Growing parsley

Everyone knows that parsley is a very rich seasoning used by chefs around the world. What's more, has many beneficial properties for the body and it is easy to plant at home. Therefore, growing parsley is a very good idea to have this aromatic herb available throughout the year.

If you are interested in growing parsley, this is the article for you. We are going to explain how to plant this aromatic herb, how long it lasts, the care you require and the properties it has.

How is parsley grown?

To grow parsley, it is important to know when to do it. The optimal period for this is between the months of March and July. We have the option of growing this plant in a pot, in the field or on a grow table. In a short time it reaches 30 centimeters in height and once we have cut the parsley, it regenerates again. For its sowing it is advisable to use between five and seven seeds. Also it should receive natural light, but not direct sunlight. Next we are going to comment on the steps to follow to grow parsley:

1. Seeds: We can buy parsley seeds at some florists or garden establishments. Before sowing them, they must be soaked for 24 hours.
2. Sow: After 24 hours of soaking, we must bury the seeds to a maximum depth of twice their size.
3. Location: The ideal would be to place the seedbed or the pot in a place whose temperature is between 18 and 22ºC.
4. Humidity: It is important to keep the soil moist until the parsley begins to germinate. This usually happens within 15 to 18 days.
5. Increase: We must water with great caution until the plant reaches eight to ten centimeters in height and obtains two or three leaves. It is recommended that it be located in semi-shade.
6. Transplant: Once the plant meets the characteristics that we have mentioned in the previous point, it must be transplanted to the definitive place of cultivation. There should be between 20 and 25 centimeters between each plant.
7. From this moment on, the plant can be found in full sun.

How do you grow parsley in a pot?

Although the process is very similar, growing parsley in a pot is simpler. The container must have a minimum capacity of five liters. In addition, as we have already said before, parsley needs natural light not direct from the sun, so the ideal is to place the pot near a window. We can grow potted parsley at any time of the year. However, if we plant it in winter, the seeds will take longer to germinate. Now we are going to see the steps we must follow to grow parsley in a pot:

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When and how to plant parsley?

1. Earth: First we must fill the pot with special soil for planting. The seeds should be left with a layer of soil about a centimeter on top. It is important to keep the soil moist but be careful not to puddle it, at least until the parsley begins to sprout. This should happen after 15 days in summer or a month in winter.
2. Flowers: In order for the plant to grow strong, it is advisable to cut the flowers, as they weaken the plant. Although the flowers are not used at the culinary level since their taste is quite bitter, we can take advantage of their seeds to plant them in another pot.
3. Harvest: In summer, the parsley will be ready after its harvest after two months and after three months if it is winter. To do this, all we have to do is cut the stems that we want. It is advisable not to do it during the hottest hours of the day.

How long does the parsley plant last?

Usually, parsley can be harvested two to three months after planting. For this we can cut both the leaves and the stems according to our needs. We can do this throughout the spring and throughout the summer, before the first frosts arrive. During the coldest time of the year we can protect the plants with a thermal blanket.

During the winter, the best option to use parsley is in dry form, as it is not advisable to cut the leaves or stems when it is so cold. But how do we dry it? In summer, before the frosts begin, we can cut more parsley than necessary and dry it in the oven at medium temperature for five minutes. Later, this dried parsley can be stored in a jar and used during the winter.

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How to care for parsley

As for the life of the parsley itself, it usually lasts two years. During the first, this plant produces leaves, while in its second year of life it produces leaves and flowers, before dying. Therefore, if we want to continue to have fresh parsley at home, after two years we must use the seeds of the flowers to re-plant it and remove all the old parsley plants.

Parsley care

Once we have the parsley planted, there are a number of aspects that we must take into account to maintain and take care of it. We are going to comment on them below:

• In early autumn it is advisable pluck the strongest stems.
• If we want more parsley, we can divide the plant and replant it in other individual pots.
• The pot with the parsley should be inside our house or on a sunny shelf.
• It is recommended cut the most damaged leaves.
• Watering must be abundant, but with great care not to flood the earth.

Properties of parsley

Why should we grow parsley at home? This vegetable has a series of very good properties for our body. Apart from its usefulness at the culinary level, it is also used to make infusions and has certain medicinal properties. It is rich in minerals, vitamins, potassium and folic acid, but it also helps our body in other ways:

• Antioxidant: Parsley is rich in carotenes and vitamin C.
• Diuretic: It helps us eliminate excess fluid.
• Prevention of anemia: Since parsley is an aromatic herb very rich in iron, it helps prevent anemia. As a curious fact: 25 grams of this vegetable provide a total of more iron than 200 grams belonging to pork.
• Rich in calcium

As we can see, parsley is a very good aromatic herb for us and very rich in food. Now that we know how to grow it at home, we can only get down to work.