Tips for Transplanting Parsley
Parsley is an herb that is used on many different dishes. This slow growing plant loves the sun and is biennial; this means that it will re seed itself each year. Transplanting parsley from your old home to your new home is said to be bad luck. Regardless of where you are transplanting your parsley to it is simple and easy if you know the right precautions to take. Below are some helpful tips to ensure that your parsley is transplanted safely and easily.
When to Transplant
Transplanting seedlings should be done after the plant itself has become established. Wait until your plant has grown true leaves. This means that the leaves begin to show texture. Be sure that when you transplant that the soil is warm so that your parsley will be able to take off quickly.
It is a good idea to not transplant your parsley when there is the threat of a frost. The initial shock of the transplant will be enough for your plant to deal with. A frost could ultimately kill freshly transplanted parsley.
How to Transplant
Transplanting parsley can be easily done with a gardening trowel or spoon. First be sure that your parsley is healthy and it has grown its true leaves. Once you have established that the parsley is healthy enough to be transplanted then gently get your trowel or spoon and dig around the roots of the parsley. Use caution around the roots, you do not want to cut or damage them with your digging tool. Try to get some of the soil that you dug the parsley out of before moving it. This will make the transplanting easier on your plant.
It is best to not let a lot of time pass before you replant your parsley, so try to replant it as soon as you can.
Parsley Tips
When growing parsley for food it is important that you pay attention to how ‘old’ it is. Parsley is good for consumption only in the first year. It is usually best to plant these herbs from seeds so that you will be able to have a better idea of when they are edible. Caterpillars love parsley and will be able to enjoy it after you no longer can.
The best way to keep fresh parsley that you can eat is to collect the seeds from your established parsley during the fall. Plant these seeds near the other so that you will always have fresh and older parsley side by side to ensure that the caterpillars will leave the fresh parsley alone.
Parsley can be planted in a pot or in an herb garden. Parsley does not have to be grown in an herb garden to thrive. Flower gardens will look beautiful with a green parsley accent added to it. You will just need to provide your parsley with enough space for the roots to grow and with at least five hours of sun a day. Fertilizing these herbs is not necessary and will alter the taste.
