Years ago I always grew parsley from seed every year - that was when I was growing herbs for sale. More recently I've just been buying a pot from the supermarket each spring.
Usually Parsley grown in one year dies back with the frosts over winter and then comes back a little in Spring before running to seed.
It's been so mild this winter that my parsley is still looking green and healthy and very usable.
It was way back in May last year when I bought this sad looking pot of parsley from Aldi at half price of 39p. Supermarket parsley in a pot is always dozens of seedlings rather than just one plant. I stood the pot in water for a while, divided into three and potted up two thirds putting the other third in the garden with that frame over to protect from neighbours cat digging it up. Poor cat was killed on the road not long after this but I didn't bother to move the framework.
 |
| 39p pot of sad parsley! |
I was able to cut plenty to use for potato salad last week - very useful.
According to the book "The Garden Apothecary" there are other uses for parsley apart from the well known. The Romans used it as a breath freshener after a meal rather than in the meal and it was grown as a fodder for horses and only became a culinary herb in the Middle Ages.
The leaves of parsley laid to the eyes that are inflamed with heat, or swollen, doth much help them, if it be used with bread or meal and being fried with butter, and applied to woman's breasts that are hard through the curdling of their milk, it abates the hardness quickly, and also takes away black and blue marks coming of bruises or falls.
I seem to remember that years ago it was just used as a garnish on a plate - never eaten. Seems odd to say that now.
Back Tomorrow
I remember years ago making "parsley honey". It was a lot of faff and was really just syrup. Never bothered to do it again!
ReplyDeleteTomorrows post!!
DeleteParsley - as a flavour - has never been one I liked. My mother used to insist on making a parsley sauce to throw over white boiled fish (suspect this may be why - I need 'therapy' over childhood meals 😁) I grow it for the hoverflies - with it being a biennial, the second year throws up flowers and the hovers absolutely love them
ReplyDeleteI buy supermarket herbs and pot them up. I've never persuaded parsley seeds to germinate.
ReplyDeleteI always eat fresh parsley after eating garlic, it help clear the taste.
ReplyDeleteWe always had parsley as a garnish and I would be told off for eating it! Now of course I enjoy eating it as part of a dish. Catriona
ReplyDelete