How to plant parsley at home on a windowsill

For those who want to enjoy fresh greens all year round, growing parsley at home on a windowsill will be a real salvation. Similarly, it is possible to grow dill, spinach and other plants.

This culture is a real storehouse of minerals and vitamins. So, it contains vitamins A, C, B and E, as well as magnesium, calcium and potassium. The use of this plant is possible both for culinary purposes and for personal care, thanks to the content of vitamin A. Parsley can be stored in the refrigerator and frozen. In this state, it is capable of retaining useful properties for up to 1 year.

Growing this plant on a windowsill from seeds is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. It is only important to know how the landing is carried out, and to observe certain nuances.

Parsley varieties

Before planting, you must select the variety of this culture. Almost all varieties of this plant are suitable for growing at home. However, when buying seeds, it is recommended to focus on early maturing.

What varieties are sold in stores?

1. Curly leafy. This culture is distinguished by lush and beautiful greenery, as well as pleasant taste.
2. Ordinary leaf. This is a variety that loses to the first type of parsley in the splendor of its greenery. However, this plant contains the largest amount of useful vitamins and minerals. This culture has a rich root system. Due to its rich taste, it is often added to various dishes.
3. Root. This type of parsley produces the minimum amount of greens. Its leaves are quite tough and not very rich in flavor. This variety is prized for its powerful roots that look like carrots. This variety is most often used for making homemade preparations and soups.

Advice

When buying this or that variety, it is important to take into account the following nuance: in root varieties, both roots and leaves are suitable for food, and in leafy varieties, only leaves. However, leafy varieties already have extremely small roots.

Soil preparation and planting seeds

Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. To do this, they must be wrapped in gauze and put in a container, and pour the solution on top. After that, you need to leave the seeds alone for a day. This procedure is required to stimulate the appearance of the first shoots of the plant. While the seeds are being processed, it is worth preparing the soil for planting them.

For growing parsley on a windowsill, soil for violets is suitable. This potting soil is suitable for planting most green plants, including parsley.

It is recommended to plant in long seedling pots or boxes. Planting in a simple indoor plant pot won't be a good option as it won't hold a lot of parsley.

Advice

If a suitable pot was not found for planting the seeds of the plant, then you can plant them in empty juice bags. To do this, such a container must be cut in the center and rinsed with hot water, holes must be made at the bottom to ensure air circulation. After planting seeds in such a homemade container, it is recommended to put it in a pallet so that excess water flows into it after watering.

After the seeds have stood in a solution of potassium permanganate for a day, they can be planted in boxes or pots. To do this, the prepared container should be filled with earth and grooved in it. Planting should be carried out to a depth of about 2 cm. Seeds should be placed in the grooves and sprinkled with soil on top.To ensure fast germination of seeds, it is recommended to cover the pots on top with a film and water the soil 2 times a day.

Advice

Before planting parsley in prepared containers, it is recommended to lay out their bottom with expanded clay. Its layer must be made at the level of 2-3 cm. Expanded clay in this case will play the role of drainage.

Care

After the first shoots appear, it is recommended to remove the film from the container with soil. To get a crop on the windowsill, it is necessary to provide the culture with the required care. It should include daily watering and thinning as the plants grow. When caring for a crop, one should not allow excessive moisture in the soil, or, conversely, dry it out. Ideally, the ground is slightly damp. Otherwise, the plants may begin to dry out or, conversely, rot. You should also focus on the indoor microclimate. In extremely dry air, it is recommended to increase the frequency of watering.

Homemade parsley also needs feeding. Before the emergence of seedlings, it is recommended to feed the culture with nitrogen-potassium fertilizer.

Growing conditions

In order to grow a parsley crop on the windowsill with your own hands, it is necessary to provide optimal conditions. For the growth of parsley at home, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the room at a level of +15 to +20 degrees Celsius. At lower temperatures, the crop can begin to wither.

The parsley on the windowsill needs good lighting so that the color of its greens is saturated. If there is insufficient light, the leaves of the plant may fade. Of course, in apartment conditions it is almost impossible to provide the same level of illumination as on the street. Therefore, the way out can be lighting the crop on the windowsill with a fluorescent lamp. Also, indoor parsley should be regularly ventilated.

It is important to know that when planting this crop on the windowsill, you should not wait for a quick harvest due to its slow growth. In addition, the plants will require regular and painstaking care. And it will be possible to wait for the first harvest only after a month and a half after planting the seeds in the soil.

Summing up

Do-it-yourself greens on the windowsill will be useful additions to home-cooked dishes. Home-grown crops are a worthy alternative to store-bought parsley. Probably, almost everyone knows that in winter, stores can offer a range of rough and dried greens. In addition, the dark green shade of purchased parsley may indicate the presence of nitrates in its composition. Moreover, it will not be as fragrant as the one grown at home.

Once the crop has been harvested at home, it can be used as a spice for adding to salads, soups and main dishes. Parsley is also perfect for decorating various appetizers.