The benefits of parsley for humans are undeniable. In terms of frequency of use in cooking, it ranks first among greens. It contains folic and ascorbic acid, potassium and calcium, selenium and iron. Don't you have a plot of land or the vegetable garden season is over? This is not a reason to go without parsley. Of course, it can be purchased from a store or market. However, it is much more interesting to grow from seeds on your own at home on a windowsill or on a balcony.
This can be done in any season... If you create normal conditions for the growth of seedlings, then you will harvest greenery in winter and early spring.
Which variety to choose for growing on a balcony or windowsill
By the appearance of greens, parsley is divided into large-leafy and curly... Which one to choose for growing at home, decide for yourself. It's a matter of taste.
According to the ripening period, parsley is divided into early, middle and late varieties... To grow on the windowsill of an apartment, choose early varieties.
Greens of these varieties can be cut 50-60 days after planting in the ground.
Early ripe varieties of curly parsley
"Emerald lace" - Height 15 cm, aromatic variety with curly leaves, quickly builds up green mass after cutting.
"Aster" - height up to 15 cm, the leaves of the variety are corrugated, deep green, grows quickly after pruning. The rosette of the bush is dense, fluffy.
Early ripening
"Morning freshness" - the rosette of the bush is strong, height up to 20 - 30 cm, new shoots grow quickly. After cutting, the foliage remains fresh for a long time.
"Madam" - the bush is high enough, up to 35 cm. The greens are juicy, dark green, up to 20 leaves are formed in the outlet.
You can get greens at home by sprouting parsley roots from the garden. This method will allow you to harvest already in three to four weeks.
Preparing the soil for planting
The soil for planting parsley should be loose, no lumps... It is better to purchase a ready-made soil mixture. You can be sure that it does not contain pest larvae and fungal spores, which will harm not only parsley crops, but also all indoor plants.
It is recommended to add vermiculite to it (for fertility), perlite or vermiculite (to retain moisture in the soil) and coconut fiber (to loosen the soil).
The purchased soil mixture will contain all useful minerals for plants - nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, boron.
Choice of capacity
This can be a pot, box, or container. The height of the pot should be not less than 25 cm... Clay pots are characterized by a porous structure that allows air to penetrate the roots of the plant. In addition, excess moisture will evaporate faster in such a vessel.
Plastic containers are more practical to use. Their disadvantage is that they do not allow air to pass through. Therefore, overflow will cause rotting of the plant roots.
Sowing seeds at home
Consider the stages of sowing parsley seeds:
- soak the seeds for a day in a stimulator for better germination. You can use Zircon, Epin or Pennant;
- the landing box or pot should have a drainage hole to drain off excess water. If there is no pallet in the container, you can pour a layer of expanded clay from fired clay on its bottom. Thus, you will protect the parsley roots from rotting;
- Before planting the seeds, lightly water the soil and compact it. Place the parsley seeds in the soil to a depth of 1cm... Plant seeds in grooves or in bulk;
- cover the container with seeds with foil. So the seeds will sprout faster. It needs to be removed for several hours a day for airing;
- before seed germination, capacity put in a dark place, and after the emergence of shoots - transfer to a lighted windowsill;
- turn the pot with shoots every two to three days so that the seeds do not reach for the sun.
Care rules
Watering
Watering moderate, as the soil dries... It is better to water a little, but every other day, than to water the plant once a week.
Before emergence, moisten the soil by spraying from a spray bottle. This will not wash out the soil and damage the delicate seedlings.
After the seedlings appear, water gently under the root... For irrigation, use settled water at room temperature. Parsley shoots will feel good in the kitchen in high humidity conditions. Lighting. Ideally, place the seed pot on the southeast windowsill.
You can also use phytolamp for illumination and prolongation of daylight hours. It is recommended to turn it on for 3-4 hours a day.
Phytolamp is a lamp for plants that prolongs daylight hours, accelerates seedling growth and fruit development. Cold, blue light bulbs are used when growing seedlings when the plant needs to grow root mass. To end the growing season and to improve flowering, lamps with warm, red light are used.
Weeding and loosening
This procedure is performed in one day... That is, one day - you water, the second - you weed the soil.
Loosening the soil helps the air flow to the roots. It contains carbon dioxide, which enters the roots and participates in photosynthesis. Also, when loosening, the soil crust is removed, which contributes to the development of root rot.
Top dressing
Seedlings can be fertilized after two to four true leaves appear on the plant.
For greens, use complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. These can be drugs Kemira Suite, Fertika, Master... It is desirable to alternate mineral fertilizers with organic ones (Humate7, Potassium humate).
Need carefully apply mineral fertilizers when growing greens. Parsley foliage quickly accumulates nitrates with irregular feeding.
Thinning
A necessary procedure for seedling care. You need to thin out the seedlings in order to make room for the sun for every sprout. Oxygen will better penetrate the soil to the roots.
Harvesting
The first harvest of parsley grown on the windowsill will be harvested after 1.5 months.
In the future, cut off the greens at a height of 10 - 15 cm, every two to three weeks... It is clear that large harvests should not be expected. A couple of parsley pots will provide you with fresh herbs for your first courses and salads.
Indoor parsley, with proper care, can grow throughout the year. In a year, new seeds will have to be planted.
As you can see, growing parsley on a windowsill is not difficult. To do this, you just need to prepare seeds, soil and container. Devote some time to this business to get homemade herbs. You will know that parsley is grown free of nitrates and has not been treated with chemicals. In addition, the growing process itself is very exciting.