The leaves of the parsley, which just looked so beautifully green, suddenly turn yellow. This is due to damage to the leaves and roots, which gardeners call "parsley disease". What you can do to ensure that parsley grows and thrives.

Four possible causes

Parsley is an idiosyncratic plant. If something doesn't suit her, she turns yellow, takes care of itself and eventually dies.

You can make four serious mistakes when growing parsley:

  • Wrong location
  • crop rotation problems
  • Too wet or too dry soil
  • Soil contaminated by fungal spores and pests

Choose the right location

Parsley does not like it too warm and sunny. She prefers a semi-shady location. The soil should be rich in humus and very loose. Above all, however, crop rotation plays an important role.

Observe crop rotation

Parsley is highly incompatible with itself. There must not have been any umbellifers on the parsley bed for three years.

In addition to parsley, this also includes carrots, dill, celery, fennel and all other umbellifers. If these plants are grown on the same bed in subsequent years, the risk of soil pests and fungi multiplying uncontrollably increases.

Water the parsley properly
The biggest problem with caring for parsley is watering. It must neither be too dry nor does it tolerate too much moisture or even waterlogging.

Make sure the soil is permeable so that rainwater or irrigation water cannot accumulate.

Pour the parsley gently. Use your finger to check if the top layer of soil has dried before watering again. But don't give too much water.

Soil pests and fungal spores as triggers for parsley disease

Soil pests such as root aphids, nematodes, maggots and fungal spores thrive on the roots of umbellifers such as parsley. These pests are often so small that you cannot see them with the naked eye.

If the pests have nested in the garden, this usually also affects the compost. If you use diseased compost to improve the new parsley bed, you increase the risk that the parsley will later turn yellow.

Grow parsley in pots or sow from August

There are two solutions to growing vigorous parsley. Sow the herb in a pot with potting soil and only plant it outside in August.

If you would like to sow outdoors straight away, wait until August. Then the main spreading time for pests and fungal spores is over and the parsley can develop into strong plants.

tips and tricks

If it often happens that your parsley does not grow outdoors and turns yellow, you should have the garden soil examined for fungi and parasites. Under no circumstances should you use contaminated soil from the garden as potting soil for kitchen herbs on the balcony or window sill.

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Category:

Vegetable garden