How to Grow Parsley Properly for an Endless Supply of Kitchen Herbs

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is an easy-to-care-for herb from the Mediterranean region, closely related to carrots and dill, and prized for its edible leaves and stems. Although most gardeners grow it as an annual, it is technically a biennial herb that grows for two years before dying back. During its first year, parsley produces most of its flavorful leaves; however, these plants produce even more leaves, flowers, and seeds if allowed to overwinter into the second year.

Available in curly-leaf and flat-leaf varieties, parsley grows well in pots or large gardens, and is an essential herb for garnishing and flavoring pastas, salads, soups, and sauces. In addition to its culinary uses, parsley is also a fantastic companion plant for most vegetables and aromatic herbs, and easily attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to garden beds.

Here’s a complete guide on how to grow parsley yourself, whether indoors or outdoors.

Essential Parsley Care Tips for a Thriving Herb Garden

Parsley is a delicious and attractive plant, not just for humans. Here’s everything you need to know to care for it.

• You’ll get more out of your parsley if you mulch your plants over winter and allow them to produce seeds.
• Second-year parsley flowers are very attractive to predatory insects, like hoverflies, and parsley self-seeds readily if old flowerheads aren’t removed.
• Parsley is also an important host plant for swallowtail butterflies, and planting a few extra parsley plants can attract more of these helpful pollinators to your garden.

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Light Requirements for Parsley

Parsley grows best in full sun; indoor plants may need a grow light to prevent leggy stems. In hot climates, parsley grows best in a spot with morning sun and light afternoon shade.

Best Soil Conditions for Growing Parsley

These plants thrive in rich, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Amending garden beds with compost before planting is recommended.

Watering Your Parsley Plants

Like other tender-stemmed herbs, parsley needs regular, deep watering, with about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. For best growth, add mulch around the base of the plants and add half-strength liquid organic fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.

Ideal Temperature and Humidity for Parsley

Parsley isn’t fussy about humidity, and established plants tolerate light frosts. However, these plants grow best when temperatures range between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C), and second-year plants bolt quickly in heat.

Top Parsley Varieties to Grow in Your Garden

Parsley comes in different varieties, and each type of parsley shines in its own way.

• Italian Flat-Leaf: The most popular parsley for cooking, flat-leaf parsley has large, easy-to-chop leaves. Additionally, it has a sweeter, more intense flavor than other parsleys and is slower to bolt in hot weather.
• Curly Parsley: Commonly grown in garden borders and pots, curly parsley has a milder flavor than flat-leaf varieties, but its ruffled leaves make for a striking garnish.
• Hamburg (or Root) Parsley: A lesser-known type of parsley, root parsley is a multi-purpose plant that produces plump, parsnip-like roots and edible greens.

How to Plant Parsley Seeds: A Step-by-Step Guide

Although potted parsley can be purchased from garden centers, growing it from seed is surprisingly easy and can save you money on your gardening budget. Just keep in mind that parsley is slow-growing, and seeds take two to four weeks to germinate.

Planting Parsley Seeds Directly in Your Garden

Growing parsley outdoors is the easiest way. However, they should only be planted outdoors after the last spring frost.

1. Choose a location. Select a sunny spot and prepare the planting bed by removing weeds and amending the soil.
2. Soak and sow seeds. Soak parsley seeds overnight, then sow them 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep and 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) apart, in rows spaced 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart.
3. Water. Water the site well and wait for seedlings to emerge.
4. Thin seedlings. When seedlings are 2 inches (5 cm) tall, thin out weaker plants, leaving 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) of space between the remaining seedlings.
5. Mulch and care. Add mulch and continue to care for your parsley until harvest.

Starting Parsley Seeds Indoors

If you live in a cold area and want an earlier parsley harvest, start seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before your last frost date.

1. Soak seeds. Soak parsley seeds in water for 12 to 24 hours before planting to boost germination.
2. Sow seeds in trays. Fill pots or seedling trays with pre-moistened potting mix, plant 1 to 2 parsley seeds per pot or cell, and cover them with about 1/4 inch (6 mm) of soil.
3. Provide light and water. Place the seeds under a bright grow light and water them enough to keep the soil evenly moist.
4. Adjust lighting post-germination. Once seedlings emerge, adjust the grow light as needed to keep it about 2 inches (5 cm) above the tops of the plants at all times. Continue watering.
5. Thin seedlings. When seedlings are 2 inches (5 cm) tall, thin out the weaker ones, leaving only one plant per pot or cell.
6. Harden off and transplant. Harden off the seedlings for one to two weeks and transplant them outdoors after the last frost. Transplanted seedlings should be spaced 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) apart in holes slightly larger than the root ball. Then, water the seedlings and add mulch.
7. Or, keep indoors. If you want to keep your parsley indoors, simply move the plants to a sunny location and water them regularly.

Harvesting Your Homegrown Parsley

You can start harvesting parsley when plants are about six inches (fifteen centimeters) tall and their leaves have three segments. Harvest the outer leaves first by cutting stems at ground level with scissors, and allow the center of the plant to regrow.

You can harvest leaves gradually or in large batches, but never harvest more than 1/3 of your plant at once and wait two to three weeks between larger harvests.

Best Ways to Store Fresh and Dried Parsley

Freshly cut parsley should last 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator if you place the stems in a glass with a few inches of water, like cut flowers.

For longer storage, it can be frozen whole, chopped, or in oil. It can also be air-dried, dried in a food dehydrator, or in a low-heat oven, and stored in spice jars in a cool, dark place.

Common Parsley Pests and Plant Diseases to Watch For

Aphids, leafhoppers, and carrot flies sometimes attack parsley, but these pests can be prevented with crop rotation and row covers, and eradicated with organic soap sprays.

Leaf spot and powdery mildew often appear when parsley plants are grown too close together or if they are watered from overhead. However, you can avoid these issues by properly spacing parsley plants and watering at ground level.

Parsley also bolts quickly in hot weather, but you can slow its growth by planting it in a spot with light afternoon shade and pinching off flower buds before they open.