the seedlings to about 3 inches apart. Planting is required yearly in most areas, but it is a biennial in warmer climates.

Step3

Water your parsley deeply at least once a week and don't allow the soil to dry out between watering. Light mulch helps retain moisture and keeps weeds under control.

Step4

Fertilize the plants in the garden once during the growing season, using a general purpose fertilizer and every 6 weeks if you have it potted indoors.

Step5

Harvest by clipping the stalks close to the base, starting with the larger ones. This encourages new growth all during the growing season. If you just pinch the leaves off, your parsley will be less productive. Dry or freeze the leaves and use them within a year for optimum color and freshness.

Tips & Warnings

The two types of parsley are the Moss Curled, which has a bitterer taste, and the Italian. Both are suitable for cooking, but the Moss Curled is the one used for a garnish most often.
Soak your seeds in warm water a day before planting time to speed up the germination time.

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Comments

Stauf said

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on 1/2/2008 You can let 1 or 2 plants go to seed and dust the area with the seeds to start your next crop. Parsley will grow for 2 years and then go to seed and die.

Stauf said

Flag This Comment

on 1/2/2008 You can et 1 or 2 plants go to seed and dust the area with the seeds to start your next crop. Parsley will grow for 2 years and then go to seed and die.