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Parsley is a spicy crop that is popular all over the world. But it is loved not only for its pleasant rich aroma, but also for its great beneficial properties for human health. Therefore, the culture is used in cooking, as well as in medicine and cosmetology. But depending on the variety of parsley, the features of its use may differ. Therefore, when buying, you need to pay attention to this, since the plant can be of two types.
This spicy crop surpasses citrus fruits in vitamin C content.
Description of parsley with a photo
Parsley belongs to the Umbelliferae family. Its close relatives are celery, carrots and dill. Parsley is cultivated everywhere in all regions, as it is not demanding to care for and is not afraid of frost.
What does parsley look like
This spicy plant forms bushes 30-100 cm high (depending on the species). The culture has a spindle-shaped thickened fleshy root of a yellowish-white hue. The plant forms one or more upright, furrowed stems that branch heavily.
The lower leaves are ovate, doubly pinnate. The upper plates on the shoots are trifoliate.
The flowers are small white, yellow or greenish in color, collected in apical umbrella inflorescences. Buds on the plant are formed in June or July (depending on the variety).
Seeds are small, elongated, brown, ripen in September. They remain viable for four years.
Is parsley a vegetable?
The leaves and roots of this spicy culture are used for food. And many people still do not understand parsley is a vegetable or herb. And often there are disputes about this in various forums of gardeners.
Parsley is a leaf vegetable. And when growing it to obtain a high-quality crop, it is recommended to remove flower stalks on the plant in a timely manner.
Is there a perennial parsley
This culture is biennial. In the first year after planting, it forms a root and intensively grows foliage. And in the second season, the plant forms flower stalks and forms seeds. After maturation, they crumble to the ground and germinate, so this culture can be considered partly perennial.
Root varieties are grown not for greens, but for bitter fruits.
What is parsley
Parsley is of two types: leaf and root. In the first case, the plant directs forces to the formation of the aerial part. In the leaf species, the roots are thin, branched, having no nutritional value. In such parsley, from 20 to 100 leaves are formed. It, in turn, is subdivided into two subspecies: ordinary, curly. In the first, the leaves have a flat surface, serrated, and in the second, the segments of the plates are corrugated.
In the root species, the underground part of the plant is of nutritional value. It is used as an additive to dishes, as well as for medicinal purposes. The root crop of this type of culture is fleshy, large, weighing 100-150 g. The underground part has a white pulp.
A strongly pronounced spicy aroma is present in the leaf and root species.
The best varieties of parsley for greens
Leaf parsley is very popular with gardeners. The crop of this crop ripens even in regions with risky farming. But among the whole variety of varieties of perennial leaf parsley, there are species that stand out significantly from the rest.
Aster
The curly look is obtained thanks to the efforts of Czech breeders. The variety is characterized by a raised leaf rosette. The plates of parsley Astra (Etroselinum crispum Astra) are large, tender, strongly corrugated. The root is hard, not suitable for food. The crop ripens in 80-90 days, and with winter planting after 5-6 months. This variety is considered universal, ideal for growing in greenhouses and hotbeds. The yield is 5 kg per 1 square. m.
Astra grows green mass very quickly after cutting
Carnival
According to the reviews of gardeners, this is one of the best varieties of leaf parsley. Carnival (Karnaval) has an early ripening period. This species is characterized by lush bushes. The plates at the Carnival are dark green in color with a smooth surface. The first crop ripens three months after germination. Forms leaves from 40 to 100 pieces.
Carnival is highly resistant to fungal diseases
Breeze
Early maturing variety of curly parsley. The leaves of the Briz (Briz) are strongly corrugated, green, shiny. The first harvest ripens in 80 days. Four cuttings of leaves can be carried out per season. The height of the bushes reaches 75 cm. The yield of the variety is 2,5 kg per 1 sq. m. The view is ideal for preparing marinades and pickles.
The breeze is valued for its high content of ascorbic acid.
Gloria
Leaf type of early ripening. The height of the bushes at Gloria (Gloria) reaches 25-40 cm. The first crop can be cut in 60-65 days. The variety is characterized by dark green delicate leaves, the spicy aroma of which is pronounced. Productivity – 1,7 kg per 1 square. m.
Gloria tolerates long-term fresh storage well.
