Have you been wondering why your parsley is turning yellow?

Well, in this article I will give a detailed analysis of why your parsley turns yellow

Parsley is a biennial plant of the umbel family with white flowers and aromatic leaves which are either wrinkly or flat and are used as a  herb and for garnishing savoury food with green flowers that are usually aromatic. 

According to research, parsley originated in Sardinia and belongs to the plant family of Spices. Parsley was prominent in England around the year 1548, though other researchers believe that the plant was a native of Eastern Mediterranean regions and also of Lebanon, Turkey and Algeria, and has been cultivated for over 2000 years.

 Now back to the original question, why is my parsley turning yellow? Listed below are some of the basic reasons your parsley is turning yellow.

Root decay

Parsley leafage can turn yellow due to root decay or fungal infestation.

The most familiar reason for parsley turning yellow is because the soil is too moist as a result of boggy ground, overwatering or the parsley is rooted in a pot without drainage holes in the base. 

When planted In soil that is drenched or boggy instead of just “moist”, there is a higher risk of fungal diseases such as root rot and crown rot both of which result in the leaves of parsley turning yellow and the stems tending to sag downwards

Parsley thrives in more moist soil with lots of organic matter that allows for adequate drainage.  

Possible solutions to this: 

• Reduce the frequency of watering the plants
•  improve the water drainage by transplanting it to a pot or container. 
•   Ensure that the parsley is in a container with drainage gaps in the base, you want to avert using a saucer or tray underneath the pot.
•  Trim any yellow leafage as low to the ground as possible with a sterilised pair of pruners to avoid circulating any fungal pathogens and remove the yellow leaves in a bin or burn them rather than placing them on a compost pile.

You also want to note that pots or containers are very productive when used to plant parsley because they provide greater drainage conditions than normal garden soils.

(PICTURE OF A FLOWER  POT THAT CAN BE USED TO PLANT A PARSLEY)

Drought 

 A chronically parched soil can also cause yellow leaves. Parsley grows well in moist soil that’s rich in organic materials and has good drainage. 

If the soil is too coarse and without the sufficient organic matter it requires, then the roots of the leaves will not be able to draw up the water that it’ll supply to the plant, leaving the parsley dry and looking yellow, which is signoff stress in the leaves. 

The soil can also become dry due to underwatering when the parsley( that flourishes in moist soil) is not given sufficient water, it might start to appear yellow. 

Another common problem with under-watering and sandy soils is planting your parsley in pots or containers that are extremely small.

 These Smaller pots and containers tend to heat up and dry out quickly when in full sun which as expected, results in dry soil.

 a reasonable solution to this is:

• Increase watering: In normal circumstances, parsley should be watered once every three days for them to remain healthy, moreover, you should try adjusting the watering schedule to maintain the balance of moisture in your climate to avoid the parsley from drying up.
• Alongside frequent watering, you should try planting your parsley in a healthy compost, to ensure the parsley doesn’t dry up.
•  Use large pots or containers:  the larger the pot, the better because it’ll be able to contain moisture for longer periods.

Spider mites and Aphids 

 Aphids are small bugs that feed by sucking the juice from plants; Aphids tend to reproduce quickly in large numbers that can cause extensive damage to plants.

If parsley is infested by aphids it may cause it to start turning yellow, and also cause stunted growth.

Nevertheless, aphids are not a serious threat and can be easily removed by hand.

Spider mites are also small insects that can cause yellow spots to appear on the leaves. They attack leaves that are unhealthy due to lack of water, if a severe infestation of spider mites is left untreated, the parsley may shrivel or have hindered growth. 

A possible solution to this is

• Endeavour to plant parsley in a spot that’s under minimal shade from the sun, with compost, and water to keep it healthy. With this, it’ll be more resistant to insects and diseases
• Cut off all affected leafage to prevent spread and when necessary you can make use of an organic insect soap to sprinkle on the leaves 

Insufficient sunlight or needy soil

Lack of sunlight or poor soil the necessary soil nutrients can cause the parsley leaves to turn yellow. 

Parsley thrives under minimal shade and it’s more ideal in hotter weather so the parsley can have some rest from the severe heat and shade can reduce evaporation from the soil, whereas in cooler temperatures parsley can thrive well if they receive about 6 hours of sunlight daily.

 But If the parsley is over shaded, growth will be sluggish with dangling stems and some leaves could begin to turn yellow.

Furthermore, poor soil can stunt the growth of the parsley. If parsley is grown in nutrient-poor and probably sandy soil, then the parsley may not grow good as it should, also some leaves of the parsley can start to turn yellow due to an absence of nitrogen

This problem can easily be avoided by :

• Prepping the soil before planting. you can amend the planting region with a lot  of compost to provide nutrients and provide a balance of water whilst maintaining a healthy porous structure

• Also, note that using extra fertilizer to grow your parsley is unnecessary as long as you use good compost full of nutrients.

In conclusion, your parsley could be turning yellow as a result of root decay or rot (which can be solved by reducing watering, transferring it to a pot or container with adequate drainage holes, etc ), drought or poor soil, insufficient sunlight, insects infestation, etc