Well, I finished making my herb bed yesterday, and I'm planting (more) rosemary, sweet basil, oregano, and parsley for my family and dill and fennel for the cats. Problem is I'd like to keep the parsley for the human eaters. :) Is there anything I can do to keep the cats off my parsley?
Thanks!
Joni
Planting herbs
No :o) Unless you plan to keep them in a green house or on screened-in shelves...but even then you might get a gravid female that will find her way in.
~ Cat
Maybe if you planted some of the parsley in a separate less obvious spot it might be saved for the family.
Last year I planted out 10 parsley plants and didn't get one caterpillar, so you never know!
Two questions:
Who eats the parlsey? I planted some last year, but I can't remember why.
If you want the butterflies to find the parsley, should it be interplanted with the flowers that attract them?
Black swallowtails like the parsley, carrots, dill, etc. Many people consider them pests, but I like them!
From what I can tell from limited observation, I think the b. swallowtails like the parsley planted in a large clump in a position so they can ID it. Usually close to the nectar flowers.
My parsley plants were scattered around the garden here and there kind of hidden amongst the taller flowers whereever I could fit them in. They were also planted near 4 o'clocks and I wonder if the 4 o'clock's known insect repellent qualities had some affect on my lack of swallowtail cats...just a thought...