Parsley
Parsley is used in a variety of dished, most notably often as a garnish in American cooking.
There are many health benefits associated with parsley. These include high doses of Calcium, B Vitamins, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, and Magnesium. Traditionally. parsley has been used for congestion and inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, gravel, stones, and urine retention.
Growing Parsley
Parsley may be grown from seeds or from nursery plants. Starting from seeds requires some special care, but can be done from an average gardener.
Parsley seeds need wet warm conditions in order to germinate. Soak the seeds in warm water for 8 to 12 hours before you plan on planting the seeds. Once the seeds have been properly soaked, plant the seeds in pots and keep in a warm place indoors for 2 weeks into you see the seeds begin to grow.
Once your plants have reached at least 3 to 5 inches, and winter has passed, the plants may be transplanted outdoors. The plants should be planted in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sunlight per day and be spaced 6 to 8 inches apart. Partial shade is fine.
Once planted, the soil should be kept moist most of the time. Frequent watering should accomplish the job, and you may want to mulch the bed to retain as much moisture in the soil as possible.
Harvesting Parsley
Parsley takes about 12 weeks from germination to harvest. Once ready, simply clip off enough branches for use.
Once the growing season is over, you may dry or freeze excess leaves for later use. Outdoor plants may be transplanted into pots and moved indoors for the winter season. When transplanting or growing in pots, make sure to use a deep pot as the parsley plant develops a deep root system.
