Common parsley (Petroselinium crispum) is a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae). Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a member of the carrot family that is native to Europe.
The two most popular types of parsley are:
- curly leaf parsley (Petroselinium crispum)
- flat leaf or Italian parsley (Petroselinium neapolitanum)
History
Parsley is thought to have originated in Sardinia, but the plant has been altered significantly by cultivation. In mythology, parsley was believed to have sprung from a Greek hero, Archemorous, the forerunner of death. Greeks crowned winners at the Isthmian games with parsley, and warriors fed the leaves to their horses.
The ancient Greeks and Romans knew parsley well as a medicinal plant and as a seasoning. Native to the Mediterranean area, parsley has a biennial life cycle, but is usually grown as an annual in the U.S. because the plants often die during cold winters.
Where to plant
As with most herbs, parsley does best in a sunny area which receives direct light for 6-8 hours a day, although it can tolerate some light shade. Parsley grows best in full sun.
The plants can be interspersed around the edges of the garden and along pathways.
Seeds
Germination is notoriously slow. The rate of germination is dependent upon seed freshness, ranging from 2-5 weeks. To help hasten the process, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting.
Seeds can be started indoors in the late winter approximately 6-8 weeks ahead of the last frost date. Seeds can also be sown directly in the ground where they are to be grown, after danger of spring frosts has passed.
How to plant
Cover seeds with 1/8 inch of soil, and keep them moist. Since germination is so slow, it’s a good idea to mark the rows. Emerging seedlings will appear almost grass-like, with two narrow seed leaves opposite each other. Thin or transplant seedlings when they are 2-3 inches high.
Parsley planted in the fall is far more productive than when planted in the spring.
When planting seeds into the garden, cover them with a quarter-inch to a half-inch of soil. Water lightly every day, and the seeds should be up in 10 to 14 days. After three or four weeks, when the sprouts are a few inches tall and have several leaves, thin seedlings growing in the garden to allow about 10 inches between the plants. If desired, extras can be transplanted to other spots.
Watering
Do not allow the plants to dry out completely between waterings in the garden. Water deeply at least once a week.
Fertilizer
Fertilize plants in garden beds once or twice during the growing season, using a 5-10-5 commercial fertilizer. Use a liquid fertilizer at one half the label recommended strength every 3-4 weeks for container grown plants outside and every 4-6 weeks for parsley grown indoors.
Fill the container with moistened potting mix and add some slow-release fertilizer – or plan to water the plants twice a month with a soluble fertilizer.
Harvest
Begin harvesting parsley when it produces leaf stems with 3 segments. Begin harvesting parsley when it has grown to about 8 inches in diameter and has numerous leaves. Harvest the larger, lower leaves at the outside of the plant – leaving the newer interior shoots to mature. Generally, remove no more than one-third to one-half of the foliage at any one time.
Indoor growing
Parsley is an easy herb to grow indoors as long as it has a bright location and holes in the bottom of the pot to insure good drainage. The plants may be a bit spindly when grown indoors; this is due to lower light levels.
Varieties
- The most common variety is curly parsley, Petroselinium crispum. They quite versatile, typically growing 8-14 inches tall, forming dense clumps which are great for borders, interplanting in the garden beds, and indoor or outdoor containers.
- Italian flat-leaf parsley, P. neapolitanum is another popular variety. This plant can grow quite tall (2-3 ft) and is more gangly in habit. The flat serrated leaves have a much stronger and sweeter flavor than the other varieties, making it more desirable for cooking.
- Hamburg parsley, P. tuberosum, is mainly grown for its white, fleshy, parsnip-like roots, used in flavoring soups. Tall, fern-like leaves make up the foliage.
