Not only does parsley make a great garnish for food, it’s also a very healthy herb that’s good for your heart and packed with iron, vitamins A, C and K.
There are several different types of parsley, including Italian flat-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and curly parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum).
Although it’s not hard to grow parsley, it can occasionally turn yellow. So, is it possible to overwater parsley?
Yes, you can overwater parsley the same as you can underwater it. If your parsley has yellowing leaves, both underwatering and overwatering are likely causes. Parsley thrives in moist soil, but not so wet that the roots drown, so in hot, windy weather you may have to water it more than once a day.
Many people think yellowing leaves indicate that the plant needs more water, but parsley can turn yellow for a variety of reasons besides underwatering.
If you notice your parsley turning yellow, it’s best to check the moisture content of the soil before assuming it needs water.
Why Does Parsley Turn Yellow?
Parsley can turn yellow due to:
- underwatering
- overwatering
- too much hot sun
- too much wind
- or pests
Because parsley is often grown in containers, its soil can dry out faster thanks to too much sun or wind.
However, some containers don’t drain well, and boggy soil causes parsley’s roots to rot.
How To Check Your Parsley’s Soil
When your parsley starts to look yellow, it is time to check the moisture level of the soil more frequently.
One simple way to check the soil is to put your finger into the soil and see if it feels dry, wet, or too wet (this will vary from person to person).
If you prefer, you can take a dry chopstick or stick, gently push it into the pot, and move it around a bit so you can see what’s going on inside the pot.
What To Do If Parsley Is In Dry Soil?
Watering your parsley once a day is insufficient; therefore, it should be watered every other day.
Additionally, you should consider placing your parsley in a shaded area instead of full sun. While it grows best in warm weather and sunshine, it originates from Europe; therefore, it does not thrive in areas with brutal summer heat like much of the United States.
Allowing your parsley some shade may help revitalize it and also help retain moisture. For example, if you’ve planted your parsley in the ground, using shade cloth can create a small shelter from the harsh summer sun.
Another suggestion would be to create a wind break for your parsley if you live in an area with high winds.
What To Do if Parsley Is in Boggy Soil?
If your parsley has been sitting in too much moisture and you have not already stopped watering it for a period of time, it may be time to decrease watering.
In most cases, when a plant’s roots are damaged from root rot, the plant and the person using the plant’s root as a herbal remedy are at risk due to this type of damage.
Parsley prefers a good mix of potting soil and regular soil. Ensure you have a pot or container to accommodate the root depth with sufficient root space. Ensure that your pots have drainage holes and, if you have enough room in your containers for gravel, use a few rocks for additional drainage.
After a few days of decreasing the water, you will need to create a good drainage system. If you do not have enough drainage holes, check your local compost dealer for a fix.
For the best results, ensure your parsley has access to compost and the additional benefits thereof, e.g., replacing some potting soil with compost.
Adjust the number of times you water; if you are using a lot of your compost to grow parsley, adjust your watering regimen to approximately every two to three days instead of every day.
It is interesting to note, that grown directly in a clay-based environment, parsley appreciates adequate watering. Again, you may need to water areas of your garden more or less frequently depending upon the frequency of possible increases in ambient moisture due to rainfall or wet seasonal weather.
Parsley Attacked by Aphids or Spider Mites
If your parsley is turning yellow despite having good soil conditions and not being stressed by wind or extreme heat, it may be an indication of a pest problem.
Two of the pests most commonly associated with yellow-spotted or drooping stems on parsley are aphids and spider mites.
What to Do if Your Parsley Has Aphids
addition, predatory insects usually limit aphids to small numbers. However, every once in a while, wave of aphids may lead to yellowing leaves, bent stems, or rotted roots on the parsley.
In these situations, the simplest solution is to squish aphids if there are only a couple present. On the other hand, if the number of aphids is excessive, then cutting off the areas where the aphids are frequently found is often a quick solution.
The following recipe can also be added to the previous recommendation: Water your parsley with a mixture of water and canola oil. The oil acts as a deterrent because it creates a barrier between the aphid and the leaf.
Alternatively, there are many organic pesticides that help to control aphids. Many of these insecticides also work against spider mites. The recipe below can be used to control aphids:
What to Do if Your Parsley Has Spider Mites
Spider mites are so small they are difficult to see without magnification.
By leaving yellow blotches where they have fed on your parsley, they make their presence known.
The conditions that cause spider mites to attack your parsley:
- Underwatered
- Planted in poor nutrient soils
- Over-fertilized
- Received too much shade
As with aphids, prune any obvious infected parts of the parsley.
To control spider mites, use an organic or homemade insecticidal soap solution.
For spider mite control, use a concentrated solution of:
- 2 cups canola oil
- 2 tablespoons liquid non-degreasing dish soap
When you use this mixture, add 1.5 teaspoons to a spray bottle of warm (not hot) water (about 16 oz).
Mix well and spray all parts of your affected parsley, especially the undersides of the leaves along with the top and sides.
Is Yellow Parsley Edible?
The leaves of yellow parsley are safe to eat. You won’t get sick from eating it.
You may not enjoy eating yellow parsley because the taste is ruined.
Yellow parsley kind of has an ugly flavor, but it isn’t that bad; it just tastes dry and bland. It won’t kill you.
Conclusion
When you notice yellowing leaves on your parsley plant, this indicates the plant is experiencing some amount of stress.
It’s possible that you are either watering your parsley too much or too little, check the soil before making any adjustments.
In addition to watering adjustments, if the yellowing persists you may want to change the location of your parsley and inspect your plant for pests (e.g., aphids, spider mites).