How to Grow Hydroponic Parsley: Growing in an Aeroponic Tower

Originating in the middle and eastern Mediterranean, parsley is used in salads and as a vegetable in a variety of soups and stews. Due to its large leaves, Italian parsley is the more frequent of the two major varieties of parsley: curly leaf parsley and Italian parsley. A simple hydroponic system can be used to produce parsley, basil, mint, and cilantro, among other popular fragrant herbs.

Can You Set Up an Aeroponic Tower Garden at Home?

Yes, it's really easy to build your own aeroponic tower garden at home. Because the garden grows vertically you don’t need a lot of space, and you won't even need to invest a lot of time in upkeep because there’s no soil to constantly water, replace or refill. A high quality aeroponic tower is ideal for a variety of vegetables and herbs like parsley.

How to Grow Parsley Indoors Hydroponically: The First Steps

Seed Selection and Germination

Thankfully, parsley sprouts easily. Parsley doesn't need any special attention to germinate, unlike its relative cilantro, which looks identical. As usual, plant your seeds in some rockwool cubes and be sure to keep the cubes moist 24 hours a day. Your seeds should sprout in 3–7 days. Once they sprout, move your seedlings under a germination light or near a window with ample sunlight.  And remember – just because they’ve sprouted doesn’t mean you can forget about water.  Stay vigilant and maintain at least 1/4” of water at the bottom of your germination tray at all times.

Transferring to Your Hydroponic System

Parsley is a reasonably priced seed that, with adequate moisture, sprouts in 3–7 days. Select high-yielding types, such as parsley with flat leaves from Italy. Spinach seedlings are ready to be transferred to your hydroponic system once they have shown two true leaves.  We say “true” leaves, because the first leaves you see aren’t really leaves.  They are called cotyledons, which are parts of the seed embryo.  Wait until the true leaves form, or to be safe – four leaves total.

The initial harvest usually occurs 3–4 weeks after the seedlings are transplanted. It's only the beginning to see those first shoots emerge. Watch as your parsley begins to reveal its growth over the coming weeks; this is an indication that it is serious about growing. The time has come to ensure the ideal ratio of nutrients and light. Using an aeroponic tower garden will help make sure the roots get plenty of oxygen.

Monitoring & Maintenance

It takes monitoring and some adjustments to make sure your parsley flourishes. First, let's explore the basics of taking care of your parsley at home.

Water Requirements

Pay careful attention to the water levels in your hydroponic system; it's not simply a regular check; it's essential. Parsley likes to grow when there is a proper balance of hydration. If you use too much water, it can affect your roots’ ability to absorb oxygen. However, the right amount will prevent root rot and keep them contentedly hydrated and healthy.  Watering your tower for 15 minutes per hour, 12–14 hours a day is a good starting point.

Light: The Key Ingredient

Encourage parsley to grow rapidly by mimicking the natural day light phenomenon. Give your plants 14–16 hours of LED light followed by an 8–10 hour nocturnal rest. This allows your plants to relax and synchronize their cycle with the natural cycle of the outdoors.

Place the LED lights 6 to 12 inches above the seedlings and move it as they get bigger. When positioned correctly, your parsley will get plenty of light without burning. Take note of your parsley's reaction to the lighting. There may be too much light present if you observe the leaves becoming pale green or yellow. Stretched stems or lanky plants, on the other hand, indicate inadequate light. To maintain the health and vibrancy of your plants, modify your arrangement as necessary.

Temperatures and pH Levels

The ideal temperature range for plants in a vertical aeroponic tower garden is 65 to 78°F, and the humidity level should be kept at about 60%. In order to prevent any extra chlorine or minerals that can harm your plants, you can use filtered or distilled water.

Parsley grows well in a hydroponic solution that is slightly acidic. Keep an eye on the water's pH levels and make necessary adjustments to keep it within the ideal pH range for parsley growth, which is normally between 5.5 and 6.5.

Nutrient Know-How

Maintain a balanced and healthy nutritional environment that meets all of your parsley's developing requirements. Since parsley is an herb that never bears fruit, it will thrive in a general hydroponic green growing solution such as our ALTO Garden A & B hydroponic nutrients.

In order to promote effective fertilizer absorption and avoid overcrowding, parsley plants should be arranged not too tightly.  A good aeroponic tower should have pots that are spaced wide enough for the parsley to mature properly.  Take into account the mature size of parsley plants and make plans accordingly.

Pruning & Harvesting

Brown leaves should be pruned as necessary. Make sure your pH is within the suggested range if there are a lot of brown or yellow leaves. To maintain the flavor of your parsley, try cutting off any blossoms as soon as they appear. You won't have to wait a certain amount of time to harvest your hydroponic parsley. Regularly harvesting your parsley will encourage new growth and boost your yields overall.

Harvesting parsley is simple. Use clean, sharp scissors or shears to cut about one-third of the way down the plant. While the bottom two thirds will continue to yield new leaves, the top one third can be used for cooking. Harvest the plant a week or so after it is doing well, and freeze or dry any leaves that are not immediately used.

Final Thoughts

Growing parsley in an aeroponic tower garden is a sustainable method of herb farming. We hope that this guide will be a useful tool for you when you start growing parsley, enabling you to work with nature to produce a lush, productive herb garden.