All you need is a small outdoor space to grow parsley in pots and always have this fragrant herb on hand
With its beautiful bright green color, parsley is one of the typical ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine: it is an aromatic herb capable of adding flavor to any dish, widely used also for its benefits. For example, it contains an essential oil that stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, facilitating digestion even after a heavy meal. In short, it is truly a valuable ally in all situations: why not keep some on the balcony? Here’s how to grow parsley in a pot , to always have it available, fresh and zero km.
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Parsley, characteristics of the plant
How to plant parsley
Growing parsley in a pot: tips
Parsley, characteristics of the plant
Among the many aromatic herbs that our cuisine is rich in, parsley takes pride of place. A small clump is enough to flavor any dish and make it special, giving it not only a particular taste, but also many beneficial properties – including digestive ones, as we have seen. Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum ) is a biennial plant belonging to the Apiaceae family , which includes many other valuable ingredients such as cumin, carrot, celery, parsnip and fennel.
Native to the Mediterranean regions , it grows spontaneously in woods and meadows: in appearance, it has a robust root and triangular leaves with a jagged edge, while the flowers are white or slightly bluish, grouped to form small umbrellas. The cultivation of parsley is not particularly demanding, provided that some precautions are taken: for example, this plant particularly fears both intense cold and heat , and grows best where the climate is temperate (in Italy, generally, there are no problems).
The ideal place to plant it is therefore cool and sheltered from direct sunlight (at least during the summer season), possibly in areas where winters are quite short and never too harsh. When it starts to get colder, you can choose to place the plant indoors, perhaps on a windowsill to provide it with the light it needs. Alternatively, if you have to leave it on the balcony, mulch the soil with dry leaves or some straw to protect the roots from low temperatures.
How to plant parsley
If you have a balcony or a small terrace, you can easily grow your parsley in a pot . It’s a plant that adapts well even to the smallest spaces, as it doesn’t grow excessively. But how do you do it? First, you’ll need to prepare everything you need for sowing. Get a pot at least 20 cm in diameter (up to three small plants can grow in it), choosing one of the tallest: parsley roots grow deep and need space.
As for the soil, this herb has no particular requirements. You can buy soil for horticultural crops by mixing it with a little sand. Even better if, at the bottom of the pot, you place a layer of expanded clay to promote good water drainage: this way you will avoid the risk of water stagnation, one of the first causes of plant wilting (when this happens, in fact , the water has probably caused root rot).
Once the pot is prepared, you can sow your parsley . When to do it? In reality there is no best time, you just have to make sure that the temperatures never drop below 14°/15°C (even at night): this is why it is advisable to do it between March and October in warm regions, while the window storm is slightly narrower in colder places. Now let’s see how to plant parsley.
Move the surface soil a little and scatter the seeds so that they are evenly distributed throughout the available soil. Then cover with a thin layer of potting soil and moisten it, then place the pot in the sun. If you want to speed up the process a little, let the seeds germinate indoors first, using techniques such as germinating in cotton or paper towels, and only later place them in the soil , using the same procedure we just saw.
Alternatively, you can buy a pre-grown parsley seedling and transplant it into your pot. In this case, we call it transplanting : this operation should also be carried out when temperatures no longer fall below 15°C, so generally from spring to late autumn. All you have to do is dig a small hole in the soil and place the plant in it, then re-compact everything with your hands. And now that you have planted parsley , all you have to do is wait for the results of your efforts: let’s discover some tips for growing this plant so that it grows luxuriantly.
Growing parsley in a pot: tips
Caring for a parsley plant is really, really easy. After sowing, in a few weeks you will see the first leaves that will reward you for all your sacrifices. The first thing to do, when the seedling has reached 5 cm in height, is to thin it out: prune the smaller branches , so that those that are already better developed can receive more light, air and food. Also check that there are no dry or diseased ones, in which case remove them so as not to create problems for the rest of the plant.
As for watering , parsley needs water, but don’t overdo it. Keep an eye on the soil, water it before it is completely dry, otherwise you risk seeing your seedling burn (especially in summer). Be careful, however, not to overwater, as you could form stagnations that are dangerous for the roots. The first sign that allows you to notice excess water is the yellowing of the parsley leaves , which should not be underestimated.
As the plant grows, periodically prune the weakest or most diseased branches to make the others even more robust and productive. Finally, the most beautiful (and most anticipated) moment: the harvest. When can it be done? Generally, the plant is ready when it reaches 15-20 cm in height. If you only need a few leaves, cut them with scissors if necessary. Alternatively, you can cut a clump of stems , taking care to start a few centimeters above the base of the plant, to ensure that it regenerates the following season.