Par-Cel (from Suffolk Herbs)

[Georgie]

Has anyone heard of/tried this 'new' herb which is on page 6 of the Suffolk Herbs 2007 catalogue?  If so, can you give me some idea of whether it is worth growing and if so, what conditions it needs, how big it gets etc etc.  Many thanks.

G x

[Georgie]

[cambourne7]

HI

I have heard of it, i think its a cross between parsley and celery.

http://www.eseeds.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=par+cel

L

[Georgie]

What a useful link, thank you very much.  I will definitely give this a go next year.   :)

G x

[Barnowl]

Sounds and looks a bit like lovage (which I've always found useful)  though doesn't get as big.

Chiltern seeds have it as zwolsche krul and have this to say about it:

"Actually an old Dutch heritage variety of Celery bred for the leaves and not for the stalks, but in practice this is a plant that combines the virtues of Parsley and Celery. With finely cut, extra dark glossy green leaves on compact plants, it produces a garnish with all the decorative uses of Parsley but with a delicious Celery flavour with the result that your dinner guests are likely to eat it along with their Dover sole rather than push it tactfully to the side of the plate. Excellent for salads, soups and stews, and for drying. 1-2 ft."

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/pages/moreinfo.asp?pe=DBFAAAAAQ_+celery+parsley+zwolsche+krul&cid=211

Bred for the leaves and not the stalks - they could be describing my self blanching Celery :-\

[Barnowl]

The more I read about it the better it sounds. Thanks Georgie for telling us about it.

[saddad]

Par Cel is hardly "new" it has been around since the 80's and probably generations before that!
::)

[Georgie]

Thanks Barnowl.   :)

Hi Saddad.  I assume it is new to Suffolk Herbs - hence the parenthesis - but without the Latin name I couldn't look it up in my reference books.  Have you grown it then and is it as good as it sounds?

G x

[angle shades]

:) Hi Georgie, I grew it about 4 years ago and its still self seeding, it looks like flat leafed parsley and tastes of celery ,very tasty plant !/shades x

[Georgie]

Yay, thanks shades.   ;D

G x