Parsley Growing Guide

Parsley is a popular, nutritious herb that is widely used in cooking worldwide. It is a low-maintenance herb that will not take up much space in the garden but will consistently yield a nutritious harvest. This amazing herb can be used fresh or dried in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, and stews.

Want to grow this bright green plant in your garden? Here's a complete guide on planting, growing, and harvesting parsley.

About Parsley

Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is a lush biennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Native to the Mediterranean, this plant is usually grown as an annual in home gardens. It lives for two years, which means it grows leaves in the first year and then flowers in the second. The leaves can become bitter after the first year, but the plant will reseed itself in temperate regions.

The lush green leaves of parsley are a rich source of iron and vitamins (A, C, and K). Choose from flat or curly leaf varieties and use this nutritious herb in salads, soups, butter, sauces, or sprinklers over all types of cooked dishes. Parsley is also used to cleanse skin and treat bad breath.

The parsley plant makes an attractive border for vegetable beds. It grows well in containers, raised beds, and pots. Growing parsley from seed is easy, but its seeds are very slow to germinate. You can sow seeds outdoors where you want them or start indoors and transplant them later. In addition, it can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill.

Types of Parsley

There are two popular types of leaf parsley, including:

Flat Leaf Varieties: Flat-leaved parsley varieties are also known as Italian parsley. They have a much stronger flavor and are more commonly used in the kitchen to enhance dishes. This parsley type can grow 2-3 feet tall.

Curly Leaf Varieties: They have a milder taste and are used for fancier garnishing. This plant is highly decorative both on a plate and in the garden. They form dense clusters that look great in borders and containers. Curly parsley usually grows 8-14 inches tall.

When to Plant Parsley

Sow seeds from early spring to early summer and enjoy pickings throughout the summer and fall. You can start parsley seeds indoors or sow them outdoors directly in the garden. Their taproot is sensitive, so take extra care when transplanting seedlings. Parsley seeds germinate best when started at cooler temperatures.

Sow your seeds outdoors in spring, 3-4 weeks before the last spring frost date or as soon as the soil is workable. Since parsley is a slow starter, you will have enough time to grow the plant in its preferred colder conditions.

Or you can start seeds indoors in separate pots 6 to 8 weeks before the expected last frost date of spring. Soil temperatures should be around 21°C for the best germination. However, they can also germinate in lower temperatures like 10ºC

How to Plant Parsley

You can plant parsley indoors or outdoors and buy it as a young plant. Direct seeding is the best way to start parsley. The germination of parsley seeds is slower, so soak seeds overnight before sowing for faster germination.

Spacing and Soil Needs

Parsley thrives in a fully sunny location that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. It can also tolerate light shade in warm climates. When growing indoors, make sure to plant it near a sunny window or grow under lights.

Plant parsley in loamy, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.7. Add rich compost or other organic matter at the start of the growing season, right before planting parsley.

Sow parsley seeds 8 to 10 inches apart and 1 cm deep.

Sowing Parsley Seeds

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep directly in well-prepared soil. Cover the seeds with soil, then water lightly. Make sure the soil stays moist during germination. It can take up to weeks for seedlings to appear.

Tip: Sow radish seeds in spaces left between parsley seeds. Radishes will start to grow before parsley and mark the row.

When starting seeds indoors, you can use a grow light to help seeds germinate. However, ensure the light always remains at least 2 inches above the leaves.
When seedlings grow 2 to 3 inches high, thin them at least 15 cm apart. Plant seeds in batches a few weeks apart to maintain a continuous supply of parsley.
Lightly mulch around plants to conserve moisture.
Weed regularly so plants don't have to compete for water, light, and nutrients.

The Best Parsley Companion Plants

Many fruiting plants, vegetables, and perennial herbs make excellent companions for parsley. Some plants that happily grow next to parsley include tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, beans, roses, apples, asparagus, strawberries, peppers, and chives.

Fertilizing Parsley

Herbs like parsley thrive in nutrient-rich soil from the start. To give your parsley plants an extra boost, use an organic fertilizer high in nitrogen or balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks for container-grown plants and every 4 to 6 weeks for plants grown indoors. Fertilize your plants once or twice during the growing season.

Watering Parsley

Parsley needs more water than other herbs like rosemary and oregano. The plant benefits from deep watering at least once a week. Don't let the soil and plants dry out completely between waterings. Water deeply 1 inch per week to ensure the roots receive adequate moisture during growing.

Use a drip system to deliver water consistently and deeply to plants' roots. A drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the plant's base, reducing water wastage and soil erosion.

During hot summer months, check soil moisture levels frequently. On the hottest days, you'll have to water more so the soil doesn't completely dry.

Harvesting and Storing Parsley

Parsley can be harvested from summer through autumn. Harvest parsley leaves when the leaf stems have three or more segments. Grab a pair of clean pruners and cut the outer leafy stems, snipping near the base.

Cutting the stems rather than picking the leaves will help the plant regrow and become bushier. You can also harvest young seedlings and use them for cooking. They are packed with nutrients and flavor. Regular pickings encourage plants to produce more. The ideal time for regrowth between large harvests is two to three weeks.

How to Store Parsley

Parsley can be dried and stored, but its flavor is not as strong as that of fresh parsley. One way to keep parsley leaves fresh is to put them in water and refrigerate them.

The next storage method is to dry the leaves. Cut the leaves at the base and hang them in a warm, shady place. Once leaves are dry, crumble them and store them in an airtight bag or container. Since parsley is easy to grow and low-maintenance, using a fresh supply from your garden is a better option.

Common Diseases and Care

Parsley closely belongs to the carrot family and can be prone to the same pests and diseases that affect carrots, such as carrot fly and celery fly larvae. However, parsley plants are usually not affected by pests and diseases, but the following problems can occur at times:

Slugs and snails can eat parsley seedlings. Protect seedlings with a cover or grow them in pots or raised beds sothey are harder to reach.
Caterpillars also like to eat parsley, but you can remove them by hand before they cause much harm.
Root-knot nematodes attack the plant roots, which causes yellowing foliage, poor growth, and plants that wilt easily.
Sapsuckers like aphids, mites, and whiteflies can appear on plants, but they can be controlled with organic insecticides.

The Bottom Line

There you have a complete guide to growing this wonderful little herb. This easy-to-grow, versatile plant can be grown in containers, raised beds, borders, and window boxes. Grow these plants as a companion to other herbs, annuals, and perennials. They make lovely seasonal edging and provide a beautiful contrast to colorful annuals like petunias or pansies.

So, grab your gardening tools and plant the parsley seeds to enjoy the beautiful, lush leaves in your garden and add depth and flavor to your dishes.