Parsley
Also called Flat leaf parsley, Curly parsley.
| Light | part shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 3 days in the growing season, every 8 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Height | Up to 40 cm (16 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats toxic, dogs toxic |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Parsley entry.
Edible here means commonly eaten. Nothing on this site is medical or dietary advice.
Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Listed as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The principle is furanocoumarins, which cause photosensitisation, and large amounts are needed for it. Keep it where an animal that eats houseplants cannot reach it, and speak to a vet if one does. In South Africa telephone the Poison Information Helpline on 0861 555 777; in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
Parsley is the herb people buy in a supermarket pot and kill in a fortnight, and almost always for the same reason: forty seedlings crowded into one small pot, sharing compost that dries by lunchtime. Split them into threes, give them depth for the taproot, and the same plants will feed a kitchen for a year. It is biennial, which means the first year is leaves and the second is flowers and seed, so a spring sowing every year keeps you in leaf. Flat leaf has more flavour and curly holds up better as a garnish; both are grown the same way. Seed is famously slow, often three weeks, and soaking it overnight helps. Worth knowing before you plant it in a house with animals: the ASPCA lists parsley as toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Ailments observed
| Long bare stems and pale new leaves | Too little light, or seedlings left crowded. Thin to 20 cm apart and give it the brightest spot you have. Crowded parsley is thin parsley. |
|---|---|
| Flowering at the wrong time, or bolting | Its second year, or a check from drying out. Parsley is biennial and flowers in year two. Sow again each spring rather than trying to keep a plant going. |
Filed underPlants for a balcony or a small space
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