PARSLEY AT ALL SEASONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 3 August 1929, Page 13

PARSLEY AT ALL SEASONS

Good, fresh parsley is in demand at all seasons, and where proper precautions are taken there should he little difficulty in meeting lids demand from the home garden. Unfortunately, through lack of foresight, a very large number of amateurs and also profes* sional gardeners experience a real difficulty in always having a good supply to,draw upon. In most instances it is a case of ,six months of plenty, followed by six months of famine, the latter period being at a time when, owing to this laxity on the part of so many growers, 'first-class sprays of parsley are difficult to obtain. In low-lying, damp situations protection of some kind should always he provided for parsley in the winter, it being very noticeable that where the soil is continually soddened even the most promising-looking plants die off during very cold weather. To meet a daily demand it is of little use depending upon any single sowing. but. rather make a point of making at least three sowings. The first should in New Zealand be on a warm spot early in August, the next early in December, followed by a final sowing about the middle of February.

Just a pinch of seed will be ample for each sowing, yet. it is important this seed be distributed very sparingly in the soil, as over-crowding is directly responsible for weak shoots and small sprays, and also for premature running to seed. The plants bear transplanting quite well—a fact which should he borne in mind if the row is at all patchy, or m places. New seed should he purchased each year, as this, soon loses its germinating power. Sow in very shallow drills, and, after covering with line soil, press this very Jinn with the boot or the back of a spade. Thin out when the plants are large enough to handle, allowing those left to form the bed at least .six or eight inches —a foot will be none too much if extra large sprays are wanted. Give',plenty of water (luring dry weather, also a few soakings with liquid manure, more especially where growth is backward, and the roots run out in a very fertile state. For the last sowing a dry border should always he selected, or. failing this, just a narrow row at the foot of a north wall. Tf the soil is heavy, add plenty of ashes to the strip to ensure drainage. From this last sowing plants may he selected for garden lights, temporary frames, or even well-drained pots or boxes. Also as a source of supply during open winter weather, dibble a few dozen of the strongest plants on well-manured soil, protected from cutting wind. Such a. bed may easily he covered during the most wintry weather, leaving tile plants growing near the wall for use when snow on the ground makes it more difficult to locate rows or beds in the open. (Jive plenty of soot during the growing period, and always show discrimination in gathering the sprays.