The parsley is the joker in the kitchen. When we need something to finish our great recipe we add parsley.
That, Arguiñano knows well, finishing any dish with some leaves of this succulent herbaceous plant. Today, at Gardenprue, we are ready to change the concept of ordering parsley at fishmongers.
Not! you go to your garden and pick fresh parsley.
Do we try to cultivate it?
Index
A HERBACEOUS ORCHARD FULL OF PARSLEY
The parsley , scientifically known as Petroselinum crispum, is an herb belonging to the family of the Apiaceae, or, Umbelliferae, are traditionally known of which brings us such interesting stories like these:
Given its ease of cultivation , it has spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia, also encouraged by its great properties and content of vitamins (A, B1, B2, C and D).
In addition, it has also been found that Petroselinum crispum has medicinal properties, as we will see below.
As you will see, the cultivation of parsley is very simple and practically with broadcasting the seeds on the ground or in pots and a little water is enough to achieve rapid germination.
The parsley seeds you can get easily are very characteristic and with an envelope you will have for many years.
Horticultural Seeds – Smooth Leaf Parsley 2 – Batlle
- Plant with erect stems, wide wavy dark green leaves, very aromatic and with a pronounced flavor
- Sowing: It can be done all year round, although the most appropriate thing is in Spring, sowing by seat or broadcast, or even in pots
- Its germination is slow, it needs 20 to 30 days. It is advisable to soak the seed 24 hours before sowing
- Harvesting: 3 or 4 months after sowing, by cutting its stems that re-sprout without interruption.
CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS OF PARSLEY
When we grow this herb in the garden , it prefers warm climates to cold ones.
However, parsley makes it quite easy for us since, even when it is cold, the parsley continues to grow.
One proof is that it is spread throughout Europe and in the north it is considerably colder than typical Mediterranean climates.
SOIL CHARACTERISTICS
The characteristics are similar to that of the previous point and it is that it adapts to a great variety of soils or substrates.
We say substrates because many times you will see it grown in pots, for example, in the kitchen, given its ease of access when picking fresh parsley to flavor dishes.
Returning to the soil issue, to prefer, choose well-tilled and deep soils that are loose and have a good amount of organic matter.
These last recommendations can also be taken into account when preparing the substrate if you want to grow parsley in a pot.
IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZER NEEDS OF PARSLEY
Parsley is a crop that is quite adapted to hardiness. But if you want you can try an experiment, a pot with parsley and abundant waterings and another without such generous waterings. You will see the difference in no time.
What we want to get to is that, despite the fact that it withstands drought well, the humidity of the soil favors it to a great extent, and you will see your plant grow to limits that you thought that parsley could not grow and thicken its stems.
A good frequency of irrigation is in summer every 3 days (2 if it is very hot) and in winter every 10-15 days.
As for the fertilizer , parsley is a crop that requires good doses of fertilizer. You can make a bottom fertilizer with manure or compost before growing the parsley or add it periodically while the parsley continues to grow.
One trick is to provide a greater amount of mineral fertilizer that contains a good amount of nitrogen when cutting is made to use the parsley in the kitchen, to promote the growth of this herbaceous.
PROPERTIES OF PARSLEY
Of all the vitamins that it gives us when we add it fresh to our dishes, it is known to have diuretic and regulating properties of hypertension.
Experts in traditional medicine recommend drinking tea made from parsley leaves, to improve problems of hypertension or fluid retention.
We are going to summarize all the potential and properties of parsley:
- It has carminative potential, helping to expel accumulated gases.
- It is an antioxidant, it prevents the aging of our cells.
- It has a lot of vitamins and minerals such as sulfur, phosphorus, iron and calcium, and also highlights its great contribution in vitamin C.
- Improves the structure of the skin, nails and hair.
- Given its spasmolytic qualities, it helps to stop intense pains during menstruation.
On the other hand, you have to be careful, especially people who are prone to kidney stones , as it has a high content of oxalic acid.
As you know, this acid is the cause of the formation of stones, and we can also find it in rhubarb or spinach .