Parsley is generally considered to be very robust and easy to care for. However, the seasoning plant still has its own peculiarities.
Only if the location and care are right, parsley will develop into beautiful bushy plants. So, how do you properly care for parsley in your garden?
How to Water Parsley Properly?
Watering is the biggest problem if you want to properly care for parsley. The plant does not like it dry or too wet. It does not tolerate waterlogging at all.
Always water parsley when the surface of the soil has dried out. Make sure the plant never gets too dry.
Plant parsley in well-drained soil so that waterlogging does not form. When keeping it in a pot on the balcony, use planters with large drainage holes.
Do Parsley Need to Be Fertilized?
You need to be careful with fertilizing. You should never give fresh organic fertilizer such as compost or manure.
Well suited fertilizers for parsley are:
- Mature compost
- Horn shavings
- Horn meal
- Liquid plant fertilizer
In the open ground, give your parsley some fertilizer every four weeks at most. Potted parsley needs to be fertilized more often, as the nutrients in the pot are used up very quickly.
Can Parsley Be Transplanted?
If the plants are growing in an unfavorable location where they do not develop well, you can try to transplant them. However, this measure will not always be successful.
If you want to nurture parsley from the open ground to overwinter in a pot on the windowsill, you can dig up a few plants and put them in a planter. With a little luck, the seasoning herb will continue to grow.
How Do You Cut Parsley Properly?
Caring for parsley involves continuously pruning and cutting the herb.
Always cut only the outer stems when they bear at least three pairs of leaves. Do not cut the heart, because then the plant will die.
Before flowering or before the onset of frost, cut a supply to freeze for the winter.
What Pests Can Occur in Parsley?
Aphids are the most common pests in parsley. If possible, collect them by hand or cut off infested branches. You should refrain from using chemical agents.
Slugs are a common problem in the open ground. Sometimes it helps to spread coarse sand around the beds to keep the slugs away.
What Diseases Can Occur in Parsley?
Powdery mildew and leaf spot disease are fairly common in parsley. Yellow leaves are usually not a disease, but a symptom of poor location.
Is Parsley Hardy Or Does It Need Winter Protection?
The seasoning herb is hardy and does not need any winter protection. Only in very cold locations, you should protect it with a cover.
Where Can I Plant New Parsley?
Be sure to plant new parsley in a different location away from already planted parsley. Like all umbellifers, the aromatic herb does not get along with itself.
Parsley planted in the same place will grow very puny and quickly die, even if you otherwise care for it properly.
