In order for parsley to grow well in the garden or on the balcony, it needs a lot of nutrients. It is best to ensure nutritious soil when sowing. Under no circumstances should you fertilize the herbs with fresh compost or manure.
How should you best fertilize parsley?
Parsley requires an economical and targeted supply of nutrients when fertilized. In the open field, mature compost soil or stable manure is sufficient for soil preparation. Potted parsley can be supported with monthly administration of organic liquid fertilizer. Shortly before the harvest you should avoid fertilizing.
Parsley grows slowly
Parsley is one of the slow-growing plants. Impatient gardeners who find growth too slow tend to fertilize herbs to encourage them to grow.
However, this is not appropriate with parsley. Too much and incorrect fertilizer will cause the plants to die or lose their aroma.
Just give the parsley the time it needs to grow and be sparing with fertilizer.
Fertilize parsley outdoors
If the soil is well prepared, you no longer need to fertilize parsley outdoors, at least in the first year. Prepare the soil by
- Loose the soil deeply
- Work in mature compost or mature stable manure
- Sprinkle a layer of soil over the fertilizer
- If the soil is very acidic, add some lime
When planting parsley, plant the seedlings so that the roots do not touch the compost layer.
Perennial parsley tolerates a light application of fertilizer in the fall in the form of mature compost, horn meal or horn shavings.
Fertilize parsley in the pot
Potting soil depletes much faster than soil in the open field. If you care for parsley in a pot on the balcony or kitchen window, you can add some liquid fertilizer once a month.
Special organic-based plant fertilizers (€12.00 on Amazon), which you can get from your local gardening store, are well suited.
When the parsley doesn't want to grow at all
In the rarest of cases, a lack of growth is due to a lack of nutrients. Incorrect location conditions are usually the cause.
If the parsley turns yellow, the soil may be too acidic. This often happens when there are a lot of coniferous trees growing in the garden. The needles spread on the ground and lead to acidification.
In this case it makes sense to lime the soil around the parsley. Lime neutralizes the acid and creates better soil conditions for the seasoning plant.
Tips & Tricks
You should stop adding fertilizer shortly before harvest. The taste of the aromatic herb changes with fertilizers.
