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colin79ie Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 29 Location: NW
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject: Parsley very small and slow on windowsill |
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Hi,
I am growing parsley in a pot on my kitchen windowsill. However, it is vwery slow to grow and the leaves are too small to use and they die off before they grow big. Is my pot too small, should I feed the plant? Any help appreciated.
Also, I have thyme growing in a pot also. It is very leggy/stringy and doesn't seem to be getting any strength. It's planted in bark compost as that's all I had handy at the time. |
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walltoall Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 706 Location: Thurrock RM15 via Dungarvan and the Banner County
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: growing parsley in the window |
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Parsley has a long tap root and so you need a very tall slender pot. It also likes sun and is very finicky about how and when it is watered. Whaatever you do don't 'feed' it. This is WINTER. There's a very good article at
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4450807_grow-parsley-indoors.html?cr=1
I've never successfully grown parsley indoors myself but I have flat-leaf in the garden as a 'weed'. Perpetual supply all the year round. No maintenance whatever. _________________ Retired trouble-maker. twitters @walltoall and dreams of being promoted to Pedunculate Oaker. |
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Sive Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 1731 Location: Co.Wexford
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with walltowall about the flat-leaved parsley. It has a lovely flavour and you can add it to a salad and is easier to eat uncooked somehow......not as tough as the curly-leaved variety. |
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dinahdabble Rank attained: Rowan Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 128 Location: Torr
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if it is getting enough light? The discription of the Thyme plant suggests it 's suffering from lack of light. Windowsills can be deceptive. The sun may seem to come streaming in through a window, but this only happens for a short time each day. If there isn't a sunnyer (or more consistantly bright) windowsill, and you can't plant outside, I've found that standing mirrors at each end of the windowsill (or even lain flat upon it) can help. It can look quite good if you have a flare for arrangements.
I'm really not sure about the compost. Someone who is familiar with bark compost will advise you much better. I do know that good drainage is very important, and if the compost is waterlogged you will have to transplant into a pot with more grit in the bottom. Similarly, if the pot dries out very quickly, or you can see the roots through the holes in the bottom, you need a bigger pot. Parsley has to be transplanted very carfully so as not to damage it's roots. Good luck anyway. |
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walltoall Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 706 Location: Thurrock RM15 via Dungarvan and the Banner County
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:27 am Post subject: parsley and thyme |
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"bark compost" would be useless by definition for growing thyme. Thyme likes a well-drained loam, moisture retentive, good sun and minimal watering. "Bark compost" could be anything., but assuming it is pine bark it would be low ph. and not particularly high in nutrients. PARSLEY grows best in the sort of soil you find under a bank of nettles, which you can usually find for nothing on the side of the road and which it is illegal to 'take' as it constitutes larceny from either the owner of the adjacent field of your local authority. If you need retail therapy or you dwell on the highest moral ground, you can BUY the same soil from your garden centre as "John Innes No.2"
Now you have not mentioned sage and rosemary? If you are anywhere near Scarborough there is a Fair ..............
PS. I take it your window is south-facing? There is a difference between light and sunlight and Dinahdabble has touched on it with the reference to the mirrors _________________ Retired trouble-maker. twitters @walltoall and dreams of being promoted to Pedunculate Oaker.
Last edited by walltoall on Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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michael brenock Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 1275 Location: cork
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Parsley may be suffering from an attack of aphids, check underleaf or from Nitrogen/iron deficiency. it likes a medium loam type soil compost, free draining but must have nutrients, repot into fresh compost if growing in a peat compost. Tree bark is not a good growing medium, alright for mulching but robs the soil of Nitrogen as it decomposes. Thyme likes a sandy gravelly free draining soil usually not the type associated with nettles(good for parsley).
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired) |
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walltoall Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 706 Location: Thurrock RM15 via Dungarvan and the Banner County
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: Gabh mo lethscéal |
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Michael,
I bow to your opinion with respect. 'Twere my fault as usual. I wrote 'thyme' where I intented to write 'parsley'. But so long as we're all helping sure everybody is a winner.
Shaun _________________ Retired trouble-maker. twitters @walltoall and dreams of being promoted to Pedunculate Oaker. |
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Redfox Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 34 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with the gents, parsley is hard to cultivate. I usually buy a pot in the supermarket and split it. Best way I found is to take a few plants and wash the soil from the roots under running water. This way you don't damage the roots. If you just pull them apart you will tear a lot of hair roots from the root stem. Plant the single plants into individual pots, keep moist and in as much light as you can. I keep them indoors until February and then transfer them into a cold frame. I plant about 20 plants in my allotment between the carrots this helps to prevent carrot root fly. Also when you have a lot, harvest, wash and chop it and then freeze for easy use out of the deep freezer during the winter. I do this with chives as well. |
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walltoall Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 706 Location: Thurrock RM15 via Dungarvan and the Banner County
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 4:25 pm Post subject: parsley sage rosemary and thyme |
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Hey Redfox,
Welcome to this mad forum where one can teach and learn. That is a brilliant bit of advice and I'm up for trying it. Running the soil off under a water stream is imaginative and inventive and I thank you for sharing.
SW _________________ Retired trouble-maker. twitters @walltoall and dreams of being promoted to Pedunculate Oaker. |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Reading the blurb on a packet of seed of Yerevan Parsley(Seed Savers), I saw that germination can take up to six weeks. It is years since I grew parsley from seed, and it was slow, but I remember hearing from somewhere that soaking the seed for 24 hours in urine speeds germination.
So I now have one set of modules with a 'P' on the label and one without, as a control. We shall see! |
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davidk Rank attained: Rowan Tree


Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 114 Location: Midlands
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:17 am Post subject: |
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will keep an eye out for the update on this. |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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never mind what it says on the packet, Put the packet of seed in the fridge overnight, Then sow seed on top of compost and lightly cover with sand or sieved compost leave on windowsill covered with clingfilm until germination and do not let the compost dry out ie do not leave it in direct sunlight i have been germinating seed every 3 weeks this way no problem approx 12 to 14 days to germinate. |
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My Potatoes Rank attained: Pedunculate oak tree

Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Cork
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Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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My Yerevan took about four weeks. |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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My Yerevan showed a few leaves last week, about four weeks after planting. So I guess it's a case of "To pee or not to pee; there's no difference". |
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My Potatoes Rank attained: Pedunculate oak tree

Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Cork
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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I gave my yerevan a feed of seaweed extract and it's finally taking off. |
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