Petroselinum crispum

Cultivation

Sow in the regular spot, or plant seedlings of leafy parsley varieties. It grows well like a house plant on your window shelf.

Distance between plants

At least 30 cm(12 in) between rows and at least 5 cm (2 in) between plants for root parsley. Leafy varieties can be planted closely together.

Location

Half-shaded to shaded.

Amount

Three to six plants per person.

Time of planting

April-June outside; when soil temperature reaches at least 5 °C (41 °F); January to grow seedlings. It germinates in approx. 4 weeks.

Fertilization

With home compost. Avoid barn manure. If needed, use potassium mineral fertilizers. Till the soil regularly.

Watering

It doesn’t need a lot of water. In drought, water once a week to 30 cm (12 in) deep for strong and even roots. If you water the leaves as well, you will avoid grey mould.

Parsley’s good neighbors

Black radish, cucumbers, tomatoes, beetroot, leek, radish, asparagus, onion, garlic.

Parsley’s bad neighbors

Radicchio, lettuce.

Diseases and pests

Grey mould, leaf and root lice. The latter appear when too much barn manure is used.

Parsley’s storage

Cut leaves regularly when needed; approx. 2.5 cm (1 in) above the root. Store roots in soil, covered with straw to protect from freezing, or in a cool basement. Let some of the plants in soil over winter. You can freeze the leaves (whole).

Food

Use leaves and root. They contain a lot of vitamins and potassium, iron and carotene.

Important

Use fresh seeds. Seeds need some light to germinate, so plant them only 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) deep into soil. When planting early, water with valerian tea. It grows well in soft, airy soil. It can survive winter outside.

Miscellaneous

It is a biennial that grows leaves in the first year and a stem with bloom umbel in the second year.