Help with Parsley (and garlic)

[janekt]

Hi all,

I bought a parsley plant from a garden centre recently and have kept it in a plastic greenhouse in a small pot. All my other herbs that I grew from seed are doing really well but the parsley has pretty much died, the leaves have gone yellow/brown and died. What am I doing wrong is it too hot for it? I've never had any luck growing parsley even on the kitchen windowsill so any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Also a garlic plant that I bought and repotted has started to get brown tips on the leaves any help with that too?

TIA

Jane

[Two_Sheds]

I would say both these plants need to be in the ground... I grow (flat) parsley outdoors, from seed not plants: its hardy, and I never had any problem with it.

[blue-and-green]

hi Jane, parsley wants a bit of shade i think, maybe its too hot, mine is in a pot outdoors in morning sun, its doing fine, currently in the middle of the pot and i sowed some seeds around it for more, will see. and the magic of it is the more you cut to use the more it grows, try it outside i think, cause mine had frost all winter and survived and doing well.

[Flummery]

I'd have parsley in the ground (in fact I have!) - it's as tough as old boots. It certainly doesn't need the windowsill treatment at this time of year. Get another if it's died and put it in the soil and see how it gets on.

[mrskp]

just to add a spanner to the works, my over wintered pot of parsley on the window sill was looking a bit worse for wear until recently. it's now we've had some extra sunshine, it's going great guns again just as i've sown another two pots.

[wheatleys wheels]

I have read that when it comes to garlic - if it is true garlic (with the bulb that you can eat) then the browing leaves is what it naturally does. Once they've died back all the way you are then meant to gently lift out the garlic bulb and hang it to dry. Once dry it can be used for cooking or split it out into individual segments with the skins on and replant with the tips pointed upwards. They will resprout green leaves after growing roots and then form new garlic. But they will grow leaves above ground that will start green and then go brown and the cycle starts all over again.

As for parsley I'm afraid I'm even newer to that than I am at garlic (which I started for the first time myself this year)

[momol]

Hi Janekt,

As far as I know, parsley are hardy , mine was out there since last year and now starts to form flower bulb. They do need moist soil and fertile soil. as for sun , mine is at the south facing of the garden and it has been doing great . Did you let them acclimatize first before getting in their new locations ? it could be too warm for them or perhaps lack in nutrient or even water stress ( it has been so warm for several days ... at least here in Belgium ).


Momol

[Alexx]

I saw parsley outside every year around this time, and they last for 2 years. I find that better tastier leaves develop in the second year. Never gave it any special treatment like protecting it from frost, not even feeding. Basically, it grows like weeds right in the scorching sun. Had greens all winter and even a few parsnips for Christmas

[janekt]

Thanks for all your help. I've planted it outside now and it's seems to be ok for now. I think it might even be picking up a bit. Fingers crossed!

Jane

[Alice]

Hello Jane, both the garlic and the parsley are fully hardy. I grow my parsley in the ground - flat leaf and curly, and they come throuh the winter fine. I don't know what kind of a garlic "plant" you bought. I plant it outside in November and it does fine. You can plant as late as March. I planted some then as a trial to see what the difference would be, so need to wait until about June/July to see. This is some I planted in a container in November.

[Paulottie]

They say that parsley only grows well in a house where the woman wears the trousers. Assert yourself Jane!

Sounds like either too much or too little water has caused it's death.

Try from seed- it is much cheaper and really easy but just like carrots (to which it is related) it takes a while to germinate about 2/3 weeks. Sow some in a 3" pot plastic bag over the top secured with a laccy band. You can prick these into individual pots.

The best plants however, are sown direct. You don't need full sun, save that spot for thyme or toms etc. It is a bi-annual but runs to seed quickly in the second year (save the seed, if you have the space.) but sow it every early spring. It is a traditional and attractive edging to a bed at approx 9" spacings. Give them enough space, and they get quite big.

Garlic, As Alice points out, is normally planted in Nov. so it gets its roots down for winter and gets of to a flyer in spring: being harvested in June & thus freeing the ground for another crop. Spring planted cloves will be ready in August. Dry it really well for storage. The outside leaves normally turn a little yellow at the tip after winter. try 'Maxicrop' or similar seaweed tonic.

[bubblewrap]

I have planted 4 lots of garlic between Sepember & December all seem to be going well.
My problem is harvesting.
How do you know when it is ready for harvesting?

[Flummery]

The leaves dry out Bubblewrap. When it looks like dead grass it isn't going to put on any more weight so you can dig it up. Let it dry out so the outer layers go papery, like the stuff you get in the shops. I just tie it in a bunch with string and hang it in the shed for a few weeks. It's good though - better than the shops, even when the bulbs are small.

[bubblewrap]

The leaves dry out Bubblewrap. When it looks like dead grass it isn't going to put on any more weight so you can dig it up. Let it dry out so the outer layers go papery, like the stuff you get in the shops. I just tie it in a bunch with string and hang it in the shed for a few weeks. It's good though - better than the shops, even when the bulbs are small.

Thanks Flummery Non of mine ready yet!

[Flummery]

It'll probably be late July or august I reckon, BW.