Content
Parsley is one of the most common crops grown in home gardens. It is unpretentious to care for, gives a good harvest, has useful properties due to its chemical composition. Parsley seedlings are cultivated by many gardeners in order to obtain spices as early as possible.
Depending on the timing of ripening, the spice can be early, mid-season and late
Pros and cons of growing parsley seedlings
The method of growing parsley by seedlings is suitable for leafy varieties, since root crops after transplanting often give side branches, become clumsy. The advantages of the method include:
- Getting an early and bountiful harvest.
- Creation of comfortable conditions for young plants.
- Saving planting material.
- The possibility of growing thermophilic varieties in the northern regions.
- No need for thinning.
Among the disadvantages of the seedling method:
- Risk of damage to the root system during a dive.
- The need to shelter seedlings in the first time after planting in open ground.
Many gardeners prefer a combination of two options - get some of the parsley using seedlings, and the rest by sowing directly into the open ground.
What varieties are better to choose
For growing parsley seedlings, varieties are used that have shade tolerance, rapid growth, disease resistance and a pleasant taste. In addition to these characteristics, the size of the foliage and the height of the bush are of great importance.
Aster
Curly parsley Astra (Etroselinum crispum Astra) belongs to the early maturing varieties. The yield is high, the application is universal. The rosette is of medium height, slightly raised. The time from germination to harvesting is up to 60 days.
The yield of the Astra variety is up to 5 kg per square meter
Breeze
Curly parsley Breeze (Etroselinum crispum Briz) has an average ripening period. Its rosette is high (up to 75 cm), erect. The greens are tender, slightly juicy. The growing season is 80 days. The yield of the variety is 2.5 kg per square meter.
Parsley Breeze is used in cooking and processing
Carnival
Parsley Carnaval (Etroselinum crispum Karnaval) has an average ripening period, the spice is used in salads. The rosette is of medium density and height. The period from germination to technical ripeness is three months.
Carnival parsley grows well after cutting
Sowing dates for parsley seedlings
Sowing spice for seedlings begins in February. The exact date depends on the climatic conditions of the region. The period should be calculated so that after a month and a half, the parsley can be planted in open ground. In the middle lane, sowing is carried out in the third decade of February, in the Leningrad region - in early March, in Siberia and the Urals - in its second decade.
According to the lunar calendar in 2021
To determine the most favorable sowing time for seedlings, you can use the lunar calendar. Planting garden plants on greenery is carried out in the phase of the waxing moon.The most productive time is considered to be when the Earth's satellite is in such signs of the zodiac as Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces and Taurus. In 2021, the days are favorable for sowing parsley for seedlings:
- In February - 4, 12-14, 17-24.
- In March - 2-5, 8, 9, 12-14, 17, 18, 23, 24.
- In April - 13-15, 18.19, 26-28.
Planting parsley seedlings
Growing greens through seedlings allows you to get a juicy spice already at the beginning of summer. To do this, it is necessary to properly prepare seeds, soil and containers. Subject to agricultural technology, after a month and a half, healthy grown parsley seedlings are transferred to open ground for growing.
At first, parsley seedlings develop very slowly.
Selection and preparation of soil
For growing parsley seedlings, loose, nutritious soil is suitable, the acidity of which is neutral (6.5-7.0 pH). Ready-made soil can be bought or made independently by mixing peat, garden soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1.
Before use, the soil mixture is disinfected by calcining or steaming for one and a half hours. After that, it is spilled with Fitosporin solution.
Choice of capacity
Containers for parsley seedlings should not be small. The culture has a powerful root system that goes deep into the soil, so the best option is a container with a wall height of 15-20 cm. Flower pots, containers, cut to the desired height, plastic bottles with a volume of 5 liters are quite suitable.
There should be drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess water. To prevent moisture from getting on the windowsill, pallets are installed under the containers.
Seed preparation
Parsley seeds contain essential oils that prevent them from germinating prematurely. To speed up the process, you need to prepare the seeds accordingly:
- Soak in warm water for a day, changing it every four hours.
- Select those that have settled to the bottom.
- Treat the seeds with a growth stimulant (Epin).
- Dry.
- Place in a damp cloth and refrigerate to "peck".
