HOME & GARDEN
There may be a local garden that needs volun- teers. Go along and learn about how to recog- nise plant pests and diseases. March is also a month when you can start early seed sowing under cover. Try parsley, a com- mon herb rich in vitamin C. Grown for centu- ries, the Greeks fed it to their horses to keep them glossy and trim. The Romans chewed it to reduce the effects of alcohol and the Medi- eval monks said the seed had to go to the devil and back again seven times before the plant with germination?
Old herbals suggest sowing only on Good Friday, but, in fact it can be sown any time in the spring, summer and late summer to give a healthy succession of plants; but it needs a warm situation. Don’t sow in cold damp com- post. To speed up germination, soak the seed overnight in lukewarm water and sow thinly. If you have a good well lit windowsill, greenhouse or polytunnel where the temperature can be constant at around 18 degrees C for germi- nation, the seedlings should fare well. As with other members of the carrot family, parsley dis- likes root disturbance so try growing this herb in pots rather than seed trays.
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