References:
Growing Parsley - University of Minnesota http://goo.gl/5byFl
Growing Parsley in Louisiana - LSU AgCenter http://goo.gl/78vYZ
Parsley — Herbs — Penn State Extension http://goo.gl/ulaVD
Parsley, sage, cilantro, basil, thyme, chives, and mint are some of the best container herbs - Whole Foods Market http://bit.ly/16Qlcxf
Splitting Daisy, Parsley and Chamomile Transplants: MFG 2014 - YouTube http://buff.ly/1kYPJy6
Parsley: Garnish or Superfood? | Planet Natural http://buff.ly/1jVdAQl
Related reading:
Article: A Cases of Near-fatal Anaphylaxis: Parsley “Over-use” as an Herbal Remedy bit.ly/1v4xafa Free Full Text
Showing posts with label Parsley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parsley. Show all posts
How to grow cilantro
Cilantro/Coriander
Cilantro/coriander prefers a sunny well-drained location and cooler weather for optimal leaf growth.
Cilantro is a member of the carrot family, and is a highly fragrant annual plant. It has a taste of parsley with citrus-like overtones. When grown for its leaves, it is called cilantro. When grown as a spice for its dried seeds, it is called coriander. The seeds of the cilantro plant are known as coriander.
Cilantro is one of the oldest herbs, used by mankind, as far as 3000 BC. It is mentioned in early Sanskrit writings dating back to 1500 BC. The seeds have been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. It was brought to North America in 1670 and was one of the first spices cultivated by the settlers. It is widely used in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Like many other herbs, cilantro has a reputation for
being an antibacterial agent.
How to Plant
- Plant seeds in a sunny, dry location. Begin planting in early spring
- Place seeds ½ inch deep
- Space seeds 8-10 inches apart and place rows 15 inches apart.
Irrigation
Water young plants regularly, once plants are established they need little water. Avoid over-watering.
Make sure that the young plants don’t dry out. Once the plants are established they need little water. Avoid over watering as this plant does not do well in damp or humid conditions.
Fertilization
Fertilize once or twice during the growing season by applying ¼ cup of a nitrogen based fertilizer (21-0-0) per 25 square foot of growing area.
Cilantro should be fertilized twice. Apply ½ teaspoon of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) or urea (21-0-0) per square foot.
Be careful of over fertilization, too much nitrogen can make the plant less flavorful.
Maintenance
Of all the herbs in your garden, cilantro can be one of the most difficult to grow. Many people think that it's their fault that cilantro doesn't last very long, but what they don't know is that cilantro is a very short-lived plant.
Unlike most herbs, cilantro requires cooler temperatures to thrive. It should be planted in the early spring or in the fall when temperatures are cooler. Once the root of the cilantro plant gets above 75 degrees, it will bolt.
Cilantro is a cool-season crop that does best at temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees F. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 degrees F, but if temperatures exceed 85 degrees F it will start to bolt.
Plant new crops every 1-3 weeks to ensure a constant supply. Weekly plantings will ensure that you have a continuous crop. This plant rarely has any problems with insects or disease.
Harvest
Harvest cilantro when leaves are about 4-6 inches tall. Cilantro leaves are ready to harvest 45 to 70 days after seeding. Cut exterior leaves once they reach 4 to 6 inches long. Or, cut the whole plant about 1 to 2 inches above the soil level to use both small and large leaves.
After 8-10 weeks the cilantro in your garden will flower, and form seeds. Once cilantro matures, it will "bolt," or flower, then produce seeds. After the plant produces seed, it will begin to die. If you allow the plant to produce seeds and fall to the ground, your cilantro will "plant itself" to begin growing new cilantro seedlings next season.
To prevent maturation, cut the leaves regularly. Sow seeds thickly in a wide, shallow container; then, as soon as plants are 3 to 4 inches tall and sporting a couple of cuttable leaves, use scissors to cut off some foliage. Cut from a different section of the container every time, rotating the pot as you go and never letting plants in any area mature. By the time you get back to the first section harvested, new leaves will have appeared.
Harvest weekly to keep leaves coming. Using this method, it's possible to harvest 4 crops of cilantro from a single pot.
Is it advisable to plant cilantro/coriander indoors?
Yes, but make sure that the container is deep enough. Be sure to grow it in a place where it will get enough sun.
