Topic: Curly Parsley

[Jesse]

My parsley is getting flowers. Should I be removing the flowers or will I continue to get parsley if I leave the flowers in place. The parsley was planted last year in spring but I don't remember getting flowers last year. :-\

[tim]

Take them off, but it looks as though it's on it's way out. Ours is. But I planted out a new lot - flat leafed - a week or so ago, to follow on. = Tim

[Jesse]

Okay, this is going to sound really dumb then. Do you replant each year? My parsley survived last winter outside (well it looked like it had died and then re-sprouted with avengance this spring) and I assumed that it would last forever!

[tim]

I do - like chard & things. = Tim

[Muddy_Boots]

Provided you keep removing the flowers, it should grow on.  I remember on sowing I had, surviving happily under the snow one winter.  :D

[Wicker]

I find I replace every second year, mine is the curly variety and I always grow too much! :(

[Ceri]

I let mine set seed and then self sow - the original parent died, but I got lots of new baby parsley plants this year - its a biennial I think - at least mine is acting like one!  I found parsley really hard to grow from seed, but it finds itself quite easy to germinate left to its own devices!

[philcooper]

Ceri,

You took the words out of my mouth.

I don't think the second year growth, especially when the plant starts to seed, is worth much, but the self sown plants are very valuable.

In order to get them every year you need to plant new plants for 2 years, but then nature should do the rest - and save much frustration at the poor germination of bought parsley seed

Phil

[Jesse]

That's great advice. I'm going to let it flower and see if it self seeds, it's in a pot but a very large one so hope it works. :)

[aquilegia]

Parsley is biennial, so it flowers in the second year. After that it dies.

I usually replace mine every year. I use the old plants through the winter and when the new stuff is ready to use, I take all the leaves off the old one and freeze them.

[Mrs Ava]

Mine is in flower and I was planning to leave it to its own devices to see if it self seeds....no, not really, I have just been too lazy to pull them out and start again, especially as my allotment elf gave me a tray of flat leaf for the plot.  :D  Now I shall continue to be lazy and see what sprouts!  ;D