Parsley

Petroselinum crispum. Parsley is a member of the Apiaceae family along with dill, fennel, cilantro, celery, and carrots. Valued for its versatile flavor and culinary applications, parsley comes in various forms, including flat-leaf (Italian) parsley and curly parsley. Parsley plants typically grow in compact, bushy forms.

Starting Seeds

Parsley seeds germinate best in warm soil temperatures, with the ideal range for germination falling between 60°F (15°C) and 75°F (24°C). However, the optimal temperature is typically around 70°F to 75°F (21°C to 24°C).

Direct sow in mild climates and for succession sowings later in the season. Otherwise start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks prior to your last frost date. Parsley seeds can take a month or more to germinate.

When to Plant Out

Parsley should be transplanted outdoors after the last expected frost date once the weather has warmed, and the soil temperatures consistently reach at least 50°F (10°C) or warmer.

Light

Full sunlight: at least 6-8 hours a day.

Space

Seeds can be sown every 1-2″. Thin to 6-12″ apart. Be sure to check the seed packet for specifics on your variety’s size.

Temperature

Parsley is a cool weather crop, with ideal daytime temperatures ranging between 60°F and 70°F (15°C to 21°C). While parsley plants can tolerate cooler nighttime temperatures, they perform best when nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F (10°C). Parsley is hardy to Zone 8, surviving down to 10°F (-12°C) for established plants, but protection from snow may be necessary.

Water

Keep the soil consistently moist.  Water at the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry and reduce the risk of diseases.

Pruning

Regular harvesting will encourage more growth. Remove flowers to refocus the plant’s energy into foliage and prevent bolting, which can turn parsley leaves bitter and signals the end of the plants life.

Harvesting

Use a pair of scissors or garden shears to snip off the desired amount of stems from the outside of the plant, leaving the inside stems to continue growing and bushing out.

Propagation

Parsley is commonly propagated from seeds. When saving seeds from parsley plants, it’s important to ensure that they have not been cross-pollinated. Different varieties of parsley will cross-pollinate each other.

Other Considerations

Parsley is suitable for container growing and can be grown indoors during winter for continuous harvests. If planted outside during the warmer months of the year, parsley may bolt. Although parsley is technically a biennial plant, which flowers and produces seed in its second year, parsley may bolt in the first year due to transplant shock, heat, or from conditions in the nursery prior to purchasing starter plants. Succession sowing will ensure a continuous harvest.