References:
Cilantro/Coriander - Yard and Garden - extension.usu.edu http://goo.gl/sgqS7
Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, Apiaceae - WSU Clark County Extension - http://goo.gl/NSmmC
Cilantro - The Texas A&M System http://goo.gl/feFKY
Cilantro/coriander prefers a sunny well-drained location and cooler weather for optimal leaf growth.
Cilantro is a member of the carrot family, and is a highly fragrant annual plant. It has a taste of parsley with citrus-like overtones. When grown for its leaves, it is called cilantro. When grown as a spice for its dried seeds, it is called coriander. The seeds of the cilantro plant are known as coriander.
Cilantro is one of the oldest herbs, used by mankind, as far as 3000 BC. It is mentioned in early Sanskrit writings dating back to 1500 BC. The seeds have been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. It was brought to North America in 1670 and was one of the first spices cultivated by the settlers. It is widely used in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Like many other herbs, cilantro has a reputation for
being an antibacterial agent.
How to Plant
- Plant seeds in a sunny, dry location. Begin planting in early spring
- Place seeds ½ inch deep
- Space seeds 8-10 inches apart and place rows 15 inches apart.
Irrigation
Water young plants regularly, once plants are established they need little water. Avoid over-watering.
Make sure that the young plants don’t dry out. Once the plants are established they need little water. Avoid over watering as this plant does not do well in damp or humid conditions.
Fertilization
Fertilize once or twice during the growing season by applying ¼ cup of a nitrogen based fertilizer (21-0-0) per 25 square foot of growing area.
Cilantro should be fertilized twice. Apply ½ teaspoon of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) or urea (21-0-0) per square foot.
Be careful of over fertilization, too much nitrogen can make the plant less flavorful.
Maintenance
Of all the herbs in your garden, cilantro can be one of the most difficult to grow. Many people think that it's their fault that cilantro doesn't last very long, but what they don't know is that cilantro is a very short-lived plant.
Unlike most herbs, cilantro requires cooler temperatures to thrive. It should be planted in the early spring or in the fall when temperatures are cooler. Once the root of the cilantro plant gets above 75 degrees, it will bolt.
Cilantro is a cool-season crop that does best at temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees F. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 degrees F, but if temperatures exceed 85 degrees F it will start to bolt.
Plant new crops every 1-3 weeks to ensure a constant supply. Weekly plantings will ensure that you have a continuous crop. This plant rarely has any problems with insects or disease.
Harvest
Harvest cilantro when leaves are about 4-6 inches tall. Cilantro leaves are ready to harvest 45 to 70 days after seeding. Cut exterior leaves once they reach 4 to 6 inches long. Or, cut the whole plant about 1 to 2 inches above the soil level to use both small and large leaves.
After 8-10 weeks the cilantro in your garden will flower, and form seeds. Once cilantro matures, it will "bolt," or flower, then produce seeds. After the plant produces seed, it will begin to die. If you allow the plant to produce seeds and fall to the ground, your cilantro will "plant itself" to begin growing new cilantro seedlings next season.
To prevent maturation, cut the leaves regularly. Sow seeds thickly in a wide, shallow container; then, as soon as plants are 3 to 4 inches tall and sporting a couple of cuttable leaves, use scissors to cut off some foliage. Cut from a different section of the container every time, rotating the pot as you go and never letting plants in any area mature. By the time you get back to the first section harvested, new leaves will have appeared.
Harvest weekly to keep leaves coming. Using this method, it's possible to harvest 4 crops of cilantro from a single pot.
Is it advisable to plant cilantro/coriander indoors?
Yes, but make sure that the container is deep enough. Be sure to grow it in a place where it will get enough sun.
References:
Cilantro/Coriander - Yard and Garden - extension.usu.edu http://goo.gl/sgqS7
Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, Apiaceae - WSU Clark County Extension - http://goo.gl/NSmmC
Cilantro - The Texas A&M System http://goo.gl/feFKY
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