How to plant and sow parsley outdoors? Tips and Tricks

What is parsley?

From the Apiaceae family like coriander, parsley comes from around the Mediterranean. This aromatic herb belongs to the category of biennial plants , that is to say that its cycle, from sowing to raising seeds, passing through harvest, takes place over a period of two years . The first year, the parsley will develop beautiful green foliage and will not go to seed until the second year.

What does Parsley look like?

Parsley can reach a height of 30cm and the shape of its leaves changes according to the variety. We can thus distinguish Curly Parsley from Flat Parsley, the name of which describes the difference between the leaves. Frisé Parsley is very easy to spot, however it can be more difficult to distinguish the difference between Flat Parsley and Cultivated Coriander . You have to keep your eyes open: flat parsley has darker and more pointed leaves and it is also distinguished by its sweeter smell.

During the blooming period in the summer, you may also be able to spot parsley by its yellow or green flowers.

How to use parsley?

Parsley is grown both for its leaves and for its stems, which are just as tasty. Discover recipes using Flat Parsley with URBAN CUISINE: Fried Flat Parsley , Oysters with Flat Parsley coulis or Tzatziki with Flat Parsley .

This plant grows both indoors and outdoors: in your garden or in a potted balcony, in a planter or in a vegetable patch.

Parsley Diseases

The main pest that parsley fears is the "Psila rosae" fly or more generally known as the carrot fly . This fly lays eggs on the ground and the small larvae that are born then ravage the roots, which prevents the parsley from feeding on nutrients. The parsley attacked by these larvae will then begin to turn yellow and will quickly wither.

Parsley can also be attacked by aphids, although these are not big fans of this aromatic herb.

To repel these pests, you can either protect your plants with an anti-insect net or sow varieties that have a repellent effect such as chives, lavender or lemongrass.

Sowing parsley in detail: type of seed and location

Which seed to choose?

The choice of seeds is particularly important because it will influence the growth of the plants and affect the nutritional intake of your fruits and vegetables. To enjoy all the flavor of parsley while being sure of the quality of your product, we recommend seeds with the " Organic Farming " label. This label is a certification that the seed is organic and has not undergone any harmful chemical treatment. In addition, compared to other varieties of seeds, organic seeds are more resistant , including to pests.

What location for my parsley stalk?

Parsley needs a sunny position . However, it does not support strong heat and will therefore have to be in the shade during hot days.

Organic parsley: from sowing to harvesting

After sowing, organic parsley seeds will germinate quickly and easily. The plant will simply need a fairly sunny location and nutrient-rich, light, well-drained soil .

5 steps for sowing in the garden

1- Work the earth to make it light

2- Form furrows, spacing them 15cm apart

3- Sow the seeds

4- Cover them with potting soil

5- Water

Note: Seeds should be sown in March once the risk of frost has passed. Young plants will need warmth to grow and become hardy enough for winter.

7 steps for balcony sowing

You can sow parsley seeds directly in pots or planters. For this, it will be necessary to choose the place of the pot or planter wisely so that the parsley plants can benefit from light and humidity. The choice of pot material will also be important to keep the soil warm and moist. You can also use mulch to keep the soil cool.

1- Choose the container: pot or planter

2- Install a layer of clay balls in the bottom of the container

3- Add potting soil

4- Compact the soil

5- Sow the seeds

6- Cover with a thin layer of potting soil

7- Water

Interview

Watering the plants should be frequent since parsley needs a good amount of water, especially after sowing so that the seeds can germinate. You can water about 2-3 times a week. It will be necessary to harvest the parsley leaves as you go so that they can grow back thicker. It is also advisable to halve your parsley the first year to stimulate foliage growth.

Note: If you have chosen seeds with the “Organic Agriculture” label, you can harvest the parsley seeds in order to replant them.

Harvest and preservation

Parsley seeds will germinate in 5 to 10 days and you can start harvesting in 6 to 7 weeks . Parsley keeps very well frozen .

Gardening with URBAN CUISINE

Growing parsley is easy with our Cultivation Plugs. La Motte Persil Plat bio will allow you to garden easily and harvest throughout the year.

Cultivation Clods are composed of plant fibers that contain all the nutrients necessary for the growth of the plants and the seeds are already sown in the ground. The soil of the Clods of Culture is compact, so you will not need to add anything, neither potting soil nor compost, you will only have to water. All you have to do is install the Clods in the Cork Pots or in the Connected Indoor Vegetable Garden .

You can also diversify your planting by growing Flat Parsley with another variety in the Balconnière. We offer the Balconnière Common Chives and Flat Parsley, aromatic herbs that are easy to grow and whose planting goes together wonderfully.

Discover all the URBAN CUISINE advice on growing your fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs available on the blog: " How to grow parsley in pots indoors? ", " Chive seedlings: how to do it? " or even " Fine garden kit herbs: tips and tricks ".