I have some Flat-Leaf Parsley plants in the veg-patch. During the Summer they grew big and produced some massive leaves, many of which ended up in the kitchen:
Then the leaves went yellow and died back. I removed most of them, and they went into the compost-bin. But now a new flush of leaves has come through. They look very different to the ones from last Summer. They are on shorter stems and the leafy bits themselves are smaller:
My question is this - Is this normal? Actually, I have several questions: Will the plants produce any more useable leaves now, or will they just die back? As far as I know, Parsley is a biennial and presumably the plants have run their course now and will only produce flower-stalks. Should I therefore pull them up, or is it worth waiting a while?
What do you think?
It is usual and the plant will go on to flower this year. You may still get some useable leaves but nothing like you did last year.
ReplyDeleteYummm fresh parsley growth. Yes it will go on to make it's flowers which are very beneficial in the garden and until then, enjoy the tender leaves in your salads and anywhere else you usually add them.
ReplyDeleteIt's in the lap of the gods whether we get severe cold weather and your young leaves are killed but keep on eating them Mark as long as you can., As the plant completes it's biennial life cycle more new leaves will come in Spring before it flowers and sets seed. Let it do so! You have another six months of parsley and egg sandwiches - my own favourite as you know Mark.
ReplyDeleteWith your more balmy climate I don't expect any interruption in service!
I keep my parsley until Spring then I pull it all out and sow the fresh seeds. The roots too are aromatic and I use them in soups (similar to carrot). You are right, parsley is an biennial plant and the next season it will produce flowers and seeds. You can still get some leaves if the weather would be favorable. Encourage their growth by regular cutting.
ReplyDeleteMy parsley sets seed all over the place I haven't sown any new seed for years and I don't think I have noticed any interruption in picking leaves either - it just seems to keep on giving.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the above comments, Mark. I had a massive parsley patch in the first year (a small child let loose with an entire packet of seeds!). Some of those ended up in a nearby pot and carried on self-seeding and growing as I never pulled them out. I had a small pot of parsley for 5 years! It was never as magnificent as the first plant though. Strangely, it's so mild here that all my parsley is still going strong but I'll resow in a new bed as soon as the weather is warm enough.
ReplyDeleteI can remember visiting my great uncle 40 years ago and he had a Parsley hedge. Basically he kept his plants in the one bed. It then produced seed heads which resulted in new plants coming every year. This also resulted in new seed heads every year. He had not planted Parsley for years, it was all self seeded.
ReplyDeleteI think the parsley will get flowering stage or will form the clump. I have never plant parsley, but it usually happen on my celery. Parsley and celery are mostly similar.
ReplyDelete