Parsley: Wanted dead or alive

[Monty]

What is going on?!

Parsley is officially the most irritating herb to grow in the world! I've tried so many times to tease them into germinating...to no avail.

I read about this technique called 'seed priming'...has anyone ever tried that? How does it work?

I don't have the patience for parsley, and clearly it doesn't have patience for me. We are at war, and I will be victorious.

[Luath]

Parsley will only germinate in a hose where th ewoman wears the trousers*

Before sowing, either outisde or in a pot, water the compost with boiling water, sow immediately and cover up straight away. You must sue fresh seed too.

*I have no problems with mine...............

[wulf]

I got some fantastic parsley going a couple of years ago, despite problems initially (like when the tray I was starting them off in got flooded!). I was a bit disheartened, chucked the weedy looking seedlings I had into a corner of the garden and was amazed to find that, a couple of months later, I had some eminently respectable plants growing!

They lasted until mid-season last year and I didnt' get round to getting any going this year but you should persevere and also not be discouraged if germination and getting past the insubstantial seedling stage takes a long time.

Wulf

[Monty]

Cheers guys , Luath, where is best to get fresh seed? I go to my local Robert Dyas but I don't know how long they have sat on the shelf?

What do you use? Could you propogate your own?

[Honeybabe]

My parsley is growing really well this year. I just put some seed in a pot, forgot to cover with soil, and they are all about 4cm's high now. But this is when I normally manage to kill them!
I think old seeds definitely don't work as well.

[Ranter]

My plant - I cheated & bought a plant last year - has died but a feverfew has appeared in it's place. Not so good with garlic but as a migraine sufferer it isn't all bad news.

[Wormella]

see,m I've never had a probel with Parsley - Thyme on the other hand

[multiveg]

Thyme has germinated for me nicely, as has parsley & basil. Maybe it is because I talk to them as I sow em

[Millymollymandy]

No probs with parsley - sowed last year's seed direct into the ground. It just takes time however - sigh - finally picked my first little sprigs yesterday yet I sowed the seeds about 3 months ago.

My parsley always goes to seed immediately the next year (if it hasn't died in the winter) so I really only get the use of it from July - October. I think I'd be better off buying a big bunch in the supermarket cos it keeps for weeks and weeks in the fridge in a plastic bag.

[Cheezy]

I grow flat leaf parsley, I heard it's easier to grow. I don't have a problem with it, I even over winter it in pots in the green house then chuck it out side as early as possible.

What I do is put it into one of those root trainer propagaters, they don't like to dry out and like a warm atmosphere. You can sow right up to November under cover , so it's not too late to start, but they do like to get out side. I sow along with root crops, as they do have a tuber root, which apparently you can eat I've seen a recipe some where for it.

edit: I've grown loads this year, too much as I can't keep on top of cutting and the early stuff I over wintered is trying to flower. Just chuck some seeds in now and should be ready for when this goes over.

[Luath]

Cheers guys , Luath, where is best to get fresh seed? I go to my local Robert Dyas but I don't know how long they have sat on the shelf?

What do you use? Could you propogate your own?

I always let at least one of my plants go to seed (it's a biennial); collect some, dry and sow and store; the rest left on the plant and it will self-sow sometimes.

[Nickey]

so if i collect the flowering part of the parsley plant, I can replant, once dryed? Is this correct? Is it obvious which bit to collect, sorry for sounding like a numpty, but parsley frustrates me and I've always de-headed the plants in the hope of gaining longevity out of them...hasn't worked so far, they grow and die with increasing rapidity! HELP!!!!!
Tyme, just keeps on growing, and is yummy, especially with pork loin, choped and fryed (in butter and olive oil) with some new courgettes chopped and red onion, also chopped. I like to make a cauli cheese and chips or in this weather salad! (By the way I'm not the size of a house!) Nickey x

[Lord Azrael]

I just chucked a whole pile of seed in a tray and I've got loads of healthy plants now, I didn't realise it could be a problem unless you've got old seed or something.

[red]

My parsley always goes to seed immediately the next year (if it hasn't died in the winter) so I really only get the use of it from July - October. I think I'd be better off buying a big bunch in the supermarket cos it keeps for weeks and weeks in the fridge in a plastic bag.

My parsley does that, but they always seem to self-seed, so i get new parsley plants. (does that mean i wear the trousers in this house? cos I'm wearing shorts......)
If you do buy from the supermarket, my mum bought one of those growing in a pot ones, had the parsley she wanted and planted the rest.. and its turned into a lovely big plant

[Andy Hamilton]

I have a window box of flat leaf parsley that I have had for two years, it has self seed too. Just left it and it keeps on coming, it does get the occasional watering but that is it.

The curley leaved parsley that I planted a few months ago is coming up well too. I stuck it in a small window box in a south facing windowsill and water it when it needs it. I just put loads of seeds in and an organic peat free compost and that was it really.

Parsley does not like to be transplanted this can cause it to go to seed to quickly.

To get fresh seed then wait until it flowers and the flowers will turn into little seed pods.