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.
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| 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.
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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 don't think my mum ever used a herb in her cooking - it was very plain!
DeleteI buy supermarket herbs and pot them up. I've never persuaded parsley seeds to germinate.
ReplyDeleteThey were always difficult to get going. I used to use hot water on them to get started
DeleteI always eat fresh parsley after eating garlic, it help clear the taste.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good tip
DeleteWe 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
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised how long it's lasted this time in the garden
DeleteI really should use more fresh herbs
ReplyDeleteThe little pots aren't very available in our supermarkets.
They are in most supermarkets here now. I shall need to buy this years pot soon
DeleteYou know more than I do about herbs. I don't grow any.
ReplyDeleteI grew and sold pots of herbs for most of the smallholding years, they were handy to sell in spring
DeleteWeirdly parsley is one of the few herbs that I've never been successful in growing myself. Rather than faffing about with seeds again, I'm going to get an Aldi pot of it this weekend and have another go. I'm brilliant with chives and thyme though. I think the only time that parsley was eaten regularly as a foodstuff was during the rationing war years, it was really pushed as a good form of vitamin C.
ReplyDeleteThere were lots that seeded themselves which was always handy. It's thyme that I could never keep going for more than a year
DeleteI think that's what I should do. I've never been able to grow parsley all that well.
ReplyDeleteParsley is easy done this way and Basil with cuttings that root in water is my other easy trick
DeleteParsley is very meh to me. It doesn't add much to a dish. Perhaps I am not using enough. My oregano is taking off.
ReplyDeleteI love lots of finely chopped parsley in a potato salad
DeleteYour parsley plant looks terrific. I use parsley in lots of things just by adding a scoop. Last night I made spaghetti sauce with pork sausages, peppers, onions, oregano, garlic and parsley. It simmered all day and will be a good meal tonight too. I'm trying out Kale noodles as well and they are pretty good.
ReplyDeleteVery soon , when our new greenhouse is up , I’ll be able to go full steam ahead with veg and herb growing. That parsley looks amazing .
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I don't often use parsley in my cooking, but I love its vibrant colour. X
ReplyDelete