You can start growing herbs in pots as soon as you remove the old, dead leaves from the plant. The best thing you can do is to take all of the dried, crumbled herb remnants and mix them together with a quart of water. Let it soak for about two hours before you place it in a plastic baggy container for later use. You will want to water your new herb mixture only once or twice a week, taking care not to over-water. You will also want to check the soil on a regular basis to make sure that it is receiving adequate moisture.
Parsley seeds are very small, so be prepared to handle the plant properly once it is transplanted into your garden. Parsley seeds are known for being quite fragile. When you transplant a seed from a fresh plant into a larger container, it can easily break, so you will need to use some strong pots that have been heat-treated to make them withstand the change of environment. There are also specially designed containers that are made to house seeds during the germination process.
Some of the most popular and useful types of pots are ones that are made from metal and glass. These pots are available in many sizes and can easily be used for growing most types of herb. They are available in both green and yellow shades, and are an excellent choice if you are growing herbs for a variety of uses in your kitchen. Metal pots are very heat tolerant and are generally used by people who are growing more expensive plants. Glass is a good choice for growing aromatic and culinary herbs, and while it does require a fair amount of sunlight, it is very heat tolerant and remains cool to the touch.
Many varieties of herb prefer a low water supply, but if you are growing parsley for this reason, you will want to choose pots that have holes in the bottom. This allows the roots to drain, minimizing the chances of leaf or stem damage. Parsley is susceptible to a particular type of leaf blight, or “root rot”, which is actually the wilting of the herb’s roots. To prevent this, keep the plants moistened and keep their watering times short.
Most gardeners who are growing a single plant in a large pot will tend to plant more cuttings instead. If you have more than one plant to tend, then you may want to consider planting cuttings instead. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the pot the fewer cuttings you should include. Keep in mind that cutting your herb’s roots does reduce the number of germinating seedlings, but you should try to keep as many of the larger shoot roots intact as possible.
For a single plant, you will want to dig a hole that is three inches deep and four inches wide. Keep in mind that the deeper you dig the larger the roots you will need to support. In order to encourage air circulation around your seedlings, you can place them upside down in a glass jar with a watertight lid. The ideal situation would be to plant parsley seeds about a foot deep, and then keep the roots damp until you are ready to transplant the whole plant.
You will need about a foot of space between each plant, as well as a thin line of about six to eight inches. Space is definitely needed, as it is important for the herb to have room to grow and mature. Parsley will continue to grow and germinate until it reaches its full potential, approximately a year after planting. Once your herb starts to mature it should be removed from the garden and kept in a refrigerator or other cold storage area. Remember, fresh herbs only grow until they are harvested, so replanting a mature herb is essential.