did you know?

For such a humble herb, parsley's history is shrouded in danger and death. According to an old folktale, the seeds must travel to hell and back before they germinate. The ancient Greeks, who dedicated the herb to their hero Archemorus, believed that parsley grew where the blood of Archemorus was spilled when he was eaten by serpents.

general maintenance:

To increase production, harvest mature leaves regularly.

pests/diseases:

Stem rot, damping off, leaf spot, carrot and celery fly larvae, and black swallow-tail larvae may occur.

controls:

Remove affected plants to control leaf spot; root, stem, and leaf rots; and fly larvae. Reduce soil moisture to control leaf spot and root, stem, and leaf rots. Remove black swallow-tail larvae by hand. For damping off, pasteurize propagation media or try bottom heat.

how to sow/plant:

Choose a sunny to partially shady site with well-drained soil, and amend with well-rotted compost or manure. Or grow in potting mix in containers. After last frost and when soil temperature reaches 50 degrees, direct sow seeds 3 to 4 inches apart, 1/4 inch deep, or sow indoors in pots 8 weeks before last frost, and transplant outdoors after frost. Water upon planting. When plants reach 4 inches, thin 6 to 8 inches apart. Mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Monitor moisture during active growth. Allow soil to dry between watering. Feed monthly with a slow-release fertilizer, following package directions.

garden hint:

Soak seeds overnight before planting to speed germination. Direct seeding produces more vigorous plants. Raising seedlings indoors does not save any time; since parsley has a taproot, transplanting will only set back growth.

features:

• Attracts Butterflies
• Fragrant
• Frost Tolerant
• Shade Tolerant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Edging
• Flowerbed borders

other uses:

• Culinary/Edible
• Dye (Dried stems make a green dye.)
• Everlasting

combine with:

other culinary herbs, such as anise, basil, chives, dill, and nasturtium in the kitchen garden or in containers.