Use leaves lavishly in all savoury dishes and garnishes.
Make tea of leaves for kidney and bladder complaints or to cleanse the urinary system.
This hardy biennial is one of the most popular herbs for culinary use as a garnish, flavouring sauces and pastry, and associating particularly well with fish. With a stronger flavour than curled varieties, this 'Flat-leaved' or 'Italian' Parsley makes a useful, low maintenance addition to herb gardens, or grow parsley indoors on a bright kitchen windowsill. Height and spread: 45cm (18").
Direct sow parsley seed outdoors from March to July. Grow parsley in a well prepared seedbed in full sun or partial shade. Sow seeds thinly at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in drills 30cm apart. Parsley seeds are very slow to germinate taking up to 28 days, especially in wet, cold soils.
Soak seed in warm water overnight.
Seeds can also be sown indoors or under glass from August to February for fresh leaves all year round. Sow into 7.5cm (3") pots of free-draining seed compost, maintaining a temperature of 18-21C (65-70F) until after germination. When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 23cm (9") apart.
Feed and water parsley plants regularly. Harvest parsley leaves regularly to encourage fresh new growth. Parsley is biennial and will require replacing after the second season once it begins to flower and produce seed.
5g
