The Petroselinum crissum commonly called parsley is much more than that garnishing twig that so often embellishes a dish with no one eating it. It is an herbaceous plant of the family Apiaceae, from the central Mediterranean area. We have traditionally used parsley as a garnish in all kinds of dishes and, far from falling into disuse, today is sold when years ago it was not uncommon to give it to us in the market.
In this article, we will see how to enjoy all its benefits without scarcely cost teaching you to plant parsley in a pot, as well as all the care of parsley.
How to take Care of parsley
Parsley is a fairly resistant plant, so it does not require great attention. However, let’s see how to take care of a parsley plant so that it grows healthy and strong.
Light
The parsley plant needs to be in a very bright area, but it should not be directly exposed to it more than 4 or 6 hours a day. This is one reason it is more common to sow parsley in a pot rather than in the garden.
Irrigation
This plant requires a humid environment, especially in its earliest stages. For this reason, the parsley should be watered so that the soil is always moist. In dry environments, it is advisable to atomize or spray water on its leaves and stems from time to time. As you will always receive moisture, it is important that you place the plant in a pot with adequate drainage or it will flood.
Pruning
The most important thing at this point is to remove the flowers from the plant as soon as they are formed, or the plant will mature. In addition, it is advisable to regularly remove the dry or diseased leaves to improve the health of the plant.
Pests
Parsley does not usually suffer from any plague. Placing it next to other aromatic ones always helps to keep the insects away, and if the aphid appears, it is best to spray with soapy water that will solve the problem.
Benefits of parsley
Parsley is credited with an enormous amount of beneficial properties for health, but although it is clear that it is a plant with extensive medicinal properties, not everything that is said about it is true or proven. Let’s see the medicinal properties and benefits of parsley that are proven:
Rich in vitamins and iron: parsley contains large amounts of vitamins K and C, as well as antioxidants, which helps maintain the healthy balance of the body. Its high iron intake makes it recommended for those suffering from anemia.
Diuretic: The intake of the leaves of this plant has diuretic properties and therefore helps to reduce excess water in our body, besides helping proper kidney function.
Anti-inflammatory: This is another of the properties of the plant, so its regular use helps relieve joint pain.
Anti-carcinogenic: Recent studies show the excellent anticancer properties of parsley, both in terms of prevention and action.
Rich in myricetin: It is one of the richest foods in this natural nutrient, which significantly reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
How to plant parsley from a branch
Planting parsley by cuttings is possible, but not recommended. Being a plant so thin and short stem, the plant will find many difficulties to take root. This, together with the fact that the seeds of parsley can be planted throughout the year, makes a reproduction by cuttings impractical in this case.
If you are going to plant seeds of parsley keep in mind your needs for light and moisture when choosing the location of the pot. This plant also does not need any special substrate and can share space with any other plant in large pots or planters.
Although parsley can be planted throughout the year, it is recommended to avoid extraordinarily cold or hot days, as they can slow the germination of the seeds a lot. It may take up to a month to see the first shoots appear, so the optimal season for them to grow better is in the spring and at night.
If you sow or garden plants, leave a space of about 15 cm between each to give them space. Finally, when sowing the seeds of parsley or planting the small plant, water often keeps the substrate moist, but always avoids puddling.
Tags: care of parsley, care of plants, parsley
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