How to properly grow parsley on a windowsill and get a harvest all year round

Parsley is one of the most popular herbs used in cooking. Those who wish to have fresh greens at hand all year round grow them at home on the windowsill. And in order for parsley to grow well at home, it is important to follow the rules of planting and care.

Is it possible to grow parsley on a windowsill

Growing parsley on a windowsill is not particularly difficult. The plant will need to provide certain conditions regarding lighting and temperature conditions.

When planting in winter, it is necessary to take care of increasing the length of daylight hours with the help of artificial lighting.

At home, parsley is grown in two ways:

• from seeds;
• from the roots.

The first method requires more time and effort, the second is simple and affordable even for novice gardeners.

The plant is unpretentious and gives lush greenery in the first year of cultivation, and roots in the second.

It will take 1.5 months from seed planting or 30 days from root to cut the first parsley sprigs.

Suitable varieties

Early greens grow best in a flower pot.

Varieties common parsley, most suitable for growing on a windowsill:

• Appetizing;
• Beads;
• Gloria;
• Chastushka;
• Natalka;
• Morning freshness.

Reference. Curly parsley is less aromatic and tasty. However, it has an interesting look of leaves, suitable for decorating dishes. Astra, Vorozheya, Emerald Lace are successfully grown on the windowsill. Plants of these varieties are undemanding to growing conditions.

Training

To grow parsley at home you will need:

• special containers;
• suitable soil.

Providing the necessary conditions and observing the sowing rules is the key to an excellent harvest.

Places

Parsley needs light, fertile soil, moisture and light. The pots are placed in slightly shaded places, the plants are protected from drafts.

It is preferable to grow greens in a room that is regularly ventilated. A windowsill is suitable for growing. You can leave the pots on the balcony if the temperature does not drop below 0⁰С.

Reference. In the cold season, it is advisable to grow parsley on the south window; over time, you will need to rearrange the pots to the east or west. In spring and summer, plants are protected from direct sunlight.

Containers

A spacious, deep container is suitable for planting. Plants form a powerful root system. The pot or drawer should be more than 15 cm high with drainage holes and a drain pan.

Important. On the eve of planting, the container is disinfected. For this purpose, a solution of potassium permanganate is suitable.

One plant is grown in one pot. In a container with a large standard volume, several pieces can be planted.

First, the bottom of the pot is covered with expanded clay - with a layer of at least 2 cm, then the container is filled with soil.

Soil

Parsley is grown in nutritious light and loose soil with an acidity level of 6.5 to 7.0 - neutral or slightly acidic.

It is advisable to prepare a soil mixture from peat, humus and garden soil, poured with a solution of potassium permanganate (proportion 1: 1: 2).

Reference. The finished mixture is limed if it is necessary to deoxidize it. It will also require the introduction of fertilizers - phosphorus and potash.

Planting material

Before planting in a pot, the seed is prepared. The seeds are germinated for several days, leaving them warm on damp gauze. Then they are dried. Half an hour before sowing, the seeds are etched with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Growing parsley from the roots is easier than growing from seeds. Before the soil in the garden freezes, roots with cuttings are dug out of it. Growing from store-bought roots is acceptable.

Reference. For planting, undamaged root crops with a diameter of 2-4 mm are suitable. The larger they are, the better the leaves will form.

How to grow parsley on a windowsill

To grow greens on a windowsill, you will need to meet several important conditions:

• the pot with the planting is first kept in a cool place (on the balcony), moderately watering the soil as it dries;
• with the beginning of the growth of the petioles, the container is rearranged on the windowsill;
• watered about once every 7 days;
• pots with plants are regularly rotated to ensure their symmetrical uniform growth - once every 1-2 days;
• on cloudy days, planting is provided with artificial lighting;
• apply special fertilizers before cutting greenery, if the plants are depleted.

Reference. In winter, they make several "distillations" of parsley. First, smaller root crops are planted, after 30 days - larger. With the onset of spring, the pots can be rearranged on the loggia.

Landing

Planting parsley from seed is done as follows:

1. The bottom of the pot is laid out with expanded clay with a layer of 2 cm and the container is filled with soil.
2. Seeds are laid to a depth of 5 mm. Sprinkle 1 cm of soil on top.

For planting root crops, prepare a container 15-20 cm deep and suitable soil. Then the parsley is tightly transplanted into the pre-moistened soil and watered again.

Read also:

How to grow cucumbers on a windowsill in winter.

How to choose a variety and properly grow indoor peppers on a windowsill.

How to properly grow radishes on a windowsill in winter.

