Parsley is generally considered to be very robust. However, the spice plant has its own peculiarities. Only if the location and care are right will the parsley develop into beautiful bushy plants. How to properly care for parsley in the garden.
How do I properly care for parsley in the garden?
To properly care for parsley, you should water it regularly without causing waterlogging, fertilize (e.g. with mature compost, horn shavings), fertilize, plant in well-drained soil, transplant if necessary and cut outer stems continuously, without removing the heart injuring the plant.
How do you water parsley correctly?
Watering is the biggest problem if you want to care for parsley properly. The plant doesn't like it dry or too moist. It doesn't tolerate waterlogging at all.
Water whenever the surface of the soil has dried out. Make sure the plant never gets too dry.
Plant parsley in well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging. When keeping it in a pot on the balcony, use planters with large drainage holes.
Does parsley need to be fertilized?
You have to be careful when fertilizing. You should never give fresh organic fertilizer such as compost or manure. Well-suited fertilizers are:
- Mature compost
- Horn shavings
- Horn meal
- Liquid plant fertilizer
In the open field, give some fertilizer no more than every four weeks. Potted parsley needs to be fertilized more often because the nutrient supply in the pot is 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 transplanting them. However, this doesn't always work.
If you want to keep outdoor parsley in a pot on the windowsill over the winter, you can dig up a few plants and put them in a planter. With a bit of luck, the herb will grow.
How do you cut parsley correctly?
Caring for parsley involves continually cutting the herb.
Always only cut the outer stems if they have at least three pairs of leaves. You must not cut the heart as the plant will then die.
Before flowering or before frost begins, cut a stock to freeze for the winter.
What pests occur on parsley?
Aphids are the most common. If possible, collect them by hand or cut off infected branches. You should avoid chemical agents.
Snails are a common problem in the wild. Sometimes it helps to sprinkle coarse sand around the beds to keep the snails away.
What diseases can occur?
Mildew and leaf spot are quite common. Yellow leaves are usually not a disease, but a symptom of a poor location.
Is parsley hardy or does it need winter protection?
The herb is hardy and does not require winter protection. You can only protect it with a cover in very cold locations.
Tips & Tricks
Make sure you have to plant new rows of parsley in a different location. Like all umbelliferous plants, the herb does not get along well with itself. Parsley planted in the same place grows very poorly and dies quickly, even if you otherwise care for it properly.