Titanium
A variety of Dutch selection, which is characterized by high productivity. Characterized by early maturation. The first cut of the crop can be carried out 70 days after emergence. The bushes of Titanium (Bejo) are upright, the leaves are dark green, large, with a delicate spicy taste.
The green of Titan retains its hue even after processing.
Varieties of root parsley with photos and descriptions
Root parsley is recommended to be grown in fertile loose soil. Therefore, to get a good harvest, you need to prepare the bed in advance and apply organic fertilizers. But productivity depends not only on soil fertility and care. Therefore, you should pay attention to the most productive root types of parsley, the photos with the names of which are presented below.
Sugar
Early maturing variety. The leaves are triangular, the flowers are greenish-yellow. The length of the root crop reaches 30 cm, and the diameter is about 4 cm. The yield of the Saharnaya variety is 3,5 kg. Root crops ripen in 3-3,5 months. Forms strong, lush, sprawling bushes.
Parsley Sugar forms up to 40 shoots in a rosette
Berlin
This root crop is ideal for making marinades and pickles, which is why many gardeners prefer it. The crop ripens in 140-150 days from the moment of seed germination. The roots of Berlin parsley have the shape of a regular cone. Their average weight varies between 50-110 g. The root grows to a length of about 20-30 cm and reaches a diameter of 4-5 cm.
Berlinskaya is resistant to cracking and branching
Berlinia late ripening
A variety of German selection, characterized by juicy root crops, the length of which reaches 20 cm. The pulp is white in color, has a pleasant taste and aroma. The growing season of Berlinia (Berlinia) is 90-110 days. The variety is suitable for fresh consumption, freezing and drying. The average weight of root crops is about 70 g.
Berlinia is resistant to shooting
Alba
Late-ripening variety of root parsley. Harvest ripens in 3-4 months. Root crops in Alba are large, up to 25 cm long and weighing 220-300 g. The leaf rosette is small, consists of 12 shoots. Green Alba (Alba) has a high content of ascorbic acid and carotene. The pulp is juicy, white, fragrant, with a pleasant spicy taste. The main advantage of parsley of this variety is that it does not branch.
Alba pulp does not darken during processing
The best varieties of parsley for the Moscow region
The temperate continental climate of the Moscow region is perfect for growing leaf and root parsley. Therefore, given the basic requirements of the culture, any novice gardener can achieve high yields.
Highly productive varieties of parsley with a photo for the Moscow region:
- Italian giant (Italianskiy gigant). Differs in large green leaves with a brilliant surface. The yield of the variety is 2 kg per season. Forms from 40 to 60 shoots in a rosette.
- Bogatyr. A leafy look that is ideal for getting fragrant greens. The growing season is 60-65 days. Suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground.
- Hamburg (Hamburg). Hybrid variety of root parsley. Suitable for long term storage. Forms cone-shaped fruits, characterized by juicy white pulp with a pleasant taste and aroma.
early varieties of parsley
When choosing a crop variety, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of each region. For cultivation in the central and northern regions, it is recommended to choose early species. In this case, the harvest will ripen long before the onset of cold weather.
The best early varieties of parsley for open and closed ground:
- Curly (Petroselinum crispum). Vegetation period is 50-70 days. The variety is distinguished by beautiful curly leaves, which increases the decorativeness of the bushes. It has a mild spicy aroma.
- Beads. An early maturing leaf variety with a raised rosette, the height of which is 35-40 cm. The growing season is 55-60 days. The leaves are medium in size, green, with a delicate aroma.
- Chastushka. It is characterized by lush spreading bushes, the height of which reaches 40 cm. The first crop can be harvested after 57-60 days from the moment the first shoots appear. The rosette consists of 40 shoots.
- Konika. Vegetation period is 122-130 days. Root crops have the shape of a triangle. They grow up to 25 cm and reach a mass of 95 g. Productivity per 1 sq. m. – 2,3 kg.
- Good morning. Harvest ripens in 125-130 days. Root crops are long, gray-white in color, weighing 60-100 g. The aroma is moderate, the taste is pleasant.
Conclusion
Many varieties of parsley, despite being drought-resistant, need regular watering. This makes it possible to speed up the process of regrowth of greenery after cutting. In the case of root species, it is also important to regularly loosen the soil between plantings so that the root has the correct shape and does not branch.
