Here is how to grow parsley indoors and get the most out of your space and enjoy tasty and nutritional meals. Parsley has become quite a popular herb over the years. It has moved from being used on the corner of plates to be one of the highly-rated fodder. It can either be used as a garnish or in the cooking of food. It has numerous health benefits and has a fantastic flavor; hence it is a must in different cooking styles and cuisines. Thus we will guide you today on how to grow parsley indoors because you can easily grow a garden indoors.
Fun fact; did you know that parsley has more nutrients than an orange? Well, yes it does. This makes it a perfect herb for your health needs. Also, growing it indoors will be ornamental for your kitchen. There are two main types of parsley that you will find: the flat-leaf (Neopolitanum) and the curly one ( P. Crispum). The curly leaf is mainly used as a garnish, while the flat-leaf parsley, also known as the Italian parsley, is used in marinades, stews, salads, and sauces due to its fresh and pungent flavors.
Below is a guide on how to grow parsley indoors. Let us get into it.
How To Grow Parsley Indoors?
1. Purchase The Seeds
We would advise you to get the most viable seeds when planning to grow parsley. This is because germinating parsley seeds is very slow; therefore, the best way to go about it is to use the most viable seeds, which are usually less than five weeks old.
If you buy those that are older, the process will take longer, and you will get frustrated. To also accelerate the process, we advise you to soak the seed in warm water for about 24 hours before planting them.
If you see the seeds breaking open and sprouting, do not worry, as this is a sign that the seeds are fresh.
2. Prepare The Container
Get a container with drainage holes in it and a saucer to catch the water as it drains through. Use a container that is at least 6 inches deep to ensure that the roots grow effectively. It is recommended to fill the bottom inch of the container with gravel before putting in the potting soil to improve drainage.
Fill the pot with fine quality potting soil and then sprinkle the seeds and cover them with the potting soil. To keep them moist, you can cover them with a plastic wrap that will help increase the humidity. The sprouts will roughly appear within the next three to four weeks.
3. Caring For The Seedlings
It is crucial to take care of the seedling to ensure that they reach their maturity. If you do not do this, then they will quickly die out, and it will not be right for you. Once you notice that the seedlings have sprouted to about three inches in height, we advise you to thin the seeds. This will help free up room for the mature plant roots.
Experts also recommend thinning out the seedlings as per the instructions in the seed packet. Use a pair of scissors to clip out the excess seedlings or pinch them out. However, do not pull them out as you might damage the roots.
As the seedlings continue to mature, ensure that you keep them moist, but not wet. You can also use fertilizer to make them grow faster. In this case, we will advise you to apply liquid fertilizer as it is easy to deal with.
Final Thoughts
With the above points, you will be able to know how to grow parsley indoors. When doing so, we advise you to ensure that you keep the pot near a sunny window as the plant will need around six to eight hours of sunlight per day.
Also, you can grow other herbs in the container with parsley if you like. Some of the herbs that go well with parsley include mint, thyme, oregano, and basil.