Parsley – Curly

Plant family: Apiaceae

Plant origin: Sardinia, Italy.

Fruit description:

Flowers: The flowers are produced in an umbrella shape at the tips of the plant in summer. They are small, soft and yellow.

Growing conditions: Parsley is a crisp herb with bright green lobed leaves which are larger at the bottom of the stem; near the top of the stem the leaves are fine and feathery. It grows quickly to about 50cm tall. It has a thick taproot. A plant lasts about 2 years before it needs replacing. Plant your parsley in any well-drained soil, in part shade or full sun and give it plenty of water. Fertilise it occasionally with nitrogen containing or general fertiliser to keep it growing and green. It makes a very handsome border or planting for your cottage garden or vegetable garden. It grows well in a pot. It grows in any climate.

Uses: Parsley leaves have a fresh “green” odour and flavour. Flat leaved parsley has a stronger flavour than curly leafed. It is used fresh in tabouleh and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes such as salads, dips, pasta, soups, in stuffing, They are a pretty garnish for soups, salads and any savoury dish. It is perfect mixed with butter and lemon juice sprinkled over fish. It goes well with eggs. Chopped with garlic and lemon rind, parsley makes “gremolata” a delicious aromatic dressing for baked fish, for vegetable or veal or beef casserole like osso buco. Parsley is good mixed with other herbs like chives, tarragon, chervil, sage, or rosemary. Mix parsley with grated parmesan and fresh breadcrumbs, and sprinkle it over meat or vegetables before baking to make a yummy crisp topping.

Medicinal uses: Parsley is rich in iron and vitamins A and C. It is useful for freshening the breath – just rinse the green bits off your teeth before you smile!! Tea made from parsley is thought to be good for diabetics.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Cut the leaves fresh any time you need to use them. Store fresh parsley in the fridge with the stalks in water and a plastic bag over the leaves, or wrap the bunch loosely in paper and keep it in a plastic bag or container in the fridge. You can freeze chopped parsley in water in blocks and add these to your cooking. The leaves do not have much aroma or flavour when dried.

Plant relatives

Special features: Parsley was once regarded as a sacred and medicinal plant.

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 100mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 0.3 metres high by 0.3 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 0.3 metres high by 0.3 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 100mm