Parsley inside at this time of year?

So I just got back from three week's stay in hospital due to severe illness, and while I'm still weak, I now feel well enough to be a bit bored. So, as you do, I decided to sort out my seed packets and make a new list so I know exactly what I have once sowing season rolls around again...

What I have, among other things, is four packets of parsley seed. I guess I overbought at some point? ^^;;;

I kinda want to stick some of them in the propagator and grow some fresh parsley for christmas (or the new year, whichever they're ready for), but I don't have any UV bulbs or whatever extra lighting you use to boost plants when it's dark.

So my question is this - is winter windowsill natural light enough to get little baby parsleys going? Or should I just save time and effort and not bother?

 

No experience, personally; just wanted to say, glad you are back on the mend!

If you have four packets of seed, why not give it a try? My only concern would be, its alright putting them on a sunny windowsil, but remember to move them away from that when you draw your curtains so they are not trapped next to a (potentially) freezing window.

I'm sure others (with experience) will give you a fuller answer

 

They're gonna struggle at this time of year with the low light. Trouble is here, the south facing windows are also near the fire, so its warm enough for the plants to grow but they get very leggy reaching for what little sun there is.

 

I agree with Zigs

They are not a easy seed to get growing , best to soak the seeds in warm/hot water for a hour or two , best time to sow is late feb early March , treat yourself to a pot from the supermarket, otherwise I think you will just be looking at a pot with nothing growing in it at this time of year.

Glad you are feeling better .

Spruce

 

It grows for the good but not for the wicked.

Or is that the wicked but not for the good?? Duh.

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/p.html

Ah.

 

So does it grow for you :treesmiley:

Spruce

 

It can never make its mind up.

 

Ah, alright. I guess I just thought I could use the opportunity to get rid of some of that excess seed ^^;; I suppose that goes for anything else under the same conditions too?

Thankyou for your advice, everyone, and thankyou for your well-wishes!

 

Personally, I'd give it a go. Parsley is very slow to get started. If you sow it now I'd expect it to be late January before you see anything happen, and by then we'll be past winter solstice and on our way to longer daylight hours anyway. Just keep it cool once its germinated so that it doesn't grow weak.

 

I wouldnt personally bother if I were you. Parsley is very easy to grow in pots however, provided you give it enough root room as it likes moisture. So make sure it has enough space for its long taproot.

Indoors however it will always get rather leggy and you will never get the moisture balance right. And the flavour will be seriously diminished.

But think ahead for next year. Sow some seeds in Spring and another set in late-summer/early autumn to plant out for winter use. Pop the Spring sown ones in Part Shade which will be better to conserve moisture over summer months and the Autumn planted ones in a sunny area to give them the most of the little light and heat we get through winter so you can keep cropping from them.

They are very easy to keep getting a crop from through the winter months especially if you can give them a bit of protection. This is why they are a good succession planting herb.

If your short on space, just sow them into modules/plugs late-summer and then in Autumn set them out inbetween any perennials, shrubs any available space in a sunny spot and you will be able to crop from them through winter. And the added bonus of plugging in gaps left by herbaceous plants is that it stops anything digging inbetween them, from Cats for example, so gives a bit of soil protection at the same time as providing food.

Also aswell as giving a bit of greenery through the winter months and providing some seasoning, they also make a good back drop for any autumn and winter flowering bulbs.

 

Parsley in my grow light box from seeds sown on 27/12/12. The tallest seedlings in the middle are flat leaf parsley and curly parsley is on the right (seedlings on the left are par-cel). They will go into a cooler grow light box as soon as I start using my other lights in the greenhouse.

It may be too early, but I'll be sowing stuff like this every few weeks to check out when the best times are.

 

There was loads as part of Bristol City Council's bedding schemes last summer. Sheaves of wonderful green herby stuff.

 

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So my question is this - is winter windowsill natural light enough to get little baby parsleys going? Or should I just save time and effort and not bother?[/quote]

I hope you are feeling better.

Its very rare I feel "qualified" to answer rather than ask questions on this site but I can safely say I have myself grown parsley on the window sill at this time of year, and watched it thrive throughout winter! With natural light from a south-facing window, and sufficient heat, and provided you water them regularly (often morning and late afternoon, but as the seedlings develop some slots can be missed to a. avoid saturation and b. promote extra short-term growth) then there is no reason not to give it a go. There is only way to find out whether it will work out, so good luck!

 

Last autumn I had quite a few parsleys growing outside, both curly and broadleaf. I love parsley and did not want to be without, so I brought in some of the plants and put them on the windowsill. The ones outside I (mostly) covered at night when it was freezing.
Now the ones outside are fine, looking strong and doing well, while those inside are just about surviving.
Could I have left the lot outside? Is parsley winter hardy, at least in Somerset?
Annemieke Wigmore, Somerset UK: http://thoughtforfood-aw.blogspot.com