Growing Parsley In Containers
Parsley is a very versatile herb. It tastes good in almost every type of savory dish imaginable, it makes a lovely garnish whole or chopped, and when chewed, it freshens the breath!
Parsley seeds are notoriously hard to get to germinate, and can take a while to sprout. Even nursery growers soak their parsley seeds overnight before planting them. It is much easier to just buy parsley plants from your local garden center, and I highly recommend you do that rather than trying to start parsley from seed.
You should pick small plants that have a bright green color and seem lush and healthy. Large plants may not grow well once they are transplanted into larger pots, which is why it is important to choose smaller plants. Never buy parsley plants that look wilted or are pale or yellow, or plants that have any brown edges.
Since parsley is a cool season plant, you can find it in the early spring. You can transplant your parley into containers whenever you're ready. Once it hits the garden centers, it is safe to plant it, because parsley can take light frosts and remain healthy.
Parsley is not overly particular about the soil it is grown in, nor does it need a lot of care. It will grow practically anywhere as long as the soil is not extremely wet. As long as you provide adequate drainage, your parsley will likely grow very well. In fact, it will grow in full sun or partial shade, so as long as your spot isn't full shade, your parsley is likely to thrive.
Any time there are enough leaves on the plant to provide enough for your use and still have some left, you can harvest. Just snip off the leaves you wish to use. It will continue producing usable leaves all season as long as you don't over-snip. You might wish to have a few parsley plants if you plan to use much, because you don't want to over-snip and kill the plants.
Pretty much any variety will grow in your pots, so don't worry too much about varieties. Green River is a very hardy curly variety that will live through almost anything, so if you don't have a green thumb, you might want to give it a try. Gigante d'Italia is a flat-leaf parsley variety that has huge leaves and a great flavor. But any variety you like should work just fine. |
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