Don’t discard your boots! They make a good container for growing parsley on your balcony or doorstep.

Parsley is very easy to grow and having it in an easily accessible location makes it easy to grab a few sprigs to add flavour to your cooking or appearance to a presentation.

There are two kinds of parsley. The curly leaf parsley texture is good in a salad with a mild flavour. Flat leaf or Italian has a stronger flavour, making it a chef’s choice for cooking.

Although parsley can be grown in the garden, it’s convenient and unique grown in a container.

Fill the container, which should have good drainage, with quality soil. Soaking the seed for 24 hours speeds up germination.

Sprinkle the seed on the soil and cover lightly. Place in a sunny location; however, it will tolerate some shade.

Continual picking will induce ongoing growth. Fertilize occasionally. For the best flavour, pick early in the morning when oils in the leaves are stronger. Parsley will grow for two years, however the second year it grows a stem with a flower.

Thrift stores are an excellent place to pick up a suitable container for growing parsley. Using your imagination will result in an unusual and practical way to have parsley right on your doorstep!

            Lester C. Fretz, M.Sc., is a member of the Dunnville Horticulture Society.