Parsley

[Babru]

I think I'll grow some flat leaf parsley this year, after reading this thread. I'm not fond of the curly type. I'll pick a plant up at the supermarket. Am I right in thinking they like a bit of shade rather than full sun?

[Sweet savory]

Update to say have just checked my pots after a few days away and lo and behold the packet parsley I sowed a month ago has not moved. But the fresh parsley seed I sowed from a seed head a couple of weeks ago is up already. It will sit in the greenhouse to grow on slowly over winter.

[Sweet savory]

I have grown parsley successfully from supermarket pots and seed. Although seed is more hit and miss. I soak mine in hot water for a couple of hours before sowing which I like to think helps.
Also for me the flat leaf is easier to get going than the curly and seems to survive the winter less ravaged. But Chef prefers curled so that is mostly what I grow. Covered with a cloche it survives well all winter and even grows a bit outside here in the mild SW albeit needing a good dunking before use to get rid of the whitefly.

[quanglewangle]

I guess I assumed that supermarket parsley would be grown using micropropagation: like cuttings but more controlled.

This is more like a lab or pharmaceutical process until the plants are big enough to treat more like horticulture.

[greenishfing]

My Dad used to use the same quote , but for parsnips, which also take ages to germinate!

The trouble is most of my parsnips and parsley don't ever find their way back.

[Snadger]

Its probably 'grown' (like most of the horticultural trade) in china then shipped to Holland to grow on then sold to the supermarkets,

Parsley you need a bit of patience to grow from seed, My Grandma always said it has to go to the devil seven times before it comes up I find I get slightly better results early one using the heated bench to give a bit of bottom warmth I don't know if theres a reason for that or just because I'm luckier at that time

My Dad used to use the same quote , but for parsnips, which also take ages to germinate!

[nick the grief]

The supermarket suppliers will not use posh seeds. They will most likely use seed that produces small plants quickly in pots.
The bean counters would not allow anything that takes time or costs more money than absolutely necessary.
They will most likely be the leftovers from one of the big seed suppliers.

Its probably 'grown' (like most of the horticultural trade) in china then shipped to Holland to grow on then sold to the supermarkets,

Parsley you need a bit of patience to grow from seed, My Grandma always said it has to go to the devil seven times before it comes up I find I get slightly better results early one using the heated bench to give a bit of bottom warmth I don't know if theres a reason for that or just because I'm luckier at that time

[Plot70]

The supermarket suppliers will not use posh seeds. They will most likely use seed that produces small plants quickly in pots.
The bean counters would not allow anything that takes time or costs more money than absolutely necessary.
They will most likely be the leftovers from one of the big seed suppliers.

[Snadger]

I have a parsley plant growing outdoors from a supermarket plant.It' a bit too small to use the leaves but I will leave it and see what it does in the spring. If and when it runs to seed I will try letting the seeds drop on the compost and see if it will self propagate. I have no idea whether any of the shop bought parsley is grown from F1 seeds so I will just have to take 'pot luck'and wait and see.

[Plot70]

The supermarket pot plants produce a lush clump early in there second year. They spend the remainder of there first summer putting there roots down and recovering from transplanting.

[Purple Primrose]

The best parsley I've grown from seed this year has been Giant of Italy (started off indoors before planting out). Despite the heavy rains and strong winds we've had this last fortnight, it's still looking tall, fresh and happy in a big pot outside the kitchen.

The parsley I planted out earlier in the year (after having split up a supermarket pot) is not nearly as big or healthy.

[Bren In Pots]

I leave my flat and curly leaf parsley to self seed it seems to do better than when I sow the seeds myself.

[Plot70]

For me it was Aldi last year and Asda this year.
I split the clumps into about half a dozen bits and put them in. The stronger plants take and the weaker ones just die out.
It appears odd that live plants have become more cost effective than seed if you know where to look.

[peanut]

I have grown both parsleys from seed which have grown fine, but I've also bought the growing herbs from Asda for 50p, split them up and grown them on. You get loads of plants!

[Plot70]

I have in recent years kept an eye on the reduced to clear shelves in supermarkets.
There is sometimes pots of ready sprouted parsley looking slightly scruffy. It is cheaper than buying a packet of seed.
I split the root balls up and plant them up directly in the ground where they go on to flower and produce seed.
The seeds appear to overwinter better on the dried stems outside. You can move the dried stems closer to where you want the seed to set.
Either work around any seedlings or move them with a generous root ball.
They are bi-annual so you need to plant over two years.