A cook's best friend, Petroselinum crispum, commonly known as curly parsley, is used in myriad ways in the kitchen. Often discarded by diners as 'just a garnish,' parsley has many valuable nutrients including bet-carotene, calcium, iron, and Vitamins A and C in easily assimilated form. Parsley has a pleasant flavour and is often used as a breath freshener particularly after eating raw garlic and onions.
Parsley is a hardy biennial or short-lived perennial and grows 10 ?12 inches (24 ? 30 cm) tall. Cultivation requirements: fairly rich, moist soil, full sun or partial shade, water well during dry periods. In the second year, yellowish-white flowers are produced. Parsley can be treated as an annual for cooking purposes, as the first year's leaves are superior to the later crops. Parsley will self-sow so you can leave it where it is. Curly parsley makes a gorgeous edging along garden beds and is attractive planted with flowers and in container gardens. You can start the plants in the house prior to planting in the garden or you can seed it straight into the location where you want it to grow.
Parsley can be grown indoors or out. Grow parsley from seed or you can purchase started plants at the garden centres. I have read numerous times that it is hard to germinate parsley from seed but I have not had any problems. If growing parsley in pots, plant in a deep pot to accommodate the long taproot. Parsley can be brought indoors at the end of the growing season the same as other herbs. When bringing indoors, pot up in fresh potting soil, and check for critters. If there is an infestation, spray with a soap and water spray.
Parsley requires at least 5 hours of sunlight if grown indoors. If you are growing it on a windowsill, parsley should be turned regularly to ensure that all sides receive sunlight. Parsley grows well under fluorescents lights during the winter. Hang lights 6 inches (15 cm) from the plants and leave on for 14 hours a day.
In the garden, parsley can be planted near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes. In the kitchen, parsley can be used fresh in salads, sauces, and soups. Add to stews, stuffing, vegetable dishes, eggs, tabbouleh, dips, biscuits, omelets, rice and pasta dishes, meat, fish, shellfish, poultry ? the list is endless. Parsley can be mixed with soft cheeses such as ricotta or cottage cheese. Chop it finely, mash into butter and serve with bread, or melt it into casseroles, scrambled eggs, or pasta. Tie 3 sprigs of parsley, 1 sprig of thyme, and 1 bay leaf together with string to make a bouquet garni. Add the herbs to a soup pot and pull out just before serving.
Parsley can be dried or frozen. To store fresh parsley in the fridge, place the stems in a glass jar of cold water. It will stay fresh for several days.
Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace ? Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca
Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 ? 2005. All rights reserved.
Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley... Read More
Materials Needed 1 decorative clay or metal planter 1 package... Read More
Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is... Read More
Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to... Read More
Have you ever thought about how much it costs to... Read More
It is a beautiful evening and you are relaxing on... Read More
Imagine it's a special occasion and you've just received a... Read More
A property that has a well manicured lawn has one... Read More
There are so many plants available for you to choose... Read More
If you are planning to go on vacation, there are... Read More
Have you noticed how everything looks great at the moment... Read More
For many people, it's never been a question of whether... Read More
If you were to travel to Blue Mountain Lake, New... Read More
To achieve Koi pond aeration, there are some things you... Read More
A focal point is an important design element; it is... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is the perfect solution for anybody who wants... Read More
When starting a new plant from a leaf or stem... Read More
This is the time of the year that I keep... Read More
What is xeriscaping? You may have heard of xeriscaping as... Read More
A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used... Read More
Are you looking for a truly versatile vegetable to grow... Read More
Flowering cherries While the briefness of their... Read More
First, this bug has many names. Some of it's names... Read More
THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.What Do Your Plants Need?All plants need... Read More
Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a... Read More
A principle of all art is unity. This means that... Read More
Doing a full pond cleaning during the colder winter months... Read More
A garden a serves a man's every day need for... Read More
The ancient herb, Anethum graveolens or Fernleaf dill as it... Read More
Outdoor furniture constructed with teak wood is a favorite among... Read More
Mole control is one of the most complicated problems that... Read More
Part four in a seriesIt's hard to think about winter... Read More
Landscape wallpaper can be a great addition to your computer's... Read More
Bird watching brings enjoyment to many people. Selecting and correct... Read More
Dried plants and dried flowers are midway for people who... Read More
Summer is over, but for many of us - the... Read More
A garden a serves a man's every day need for... Read More
There is nothing more cheerful than vases full of fresh... Read More
THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.What Do Your Plants Need?All plants need... Read More
Many of us garden just for the sheer joy of... Read More
What is the flower that everyone visualizes and associates with... Read More
Creating no dig gardens on top of the soil gives... Read More
Do you ever dream about what your yard could look... Read More
Worms are not only the gardener's best friend, they are... Read More
Pruning your roses does not need to be a dreaded... Read More
Teak furniture is tropical hardwood that has a rich, golden... Read More
Blue flowers are some of the most striking plants around... Read More
Landscape paintings are a beautiful way to spruce up the... Read More
Women take pride in home decoration and gardening and want... Read More
A cook's best friend, Petroselinum crispum, commonly known as curly... Read More
The technique of pruning varies with the type of rose... Read More
The important question of whether or not to add salt... Read More
Choosing the right bulbs involves more than just selecting colors... Read More
Often in February there is a surprisingly warm day. Everybody... Read More
A Garden Pond in your Landscape - Want Water in... Read More
Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though,... Read More
Like any job you tackle, it's always easier if you... Read More
Wildlife require water just as humans do. Water is essential... Read More
Every lawn, whether new or established, is susceptible to a... Read More
If you enjoy making your yard as beautiful as it... Read More
Whether we know it or not, most of us are... Read More
Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More
Spring is the season to start planting seeds for the... Read More
Spring is coming, and now is the time to get... Read More
There are more reasons than ever why anybody with access... Read More
Building your own water works system is quite simple and... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |