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Parsley: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Parsley Plants | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Parsley

Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest parsley in your very own garden.

Botanical Name
Petroselinum crispum
Plant Type
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
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How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Parsley

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Parsley is a biennial plant with bright green, feather-like leaves that is in the same family as dill. Here’s how to grow parsley in your own garden.

About Parsley

This popular herb is used in sauces, salads, and especially soups, as it lessens the need for salt. Not only is parsley the perfect garnish, it’s also good for you; it’s rich in iron and vitamins A and C!

Native to Mediterranean Europe, the parsley plant is a biennial, but is usually grown as an annual in home gardens. After the first year, the leaves tend to become more bitter and tough, but the plant will gladly reseed itself in temperate zones.

Planting

Pick a spot that gets full sun (6+ hours of sunlight) and has well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. Soil pH should ideally be around 6.0—slightly acidic. Try to also choose an area that is weed-free; it’ll be easier to see the parsley sprouting.

When to Plant Parsley

Parsley seeds can be started indoors or sown directly in the garden. However, the taproot of parsley plants is delicate, so take extra care if transplanting!

  • For a head start, plant seeds in individual pots indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date.
  • Sow seeds outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost, as parsley is a slow starter. 
  • For the best germination, soil should be around 70ºF (21°C), though parsley seeds will germinate in temperatures as low as 50ºF (10ºC).

How to Plant Parsley

  • The germination rate of parsley seeds tends to be low, so consider soaking the seeds for 1-2 hours before sowing to improve your chance of success.
  • Sow parsley seeds 1/4 inch deep.
  • Sow seeds about 6 to 8 inches apart. For larger plants, sow about 8 to 10 inches apart.
  • Be sure to keep soil moist while seeds germinate. 
  • It can take 2 to 4 weeks for seedlings to appear. 
    • Tip: Plant radish seeds in the gaps between parsley seeds. The radishes will sprout and grow before the parsley appears, and the radishes will mark the row.
  • Indoors, you can use a grow light to help seedlings grow. Make sure it remains at least two inches above the leaves at all times.

Growing
  • Be sure to keep parsley plants sufficiently watered, especially through the heat of summer.
  • Lightly mulch around the plants to conserve moisture.
Recommended Varieties
  • Flat-leaf varieties: Use in cooking because they have better flavor and are easier to work with than curly-leaf parsley
  • Curly-leaf varieties: Use when you want a fancier garnish
Harvesting
  • When the leaf stems have at least three segments, parsley is ready to be harvested.
  • Cut leaves from the outer stems of the plant whenever you need them. Leave the inner portions of the plant to mature. Ideally, allow 2 to 3 weeks for regrowth between major harvests. 
  • If you want fresh parsley throughout the winter, replant a parsley plant in a pot and keep it in a sunny window.

How to Store Parsley

  • One method of storing the parsley fresh is to put the leaf stalks in water and keep them in the refrigerator.
  • Another method of storage is drying the parsley. Cut the parsley at the base and hang it in a well-ventilated, shady, and warm place. Once it’s completely dry, crumble it up and store it in an airtight container.
Wit and Wisdom
Pests/Diseases
  • Stem rot
  • Leaf spots
  • Carrot fly and celery fly larvae

Parsley is a favorite of black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars as well.

Recipes
Vegetable Soup with Parsley Dumplings
Herbs
Parsley

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Comments

Donna JEROME (not verified)

1 month 2 weeks ago

What do you do when parsley flowers?

Allison (not verified)

2 years 3 months ago

My Italian parsley leaves have mutated! Instead of looking like regular parsley leaves the leaves look long and thin. They taste ok. What's wrong?

Definitely cut tops off…if long and leggy this should stimulate growth or side shoots. This happens with cilantro too. Just cut tops off and it will also delay bolting.

Heat and dry soil can cause parsley to become long and thin, but so can leaving it alone (not harvesting it). Trim/harvest it and water generously. Then continue to trim it from time to time. This will cause it to sprout more leaves and maintain vigor.