6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in

Parsley | TIME TO PLANT
parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum),
which is not well known or widely grown in
Australia. The edible root resembles parsnip.
It is harvested after the plant matures to
add to soup or to roasts like a parsnip. While
waiting for the root to grow, the leaves can be
harvested just like regular flat-leaf parsley.
Planting and
growing
Parsley grows easily from seed but is also
sold in punnets as seedlings. It does best
in a rich, moisture-retentive soil in a sunny
position. Although it’s usually grown as an
annual that’s planted in spring and harvested
through summer into autumn, parsley can
power on through winter to keep growing into
the following spring.
To keep it growing well, regularly apply an
organic liquid plant food and make sure it
doesn’t want for water. Parsley can be liquidfed
every two to three weeks.
The appearance of a flowering stem
indicates the parsley plant has reached the
end of its life cycle and it’s time to replant.
Water stress may also cause the plant to
begin flowering and winding down. When it
begins to form a flowering stem, the leaves
lose their flavour and looks.
This herb has few pests or diseases but
one that can be annoying, as it disfigures the
leaves, is leaf miner. Leaf miner larvae create
damage as they burrow through leaf tissue,
causing silver trails to form.
The pest is more likely to be noticed in the
flat-leaf forms. To control it, simply pick off
the affected leaves as this removes the pest
along with the damage. Water and fertilise to
encourage new pest-free growth.
Whitefly also attack parsley plants. These
are small, white-winged pests that fly up
from the back of the leaves when they are
disturbed. They are sap-sucking insects that
can be trapped on sticky yellow boards to
reduce their numbers. Water affected plants
extra well to keep them growing strongly
when pest numbers are high.
Any gardener who receives regular
nocturnal visits from possums also knows
that possums love parsley. To beat possums,
either cover pots at night or plant parsley in
clumps throughout the garden in the hope
that some go unnoticed and survive.
More welcome visitors to parsley,
Curly parsley
Parsley can also be grown in a container
in any sunny spot. As it’s a herb that’s
used so much in the kitchen, have some
handy in a pot close to the kitchen door.
Flat-leaf parsley
CanStockPhoto
Hamburg parsley root
particularly when it is in flower, are pollinating
insects including native bees and hoverflies.
The seed heads may also provide food
for small seed-eating birds, including the
goldfinch, which is naturalised in parts of
Victoria and Tasmania.
Harvesting and
storage
Harvest parsley as it’s needed by just picking
or cutting off leafy stalks. Excess can be kept
wrapped in a plastic bag in the crisper section
of the refrigerator, standing in water (like a
cut flower) or chopped and frozen in ice-cube
trays. To freeze parsley, place the chopped herb
in an ice-cube tray and fill it with water. Once
the cubes are frozen, store them loose in sealed
bags in the freezer to add to soups, stews or
stock when there’s a dearth of fresh parsley.
Parsley is often plentiful in summer and
there are many recipes that call for lashings of
parsley, including salsa verde, gremolata and
persillade. Parsley sauce is a white sauce with
added parsley that’s often served with fish.
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