Parsley and Coriander hints sought

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Parsley and Coriander hints sought

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earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 5:46 pm Post subject: Parsley and Coriander hints sought

My crops of both are doing so well this year (such a joy not having to buy them from you know where!), I'd like to keep them going as long as possible.

I'm sure I've read or heard that constant cropping is the best way to stop both from bolting. The parsley is showing no signs, but I've just noticed a couple of very tall coriander plants.

Any other tips most welcome.

I've grown them in rows and blocks this year and still have one row of coriander under a plastic cloche (open both ends) as an experiment. It seems to be much bushier than the ones in the open.

EV

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 6:32 pm Post subject:
I've never had much luck with coriander, but I think you need the kind that is sold for growing leaves if you want to keep harvesting greenery from the plants, otherwise they go to seed very quickly. Parsley doesn't usually bolt until the second year in my experience, but always does go to seed in year 2.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 8:34 pm Post subject:

As coriander is an annual it will try to produce seed in the first year as it doesn't produce a storage organ. Pick it as hard as you can and freeze it in ice cubes for use in sauces in the winter, and sow little and often.

If you've got a small patch of ground (4ft x 4ft say) you can give over to parsley then sow thinly in half of it this year and the other half next year, let half the plants seed each year, a little judicious thinning each spring and you should never need to buy parsley seed again.

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 8:42 pm Post subject:

Tristan wrote:

I guess it's not to late to do another sowing now?

I hadn't realised parsley would self seed

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 8:47 pm Post subject:

earthyvirgo wrote:

I guess it's not to late to do another sowing now?

I hadn't realised parsley would self seed

I often sow parsley into july for overwintering under cover but my home patch has been going for 3 years now without resowing. The seeds aren't usually ripe until July anyway so it's just following the plant's lead.

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 8:51 pm Post subject:

Tristan wrote:

earthyvirgo wrote:

I guess it's not to late to do another sowing now?

I hadn't realised parsley would self seed

Sounds good.

I've never had such successful germination with parsley but this lot has just romped away (flat and curly leaved).

I need to replace a few of my tired old cheapo cloches, and I've seen some nice looking one's on Harrods Horticultural website that look like they'd be ideal for an overwintering job.

Can't beat fresh herbs.

EV

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 11 9:38 pm Post subject:
You can flavour things with coriander seed as well as leaf. We just let it all flower and seed - very pretty too.

murdrobe

Joined: 03 Jun 2010
Posts: 189
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 11 6:28 am Post subject:
if your corriander goes to seed, the fresh green seeds are an amazing taste, im just not sure how to use them well...

Katieowl

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 11 8:39 am Post subject:

earthyvirgo wrote:

I've never had such successful germination with parsley but this lot has just romped away (flat and curly leaved).

Buy a growing herb pot of parsley from THAT PLACE and split the pot and replant the seedlings. They might be a bit leggy for a while but they should take. We had a nice row from doing this last year. I also got a great big pot of really amazing mint going by the same method, which was suggested to me by the lady that did the forage walks we went on.

Kate

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45421
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 11 10:28 am Post subject:

Tristan wrote:

Little and often is the key, all corianders bolt, even the "specially for leaf" ones. The best (in terms of bolting) is autumn sown (september) which you can crop from April onwards (round here anyway)

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 11 12:37 pm Post subject:
Agree with Tahir's post, that was exactly what I was going to say. They grow best in cool temps. Except I pick mine all through the winter!

cqueenie

Joined: 26 Jul 2009
Posts: 707
Location: Shetland

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 11 9:58 am Post subject:
Parsley freezes brilliantly too! Chop it up then just take out freezer and add it as needed.

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