parsley

One of my favorite herbs to grow in the garden is parsley. Most people think of parsley as the useless garnish on the plate that gets thrown out after the meal is done. Why this may be true, parsley is a nice addition to any garden that adds beauty, fragrance, and flavor for certain dishes. If you plant parsley regularly in your garden you know there will be enough to share even with the beneficial bugs! I plant new parsley each year even though you can harvest and let it grow a second year. The second year growth will not have as much flavor but it will produce seeds that you can keep for up to three years and plant on your own the following years. Parsley is more than just a garnish! It contains high levels of flavonoids which makes it a powerful anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Parsley can be used in soups, stews and casseroles. It has such a rich green color and strong aroma when harvested it is a no wonder it is heathy for you. Because it is in the same family as carrots and celery it can grow well into the fall season even with cooler temperatures. Planting just one plant in well drained moist soil will yield an ample supply of parsley that can be used fresh, dried, or frozen for future use. I even share some of my parsley with the caterpillars that eventually become pollinating butterflies. Why not, there is so much of it. I enjoyed using it fresh throughout the garden season making sure to harvest it when there were at least three branches on one stem. In past years I was cutting just the top part to use as a garnish and now know that if you use it for…