Care

During the first 20 days, before the first sprouts hatch, they are moderately watered every other day. At this stage, the planting can be covered with plastic, but this is not necessary. Younger plants require more water. Water them, avoiding waterlogging or drying out of the soil.

In winter, the planting is watered sparingly when the soil begins to dry out.

It is not recommended to water the plants with tap water. It is too hard and can lead to the formation of a crust of elements harmful to the plant on the surface of the earth. Before watering, the water is defended for several days, and it is better to boil it. The water temperature should be at room temperature.

Important. After each watering, the soil is carefully loosened.

It is better to thin out young shoots with a thickened planting, leaving 4 cm between shoots. Do not forget to remove weeds.

If the parsley was planted in purchased soil, the crop will need periodic feeding. The home garden is fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers.

Reference. The most common preparations for feeding parsley at home are "Growth" and "Agrolife".

Creation of favorable conditions

During the period when seed germination occurs, the plant needs increased air humidity. To create the necessary conditions, the bed can be covered with foil. When the first sprouts appear, the shelter is removed, and the container with the plants is transferred to a cooler place.

The growth of parsley is observed at a temperature not exceeding + 15 ... + 20⁰С... However, in order for the seedlings to hatch, you will need to keep the pot in warmer conditions at a temperature of + 25 ° C.

In early spring and until the end of summer, the sun is enough for home planting. However, in autumn and winter, plants suffer from a lack of lighting. To solve the problem, a special white light lamp is placed above the pot. Fluorescent lighting fixtures are installed at a height of 50-60 cm.It will take them to illuminate the garden for 8 hours a day.

Potential problems, diseases and pests

Illiterate watering, along with inappropriate temperature conditions, is the main cause of infection with white spot or powdery mildew. To combat these diseases, as well as to prevent them, use the drug "Fitosprorin" according to the instructions.

The main pest of vegetable crops is aphids. When it appears, the leaves are sprayed with Fitoverm.

Important. Immediately after using the drugs, the greens are not cut off and are not eaten. You will need to meet the time specified in the instructions for the funds.

Excessive temperature conditions in the room or lack of sunlight often leads to stretching and deformation of plants.

Features of growing parsley in hydroponics

Hydroponics - growing vegetables without soil, only on water and fertilizers. The roots of plants are in a substrate of organic or artificial origin. The pot with the substrate is immersed in a special solution that gives the plants the necessary nutrition.

To grow a vegetable crop on a windowsill, you will need to stock up on:

• a hydroponic plant, consisting of tanks for greenery and a system that supplies nutrients;
• substrate and solution containing all trace elements necessary for normal growth and development of plants.

Greenery growing in hydroponics requires a favorable temperature regime and good lighting.

Reference. The solution can be prepared with your own hands from water-soluble fertilizers. Salt concentration should not exceed 3 g per 1 liter of water.

The seeds are planted in a ready-made substrate (1 g per 1 sq. M), then the planting is watered abundantly with water containing dissolved fertilizers of the BioSevia series. After watering, the pot is covered with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. The next batch is grown two weeks later.

Harvesting and storage

You can see the first shoots when growing from seeds after 14-20 days, and cut the first greens after another 50-70 days. If the parsley is grown from the roots, it will be harvested after four weeks.

Branches with large leaves are cut at a height of 10 cm. You cannot cut at the root - the petioles must be left.

Council. To keep the greens longer, they sort them out. You cannot wash the twigs. The harvest is put in plastic bags. An onion cut into several parts is also laid there. A bag of parsley is sent to the refrigerator. Once every five days, they take it out to sort through the contents and replace the onion.

Tips & Tricks

The advice of experienced gardeners will help to increase seed germination.

They suggest placing the seed in a canvas bag before planting and holding it under running water for 3 hours. An alternative to such manipulation is bubbling with a mandatory change of water every 2-3 hours. Parsley seed procedures are carried out during the day.

Planting mites will be protected from herbivorous mites by preventive measures:

• indoor flowers, in particular roses, should not be placed on the windowsill next to parsley;
• watering the planting with a warm power shower once a week.

You can fight the mites that have appeared with a soapy solution, which is used to wash the foliage. After treatment, the solution is washed off with hot water (+ 50 ° C).

Read also:

How does parsley help from puffiness under the eyes and how it can be used.

How to make ice from parsley for the face: beauty and health of the skin.

How to distinguish cilantro from parsley.

Conclusion

Growing parsley on a windowsill at home is quite simple. The procedure does not require a significant investment of time and effort. Observing the rules of caring for plants, you can pamper yourself and your loved ones with fresh fragrant herbs all year round.