If you have ever come across small herb pots at a grocery store or bought a bundle of freshly cut parsley for your cooking, you may have wondered whether it is possible to grow more of these herbs. Fortunately, we have the solution for you.
Can I grow parsley from store-bought bunches? Store-bought parsley with soil and roots can absolutely be used to grow lots more! Provided the plant is healthy, there is no reason why you can’t divide and propagate it for more. You can also re-growing parsley bunches, but this method is more difficult and the success rate can be low.
Horticulture can be a daunting subject, especially when it comes to starting new plants all by yourself, but with our guide, you can be sure you have all the bases covered.
Propagating Parsley From the Grocery Store
You can easily turn buying parsley from the supermarket into a one-time deal simply by propagating plants by dividing or encouraging root growth on cuttings.
What To Look For
The best seeds, seedlings, or food plants you can ever buy are those that are organic. This is because they are simply healthier for you with far fewer chemicals and alterations to nature.Â
Always choose plants that have a deep green color, and are not yellowing, spotted, or discolored in any way. Wilted leaves are also a sign of distress, and these plants are best left at the supermarket.
Parsley doesn’t do as well when propagated from cuttings, so look out for plants in pots with soil and not pre-cut herbs.
Growing Parsley From Plants With Roots
To grow parsley from store-bought plants, follow these steps;
- Water your plant, and let it stand in indirect sunlight for 24 hours so that the plant can recover.
- The next day, prepare one or two containers of potting mix, or make your own hydroponic growing setup with these baskets and old glass jars.
- Now, water the parsley again, and then remove the root mass from the pot.
- Gently break the root mass in half or into thirds, and then redistribute them into your growing mediums.
- Now water your plants if using soil, place them into a sunny (but not scorching) position, and wait for them to grow. If you are using a hydroponic setup, add organic liquid plant food to the water.
How To Grow Parsley From Store-Bought Bunches
If you can only find cut parsley and want to try rooting it, here is a guide on how to grow this herb from cuttings:
- Trim the bottom leaves of stalks, and cut off the last half inch of the stalk at a 45-degree angle.Â
- Place cuttings into a container, like a glass jar, filled with water. (You can add a growth solution, aspirin, honey, or aloe vera to the water for improved rooting.)
- Place the jar in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
- Cuttings should begin to grow roots within a week or two.
Alternatively, you can place your prepared cuttings into containers filled with organic potting soil instead of water.
Once your cuttings have good root growth, you can place them into pots or into the garden.
Growing Parsley From Cuttings: Success Rate
The success rate of growing parsley from cuttings is hard to estimate, but it may be as low as only 5%. It is certainly much lower than if dividing and growing parsley from whole plants with roots.
When To Transplant Newly Rooted Parsley Plants
Newly rooted parsley can be transplanted when roots are 2 or 3 inches long and there are multiple roots on each cutting. If the cuttings were rooted in soil, the herb will be ready to transplant when the number of leaves has doubled.
Tips for Getting Parsley Cuttings To Root
There are many advocates for the use of aloe vera as a natural rooting gel. These succulents are naturally adapted to regrow, and the internal gel can act like a nutrient boost for cuttings.
Aspirin, honey, and vodka have all been reported to work for aiding root growth in cuttings but take it all with a grain of salt, and trial these before making up your own mind.
Growing Parsley in Pots: What To Know
Parsley does very well in pots, preferably at least half a gallon in volume with a high-quality, organic potting mix. Remember that small pots dry out fast and that parsley doesn’t really like intense sun for the whole day.
Growing Parsley Indoors: What To Know
Having a healthy, bushy parsley plant indoors can be a real treat, especially for the colder months. The number one condition for indoor herbs is the availability of sunlight. Plants that do not receive a minimum of six hours of direct light will be scraggly and unhealthy.
Related Questions:
Is It Better To Propagate Herbs in Water or Soil?
There are mixed opinions on this, and it really depends on the plant also. Parsley is best propagated from seed or by dividing established plants.
Does Parsley Grow Well From Seed?
Parsley can be slow to germinate, often taking up to three weeks, and not every seed you sow will be viable. Because of this, it is recommended to sow two or three seeds per hole instead of just one and not to give up too soon. Soaking the seeds overnight often helps to speed germination.
Does Parsley Grow Back Every Year?
Parsley is a biennial and can survive winter if temperatures are not below freezing for extended periods. If left to mature in the garden, parsley often will self-seed for a surprise volunteer crop. However, for best results, you should plant new seeds every year.
Conclusion
Generally, all gardeners have their favorite way of doing things, and the more you plant, the more you will find your own preferred techniques and be comfortable and confident in your propagation methods.
Cuttings and plants that do not grow are sometimes just part of the game, and the best thing to do is try again and enjoy success when it comes.