Kitchen Garden Forum

I recently planted parsley seeds and they are now ready for planting on, should I plant them 1 seedling to a pot or a couple to a pot to give a better bunch

Depends on the size of the pot, of course, but I would put three seedlings into each pot at least, because throughout the season you will be able to nip pieces of parsley off and they will be replaced with other shoots. If you only had one plant in each pot, you would have to go from pot to pot to pot to get a good harvest.

If you have a garden, plant lots of seedlings outside (with protection at the moment), because parsley prefers outside temperatures rather than a summer-warm greenhouse.

Hi Gerry,

I normally use those really small pots, about 1.5 inch diameter that sit in shuttle trays. I put a pinch of seed in each pot (about 10 pots each of curly & flat leaf), then once they've grown on and the weather has warmed, I plant the whole pot full out. I use them to edge a raised bed. I use lots of parsley in cooking, so towards the end of the year, I cut loads of it off, chop it all and stuff it straight into freezer bags & freeze. It doesn't freeze into one big lump (just bash the bag a bit if it does), it keeps its colour and I have a supply of 'fresh' parsley through the winter then. Also, no pricking out, so saves a bit of effort.
Best wishes,
Vivien

Gerry

May not be relevant to your potting-on, but here's what I do with parsley - sounds rough/cruel but it works:

I sow Italian flat-leaf parsley about three times a year - March, June and August. I sow it thin to medium in a half seed tray. I then keep it in the tray until it is about 2 to 3 inches high. Then I simply take the whole lot out of the tray and pull the, by now, rooty mass apart into clumps and close plant (2 to 3 inches apart) in the polytunnel. It works - we are never without fresh parley even on the coldest day.

If you don't fancy this, try Vivienz's method which sounds very sensible.

Alan