I planted some parsley just over 2 weeks ago in some 3" inch pots. Despite a good germination rate, I'm afraid the seedlings are quite leggy actually (perhaps the air temperature is too warm at 22 C?). ??? In any case, is there any way of toughening them a bit at this stage (some are 1 1/2-2" long) or has anyone tried to repot leggy seedlings so that the leggy stems are covered by compost to make the plants more sturdy? I would transplant once the true leaves have formed, but I understand parsley doesn't like its roots disturbed... :-\ alternatively I might be better off just starting over again?? (I would like to avoid this option if feasible given I have 15 small pots with about 3-5 seedlings in each... ). Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated!! Thanks in advance! ;D
Where are they? In full light? No longer on heat I trust??
Till I know, & assuming you're going to plant them out, I would reduce to one seedling per pot, keep them temperate - no chills, but no heat - give them all the light you can. If indoors, even to the extent of a daylight bulb for a bit?
Glad you mentioned this - I was just going to put a thing in on LIGHT.
Here is my first step to maximise it in the heavily shaded lean-to.
Quick germination! Mine is 10days in the pot and yet to show! >:(
Given nice conditions, like 65F, one would expect about 10 days to germinate.
Not too deep, Emma?
Maybe, but they are in my conservatory so things do take a touch longer. Might do another tray full and leave them in the house, somewhere warmer.
Emma-there is a saying about parsley,so off with the mini skirt and boob tube and put some trousers on ;D.
Will spring ever arrive? the `Cat` is getting fed up.
Stephan
Hi Emma,
I also soaked the seeds before I planted them, which probably sped up the germination process as well...  However, better late and sturdy than early and leggy! ;)
As for thinning, I think I'll remove the leggiest leaving just one as kindlysuggested - stupid question but is one parsley plant enough for a 3" pot? But then again, I have a notoriously bad habit of packing everything in, so pls. excuse me for asking! ::)
p.s. Tim, what a cool set-up you have!! :) Looks like you're set to get all the light you'll need ;) Thx for the thinning suggestion - yes, I will be planting them out, and at present, they are getting as much light as possible - I'm even getting a desk lamp in order to shine down on 'em during the day! :)
?? You're going to plant them out?? If not, leave them all & cut as you wish. Tesco's probably have 100 in a 4" pot!! I often split them for planting out.
One good plant, outside, will grow to at least 14" across. You decide?
Sorry - you beat me to this reply!!
I'd never had much success with parsley... until last year.
Chatting to another (particularly gifted) lottie holder, a lovely Indian lady, I mentioned my lack of results & she gave me the benefit of her wisdom on the subject.
Straight into the ground, make a flat-bottomed drill. Bring a decent sized thermos filled with boiling water, and pour that into the drill immediately before sowing thinly. Cover with earth & wait.
We've now got two vigorous patches of parsley - curly & flat - and more parsley than we can shake a stick at.
Boiling water certainly seems to work. I pour it on top.
But I'm not too sure that today's conditions are right?
-10F tonight??
They do say that soaking overnight also helps?
My giant Italian parsley seeds were watered with very hot water when I sowed them and they germinated in a couple of days. I thought they'd go to hell and back before germinating so I was a bit surprised to see them. They've gone really leggy now though and I think I'll have to ditch them and just sow some in the allotment when we have a bit better weather.
Tim keeps telling us to be patient but do we listen? ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: tim on March 03, 2005, 19:31:57
Boiling water certainly seems to work. I pour it on top.
But I'm not too sure that today's conditions are right?
-10F tonight??
They do say that soaking overnight also helps?
Was that a typo error Tim? -10F is -23°C :o a record breaker for March :o
never knew Parsley was such a temperamental plant, I just stuff 'em in a pot and plant 'em out when their big enough, no probs
MT,
I note you are, in YaBB terminology, a Junior Member - with a little more experience, you'll find out just how difficult parsley is ;D
Seriously, I think it's one of those plants that you can grow or own you have t battle with (MT, you appear to be in the right group!!)
Phil
Thanks, Roy - I had a struggle even to get the F there, I have such foul bronchitis. They said -10, & since I only work in F, that was it!!
And careful, Phil - MT may well be the local horticultural adviser?? As a 'newbie', I had been 'digging it' for close on 60 years! Strangely enough, parsley always works like a hedge for me. Something about wearing the trousers??
But I must add that I nearly always get a percentage yellowing off with flat leafed, half way through the season.
Thanks for all the advice here. I knew I was doing something wrong when I read how difficult it is to grow parsley. Mine always does fine and I get giant bushes of the stuff, last year there was so much, I just cut the parsley 'hedge' with a hedge shear and composted a lot of it, oh what a lovely smell while cutting it. Some day I will learn how to make it difficult hehehe.