Hi All,
My second year Italian Parsley looks really weird. Others of my customers, that actually know what they are doing, showed me theirs, and it looks the same: big stems, small leaves, flowers (if you can call them that) at the top.
Questions:
1) what parts do you eat, just the small leaves? 2) what do you cut? The stem all the way to the ground?Many thanks,
-T
It is preparing to die, there is nothing you can do about it, there is no reason to cut anything other than to eat. Or dig out the whole plant and make way for something else. All the leaves are still edible. I tend to use the larger leaves rather than the feathery little ones but that is just preference. Plant more soon if you want parsley and for an assured supply in future plant at least yearly.
D
Hi David,
Thank you!
Is that what they call "Bolting"?
-T
Pendant alert. It should be 'customers who' not 'customers that'. The only time it should be 'customers that' would be if the customers were not live humans.
I'm being a pedant because I've recently noticed that this way of writing is common amongst USians and the likely outcome of that will be that it will escape from the US so it will soon hit our shores. That will cause me and others severe irritation and distress.
You can still eat any of it. The purpose for which it would be used (or at least used by anyone who can, and does, cook) would vary. The leaves can still be be used in dishes, as a garnish or sprinkled on the top of soups or used in trbbouli etc (ie a prime use) whilst the stalks and the flower head would be used in stock pots, stews or casseroles. It's past it's prime but still useful in many ways but best for seed saving.
I'd suggest leaving it to go to seed if you can afford to let it occupy the space for that long. I do that with all my Italian parsley and then I drop the seeds all round the garden so that I'm never without several parsley patches because I do this routinely.
Yup. Look up biennial, which is what it is.
D
No. I'm sure some people would say that your parsley was bolting but bolting is a term that applies to premature flowering and setting of seed. Your parsley is doing what a mature parsley plant should be doing.
Bolting can be caused by a number of things but often unseasonable weather or planting outside normal planting time will bring on bolting. A common example of bolting would be lettuces where the onset of sudden unseasonable hot weather will cause then to send up a flower spike.
Hmmm. Live customers. An interesting concept.
You must have meant "Pedant alert."
pendant ? pend·ant [pen-duhnt] noun Also, pendent.
Thank you!
Hi David,
I have a "Black Thumb". The only thing I can successfully grow are dandelions. I appreciate you sharing.
-T
Oops, should have said "Hi Fran". :'[
Oh it depends what is hanging off it.....
D
Parsley is a biennial. Its 2nd year growth usually looks different and doesn't taste as good (generally somewhat bitter). You'd do better planting new seed each year, or follow the directions here for how to harvest seed:
Thank you!
Hi Brooklyn the First,
I took a close look at them yesterday. The leaves are really tiny. I think I will go with your recommendation and just pull them out. And, a packet of parsley seeds in around $1.50 or less.
I put my tiny seeds in a plastic bad full of compost. Then I shake the bag up. Then, I use my hand to grab a wad and toss it around. Kind of fun actually.
Thank you again for teaching me. I have a Black Thumb.
-T
Well don't fail to find the usefulness of dandelions. True dandelions (as opposed to flatweeds that have a flower more than a single flower head) can be used in a weed pie which is truly delicious and the French actually grow 'improved' varieties for culinary purposes. Additionally one of the most delightful gardes I ever seen was a 5 acre plot with a meadow of dandelions with paths mown through the dandelions going to various sitting arbours.
The cost of seed is irrelevant when considering reasons to save seed. Seed saved in your own garden will be acclimatised to your specific locality and not where the seed company grows their seed. It's about increased resilience of YUOR garden crops and increased self reliance. Or so I believe.
Indeed it is. :-))
Given my observation of shoppers who seldom appear to have many functioning neurons, Robotic customers might be worth considering as an option.
Of course you are quite right, fellow Pedant.
Hi Fran,
Not sure how, genetically speaking, how collecting seeds would make them better for my area. But, definitely is more self reliant. Kind of fun too. I have been collecting my own Hollyhock seeds for years. A few times I have seen pretty Hocks and asked the owners if I could pinch a few seeds pods. I have some of the most beautiful flowers.
Thank you for teaching me. I have such a black thumb!
-T
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