Vernalization increases the rate and percentage of seed germination
Step-by-step instruction
After carrying out the preparatory work, they begin sowing parsley. To get healthy and strong seedlings in the shortest possible time, you should adhere to a certain pattern:
- Place a 2 cm thick expanded clay drainage layer on the bottom of the pot or container.
- Fill the container with the prepared soil mixture.
- Make grooves 0.5 cm deep at 3 cm intervals.
- Moisten the ground with a spray bottle.
- Spread the seeds at 2 cm intervals.
- Sprinkle them with soil with a layer of 0.5 cm.
- Spray generously with water.
- Cover the container on top with a lid, foil, glass or non-woven fabric.
- Move the container to a warm place with an air temperature of +25 ⁰С.
Every day, the mini-greenhouse is ventilated and the soil is moistened as needed
Parsley seedlings in a snail
Recently, the method of growing seedlings in a snail has become popular. It allows you to rationally use the space, not damage the roots when picking seedlings, evenly illuminate all the plants, and do not harvest a lot of soil.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Cut a tape 10-15 cm wide from the substrate under the laminate (Isolon or expanded polypropylene).
- Spread it on the table and spread the prepared soil over the surface in an even layer 1-2 cm high.
- Distribute the seeds by 2 cm from the top and 1.5 cm between them.
- Roll the tape tightly into a roll.
- Fasten with an elastic band, tape.
- Place vertically on a pallet.
- Pour water into it.
- Cover with foil on top to create a microclimate.
- Open periodically for ventilation.
After the emergence of parsley shoots, the snail, along with the pallet, is transferred to a bright, cool place.
All turns in the resulting folded structure must be thoroughly watered
Care of parsley seedlings after germination
You can get strong seedlings only as a result of careful care and creation of conditions for the development of plants.
Lighting
Seedlings need to provide a day length of about 12 hours. With a lack of natural light, you need to use artificial light from LED and phytolamps, which are turned on in the evening and in cloudy weather. In April and May, parsley foliage should be protected from the bright sun by shading. Otherwise, the seedlings get burned, turn yellow and dry.
Temperature regime
The optimum temperature for the growth and development of parsley seedlings is +20 ⁰С. Heat insulating material should be placed under containers and pots on a cold windowsill so that the roots do not freeze or rot. Seedlings must be reliably protected from drafts and at the same time ensure good ventilation.
Parsley needs a lot of light and warmth to grow and develop.
Watering
Parsley loves water. To moisten the soil, use a warm, settled liquid. Watering the seedlings is carried out as the soil dries up, using a spray bottle, a syringe or a watering can with a long nose. The smallest plants are moisturized with extreme care. After each procedure, the soil is gently loosened.
Thinning and picking
After the emergence of seedlings, you need to pay attention to their density. One plant should have five square centimeters of area. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, the extra ones are removed or dive into separate containers. Parsley seedlings will not bend if the pots and containers are periodically turned opposite to the sunlight.
Transplanting seedlings into open ground
As soon as stable warm weather sets in and the earth warms up, the matured parsley seedlings are planted in open ground. The soil is prepared in advance - in the fall they dig deeply, add organic matter, add sand and sawdust to the clay. In early spring, it is loosened, ridges are formed, covered with a film to warm up better.
Seedlings are determined to a permanent place late in the evening or in the morning in cloudy weather. They are planted in rows, leaving a gap of 10 cm and 5 cm between the plants.
Between the rows of parsley, you can sow late cabbage for seedlings
The easiest way is to plant parsley grown in peat cups or tablets. They are dipped into prepared holes, lightly sprinkled with soil and watered. Seedlings in plastic containers must be watered abundantly in advance, in order to later get the plant along with an earthen clod and plant it on the ridge without damaging the root system.
Possible growing problems
The most common problem when growing parsley seedlings is pulling it out. The reason for this is insufficient lighting, short daylight hours and too high air temperature. To remedy the situation, it is necessary to install additional lighting and move the containers to a room with an air temperature of +16 ⁰С to +20 ⁰С.
A pick is an additional stress for parsley seedlings. To eliminate such situations, it is better to grow plants in separate pots and glasses, providing immediately enough soil for the root system and an area for the development of the aboveground part.
Conclusion
Parsley seedlings are grown by gardeners in order to get greens early. Agricultural technology is simple, available to any beginner, and the effect is impressive - a sufficient amount of spice can be obtained already at the beginning of June. The process is not laborious, it is worth using in the practice of any gardener.
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