I wasn't paying attention...was busy with otherstuff. My parsely has started to flower. So should I get a new plant and not let it bolt or does it matter to the butterflies?
Parsely Question
Actually it is the new growth the females like to lay eggs on. But if you allow it to flower, the plant will not put out the new leaves as easy. So as soon as it does, I pinch it off and drop it at the base of other plants so if there is a cat on them they can find food.
No need to get new plants, it will probably overwinter at least it does in our area anyway. You might dig and carry in one plant to overwinter just in case.
Thanks! This is a plant from last year and it overwintered very well which surprised me!
They get really tall and lanky, at the end of the BST season, cut them back and they will put out from the roots again in the spring.
okay!
Hi there, parsley is a biennial plant and is usually bitter the second year. I scattered a lot of seeds in a big pot. This year I have well over twenty-five plants. Since I start fresh every year I don't mind if they are crowded. Hopefully this will be enough for the cats and leave a bit for me.
Now that's an idea...thanks!
Sheila is correct, here in Fort Worth where we both live, it will come back. We had record snowfall and the temp dipped to 17 degrees and they still came back. I am letting mine bolt just for the heck of it. I have 12 more that I grew from seeds that I will also add this year. Personally I find they prefer the flat leaf to the curly, If I plant both I get more larvae on the flat leaf. But I am sure if you just plant the curly they will eat that also.
I think I may add a few plants or sow seeds every year from now on. I don't cook with parsley and wouldn't think the larvae mind the bitter, but there was so many tall thick stems and no leaves this year.
I ran into a great mark down rack of Rue at HD last month. I bought about 10 plants for a dollar each. I planted some in pots and some in the ground. We had to be out of town so I took the larvae I had inside and placed them on a plant outside and covered it with a castle cube until I came home. Seemed to work very well. I don't like to put the pot in a cage normally but had to make arrangements for keeping them safe and feeding them.
I think I may just start some more seed to be sure.