Parsley: description
Like most herbs, parsley is native to the Mediterranean. The plant belongs to the Umbelliferae family. There are many varieties of Petroselinum crispum, which are divided into broad-leaved and climbing varieties.
A biennial fragrant plant, reaching a height of 90 cm. In the first year, a rosette of leaves is created at the base. In the second year, it begins to bloom – a flowering stem, 10-20 flowers in each umbrella. After that, the grass becomes inedible and dies.
Developed parsley root is elongated white, fleshy, similar to carrots. The fragile leaves of plants are trifoliate, with irregularly toothed segments. Propagated by seeds. Parsley seeds 2-3 mm, gray-brown, oval with a strong smell. In the second year, the seeds are harvested for re-planting.
Parsley root [/ caption]There are many varieties of cultivated parsley that can be used in cooking. The most commonly used is broad-leaved parsley. It has a stronger aroma than curly hair.
Additional Information! There is a variety of parsley, which is grown because of the large root crop. The root is used in soups, stews, or raw as a snack.
How parsley is grown
Growing parsley is easy. This is one of the easiest garden herbs to care for. The location in the garden is important. The grass prefers light semi-shady places, and loves well-drained soil, does not tolerate waterlogging.
Planting a plant in the spring requires preliminary soil preparation. The most suitable for parsley are slightly clayey and sandy loamy soils with a pH of 6.5-7.0. It is not advisable to sow in places where groundwater is too close.
When growing, you need to change the location regularly. Only after four years can parsley be planted in the same place. Therefore, to get a good harvest, parsley is planted every year in a new place.
Parsley is hardy and can survive mild winters in the garden. When sowing before winter, prepare the soil at least two to three weeks before sowing. Mineral fertilizers are applied along with manure or compost.
Note! Podzimny sowing of parsley is used to obtain an early harvest. To harvest fresh herbs all summer, you can sow seeds every two weeks until the end of July. The middle part of the parsley should be left untouched so that new shoots can grow.
P. parsley sowing seeds
Planting parsley is usually carried out in early spring, on a site prepared in the fall. It sprouts faster and more reliably when the ground is already a little warm. Dry seeds germinate slowly, so they are soaked for half an hour in water. Rows are made 1-1.5 cm deep, at a distance of about half a meter from each other. Well shed with warm water and sow seeds in them. The grooves are covered with soil and compacted.
Sowing seeds
Shoots usually appear in two to three weeks. Until they appear, keep the soil slightly moist to facilitate seed germination. Thick seedlings should be thinned out so that between individual plants there is a distance of 3 – 5 cm for leaf parsley and 8 – 10 cm for root parsley.
Shoots
Co-cultivation of parsley in a vegetable garden is effective as it saves space, water and nutrient use, while at the same time achieving an increase in crop productivity. It can be planted along with other garden crops such as cabbage, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and other spices. The spice does not get along well with all plants – lettuce prevents its growth, and it should always be planted at a sufficient distance.
Watering parsley
Caring for parsley is occasional watering to keep the leaves fresh. Do not allow the formation of a crust on the surface of the soil or its excessive wetting. The amount of water should be moderate.
Watering the plants on hot summer days can be done daily to prevent the leaves from drying out. Watering is carried out in the morning or in the evening. You also need to always make sure that there are no weeds in the garden.
Nutrition
Nitrogen fertilizers are suitable for parsley to provide bright, rich foliage. They are applied twice a season in the form of saltpeter 50-60 g for every 10 m². Plant roots prefer nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Pests and diseases of parsley
In conditions of high humidity and poor ventilation, plants can be affected by a number of fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, rust and charring.
White mold is characterized by white bloom on the leaves. The development of the disease provokes rainy weather with sudden changes in temperature. In affected plants, productivity is sharply reduced.
Rust is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and stems of plants. In the middle of summer, brown spots appear on the lower leaves, which brighten with time, only the border around them remains dark. Gradually, the disease spreads to the upper leaves. With the development of the disease, the leaves turn yellow and dry, the stems fall off, which negatively affects the crop.
Parsley diseases
Why do parsley leaves turn black? Black spots may appear on the leaves due to fungal diseases. This often happens when the leaves get wet from watering.
For the treatment of diseases, the leaves are sprayed with sulfur, which can be purchased at the agricultural store. For preventive purposes, you can spray with a homemade solution by dissolving 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in 2 liters of water.
Note! Why do parsley leaves turn yellow? Over-watering can cause yellowing of the leaves and weak thin shoots. The tips of parsley leaves dry out due to excessive fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers. This causes burns and drying of the tips of the leaves. Similar problems can arise when plants are watered with high salt water.
Parsley pests
The carrot fly is a small insect that feeds on sap. The fly larvae also suck the juice from the plant.
The stem nematode is a small worm up to 1.5 mm long that lays eggs on parsley. It feeds on plant sap. The affected parts die.
Cotton aphid is a pest that can multiply throughout the growing season. It feeds on plant sap. As a result, parsley stops growing and dies. Treated with a solution of laundry soap or other soap product 40 g per 10 liters of water. If necessary, the course of treatment is repeated 2-3 times with an interval of 5 days.
To minimize the risk, destroy all weeds as soon as they appear. Remove and burn yellowed parts of plants. After harvesting, the site is dug deep.
Harvest
Leaf parsley is harvested during the season when the plants reach a height of about 15 cm. The leaves are cut at the base to get new greens. Parsley root is dug up, removing the aerial part.
