Did this just get too much water? We were dry for months then suddenly got a lot of rain. OR could it be it doesn't like intense heat? One day it was fine, the next it just started looking like this. I think it's pretty much a goner now.
Pooped parsley
Parsley doesn't care much for heat. There's some good information in a recent post by NatureWalker: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/515600/#new
I have Italian flat leaf, and I have to water it at least twice a day in zone 8.(and sometimes a 3rd) It's in direct sun ... out on my deck, so it's plenty hot. It will just lay over, and if I don't keep it watered, it will dry up practically overnight. I have it in pots that are self draining, so it's feet don't stay wet. *smile* Hope this helps. Will try to post a pic. ... Elaine
My Italian Parsley sucks water more than just about anything in my garden. I water the heck out of it.
I swear this one couldn't have had too little water. It got like this after days of rain. I went out yesterday and took it out. I pulled it up some to just cut it and leave the roots in the ground. It looked like it had some rotting happening. (I think) I saw quite a few roly-poly bugs (doodle bugs) Suddenly I don't know the official name for those. lol I don't know if they were a cause or if they were just there for the feast of dead roots. ??
Sow Bugs or Pill Bugs?
Nah, they might damage a seedling; but, I don't think they would hurt a healthy plant. They are scavengers and mostly eat decaying plant matter.
Looks like your plant already flowered and may have started going to seed. I wouldn't expect it to last much longer, anyway. I haven't had much luck prolonging Italian Parsley beyond its normal biennial behavior. My Mother in Law has kept a curly parsley alive for years through rigorus snipping of its blossoms, though.
Pill bugs, that's it. I don't think my plant had flowered yet. It had buds all over it but I don't think any of them made it. Oh well, I think this is normal behavior for this parsley, in my bed at least. I've never been able to keep them very long. I grow them for Black Swallowtail butterflies, but I think I'll just stick to some of their other host plants. So all turns out well since when I pulled it up, hidden behind it was a strong little dill plant. :)
konkreteblond. . .yours did the same thing mine does here as soon as it warms up. . .it bolted (went to seed). All the water in the world won't help it now. (You can let it finish going to seed and get lots of parsley plants in the same place later.) Imagine it's been pretty warm down your way. It's cool here for a bit, but we had a hot spell a couple of weeks ago, and every bit of parsley I had growing, flat-leaved and curly, bolted. Cilantro is another one famous for that.
This happened after several days of sudden 95+ temps. Do you grow rue? I do every year, but it doesn't usually last a whole season either.
Sorry, I don't have any experience w/rue. Perhaps others do. The heat really does a number on everything left in my winter garden. Everyone says we don't really have a spring, at least herb and veggie garden-wise. We seem to get a heat wave every spring early enough and long enough to make them bolt. All of a sudden after a heat wave this year in April, 2 beds of lettuce, several of spinach, kale, etc. all bolted and sure put a stop to our nice salad bowl. What do you do w/rue?
;-janet
Did you see seed heads? I have to agree it bolted.
Barb
No seed heads. It was just beginning to flower so it didn't get there yet. What exactly is "bolt"ing? I grow Rue for Giant Swallowtail butterflies to lay eggs on.
That's a noble reason for planting rue. I looked it up in an herb book and it mentions using the seeds and leaves for a few culinary purposes and to use the leaves "to bathe tired eyes". Same publication, Readers Digest Home Handbook of Herbs has this description, some of which is amusing:
Quoting:
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo both claimed that, owing to rue's metaphysical powers, their eyesight and creative inner vision had been improved. Branches of rue were used to sprinkle holy water before high mass, and it was an important strewing herb and antiplague plant. Robbers who stripped plague victims protected themselves with "Vinegar of the four thieves," rue being an ingredient. Rue is shown on the heraldic Order of the Thistle and inspired the design of the clubs in
in playing cards.
I think I need some for my eyesight and improvement of my creative inner vision, LOL.
There's several description here for bolt:
http://davesgarden.com/terms/go/99/
;-Janet
Wow, I had no idea of the history behind it. lol I could definitely use some of those improvements, but I think I'll pass on eating it and leave it for my GST's. I get at least one batch of them a year. It just doesn't like our heat. I have an internet/gardening friend in Ohio that says it's evergreen for him there.
Thanks for that definition of bolt! I didn't even know we had "garden terms" on here! LOL I really ought to sit down for a while and look around here someday. I usually just run in and read a few threads then run out.