Parsley plant

[hdan]

My first time growing parsley.
Been studying care & growth cycle.
From what I've read it will grow leaves first year to be harvested.
Second year will not grow leaves, but will produce flowers then seed.
Guess that means I will have to plant parsley seeds again next year if I want leaves to harvest. Also can harvest seeds from second year plant.
I think Im understanding this right.

 

[heirloomgal]

My first time growing parsley.
Been studying care & growth cycle.
From what I've read it will grow leaves first year to be harvested.
Second year will not grow leaves, but will produce flowers then seed.
Guess that means I will have to plant parsley seeds again next year if I want leaves to harvest. Also can harvest seeds from second year plant.
I think Im understanding this right.

Yes, but you can still harvest some leaves off a second year plant. It will send up a center stalk which will flower and make seed, but all those base leaves can still be harvested. The leaves can toughen though as plants go to seed. First year plants are likely more tender.

 

[ducks4you]

Look for specials on nippers when you buy from seed companies.
I bought gardening sleeves and aprons from Farmer's Defense"

Shears

Protective farming and gardening wearable gear for anyone looking to make their work more comfortable. Our Protection Sleeves, gardening aprons, sun hats and more are made with the gardener, farming, and outdoor worker in mind protecting you from sun, harsh elements, and overheating.

farmersdefense.com

Even though the nippers are current sold out Now, they will be back in stock soon.
I Highly recommend the gardening sleeves. I got a pair for Christmas 2023 and I wore them outside ALL last summer. They protected me against thorns and everything else, including sunburn.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, buy Only from the company, NOT from Amazon.
Farmer's Defense gives to charities. Amazon does Not.
Anyway, the shears are great on topping off your herb plants, so that they won't bolt early.
Funny, when I bought a pair of sleeves and an apron from them FOR middle DD, they sent me a set of nippers as a freebie. I was SOOOOO tempted to keep them.
I decided to gift them to middle DD. Other DD's always do Christmas day of with me and DH, and Eldest had bought ME some more sleeves and I got a set of nippers, too.

 

[hdan]

Yes, but you can still harvest some leaves off a second year plant. It will send up a center stalk which will flower and make seed, but all those base leaves can still be harvested. The leaves can toughen though as plants go to seed. First year plants are likely more tender.

Ok, thanks. I didn't know it produce leaves second year. So just make sure harvest leaves before seed sets second year.

 

[Dahlia]

My first time growing parsley.
Been studying care & growth cycle.
From what I've read it will grow leaves first year to be harvested.
Second year will not grow leaves, but will produce flowers then seed.
Guess that means I will have to plant parsley seeds again next year if I want leaves to harvest. Also can harvest seeds from second year plant.
I think Im understanding this right.

Do you grow curly parsley or Italian flat leaf? I use parsley a lot in my various recipes.

 

[hdan]

Do you grow curly parsley or Italian flat leaf? I use parsley a lot in my various recipes.

Italian flat leaf

 

[Dahlia]

Italian flat leaf

What are some recipes you use your parsley in?

 

[digitS']

As a kid on the farm, we had a square foot or so of parsley, beside the well house, northside. There was always fresh leaves to pick.

This may have been because seed dropped from one year didn't always germinate that year but with pulling grass crowding in on the parsley, there were new seedlings that started. You may be able to establish this rotation with just one more sowing in 2026.

Not quite as casual with cilantro these days — we have much more use for that annual parsley cousin. Seed is both saved and allowed to scatter to return in the Spring. The saved seed is sown late, usually in the shade of nearly mature sweetcorn. When those corn stalks are cut, the cilantro takes off and is ready for harvest with the tomatoes. Well, I digress but self-sowing may be a simple solution for parsley, which has a full season of harvest compared to Speedy Cilantro.

Steve

 

[hdan]

What are some recipes you use your parsley in?

I us it on fish, coleslaw, garden salad.
Sometimes I run across a recipe that call for parsley.
Haven't used it a lot but starting to use it more often. Seems to have a lot of health benefits.
Open for suggestions!

 

[Dahlia]

I us it on fish, coleslaw, garden salad.
Sometimes I run across a recipe that call for parsley.
Haven't used it a lot but starting to use it more often. Seems to have a lot of health benefits.
Open for suggestions!

I use parsley on shrimp scampi, topping on homemade clam chowder, soups, spaghetti sauce, etc.