Parsley: Proper watering and fertilizing

It grows in almost every garden, but there are a few points to consider when caring for parsley. How to properly prune, water and fertilize parsley.

Originating from the Mediterranean region parsley (Petroselinum crispum) has been a common medicinal and aromatic plant since the Middle Ages. In this article you will find out what you should consider after sowing and planting parsley in the care of the umbelliferae (Apiaceae).

Caring for parsley: Cut the parsley

In principle, parsley can always be harvested. When cutting the parsley, it is important that only the individual leaf together with the stalk is cut off with scissors or a knife. You must not injure or even cut the heart of the parsley plant, otherwise the plant will not be able to reproduce new leaves.

When cutting, also make sure not to cut off too many leaves of the parsley so that the herb can recover well from the cut and carry out sufficient photosynthesis. So cutting off the parsley correctly isn't rocket science. This is how you get your renewable, fresh supply of the spicy leaves.

Pour parsley

During the main growing season, i.e. from sowing in spring to flowering in the following year, you should water your parsley regularly. Compared to other Mediterranean herbs, parsley needs a relatively large amount of water. It prefers moist soil and less direct sunlight. Especially as a young plant after germination and in midsummer, it quickly suffers from a lack of water. However, when watering parsley in a pot, care must be taken to avoid waterlogging. How often you have to water parsley depends on the temperatures. However, the soil in the pot or bed should never dry out completely, because the green herb does not take it well.

Fertilize parsley

Choosing the right fertilizer is important when fertilizing parsley. It requires medium levels of nitrogen and potassium, and little phosphorus. Under no circumstances should the leaf parsley be fertilized with fresh manure. This contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and is therefore too hot. The parsley loses its aroma significantly and its growth can be severely restricted by the harsh, fresh organic fertilizer.
Mineral nitrogen fertilizers, such as blue grain are just as unsuitable, since the herb tends to store the nitrogen, which is often released too quickly, as nitrate and nitrite in the leaves. The herb is then loaded with an excess of nitrogen when harvested, which is sometimes classified as harmful. Coffee grounds contain only 2% nitrogen, so parsley can be easily fertilized with it.

A good fertilizer for parsley, both in beds and in pots, is a purely plant-based, predominantly organic long-term fertilizer like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer. The nutrients contained are only released very slowly but evenly by soil organisms and thus reach the plant roots. Nitrogen over-fertilization is avoided, and soil life is stimulated at the same time. To do this, work the granulated fertilizer into the surface of the parsley rows after planting and then water regularly. A second fertilization takes place after about two months, and the third only in the spring of the following year.

Parsley turns yellow: causes and measures

If the parsley turns yellow, this is usually due to a molybdenum or, more likely, a magnesium deficiency. If the leaves turn yellow but the veins of the leaves remain green, this can be an indicator that the parsley is too acidic. A magnesium deficiency shows up early in the year if the location is not suitable. Regular liming provides long-term relief and often also improves the soil structure. Rarely and late in the summer, old leaves turn an entirely pale yellow due to a lack of nitrogen. The yellow leaves of the parsley are of course still edible. On the other hand, if the parsley turns red, this is a sign of stress, such as waterlogging, but also nematodes or carrot fly infestation.

Parsley Won't Grow: You Can Do That

If the parsley is not growing, there can be various reasons.

• If the parsley is too shady or too sunny or on unsuitable soil, it is worth transplanting. You can read more about the location in the article grow parsley.
• Parsley will hardly grow in depleted soil without nutrients. Measures to help here soil improvement.
• If a nutrient deficiency could be the reason, fast-acting fertilization with an organic liquid fertilizer like this is the way to go Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer the best solution.
• If the pot is waterlogged, a drainage layer with good water drainage will help.
• Pests and diseases in the bed can with good neighbors and a balanced mixed culture be fought of course.

Overwinter parsley

Overwintering adult plants is not a problem because parsley is hardy. No winter protection is required, but it also does not form fresh leaves in the cold season. If the plants are in pots or if parsley is overwintered on the balcony, it is best to choose a place that is as frost-free as possible and protect the pots and plants in severe frost. In smaller pots with little soil, however, there is a high risk that the plant and the substrate will freeze through. Even hardy parsley can't take it. Such small pots of parsley are best kept indoors, cool and bright on the windowsill of an unheated room. If you don't want to do without fresh parsley when cooking in winter, you can cultivate it in a pot on a bright, warm window sill.

By the way: While parsley is considered an annual, harvesting can continue until the second year blooms and the next generation emerges.

Caring for parsley in the pot: special features

Care is also important for potted parsley. Transplanting is important when buying or seeding a pot of parsley plants. Here the planter is often too small to provide enough soil for the kitchen herbs until they bloom next year. A well-rooted ball of soil should therefore be moved to a larger vessel. Fill the prepared pot about a third full with pre-fertilized soil, like ours Plantura organic universal soil. The high compost content retains water while providing a loose, permeable structure that your parsley will benefit from. In addition, add some mostly organic long-term fertilizer, remove the root ball of the parsley from the old pot and place it in the new container. Fill this up with soil and press down lightly. Immediately after repotting, you should water the parsley and place it in bright but not full sun.

Tip: Parsley forms during the 2nd Annual blooms. It is therefore usually cultivated as a kitchen herb for only one year. If you buy or sow new parsley the following year, you should avoid fertilizing and reusing the old soil of the parsley with some fertilizer. Because parsley is extremely incompatible with itself - and also with other umbellifers, such as carrots. It would therefore hardly grow and become ailing in the preloaded soil.

There is also a large selection of different varieties of parsley. We provide you with the best Parsley Varieties for cultivation in pots and beds.