How to Grow Parsley

Learn how to grow one of the most popular and versatile herbs out there – parsley! This humble herb is more than just a garnish on your dinner plate. It’s a powerhouse of flavor and nutrients, attracts beneficial insects, and it’s surprisingly easy to grow right in your own backyard.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll be sharing my tried-and-true tips for cultivating this hardy herb. From seed to harvest, I’ll walk you through every step of the journey, ensuring you can enjoy a bountiful supply of homegrown parsley.

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5 Tips for How to Grow Parsley

1. Plant parsley at the right time

Parsley is a biennial plant that prefers cooler temperatures and can be planted in spring and fall. The best time to plant parsley depends on your climate and whether you’re starting from seeds or seedlings.

If you’re starting from seeds, they can be sown indoors 10-12 weeks before the last spring frost date or directly in the garden 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost. Parsley seeds take a while to germinate (around 14-30 days), so starting them indoors can give them a head start.

For fall planting, sow seeds in the garden 8-10 weeks before the first fall frost date. In mild winter areas, parsley can be grown throughout the winter.

If you’re planting parsley seedlings, they can go into the ground as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Make sure to harden off the seedlings before transplanting them outside to acclimate them to outdoor conditions.

In the low desert of Arizona, plant parsley seeds and transplants beginning in October and plant through April. 

2. Plant parsley correctly

Parsley seeds are very slow to germinate. Sow seeds in the garden 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) deep and 6 inches (15.24 cm) apart. It can take 3 to 4 weeks for seedlings to appear. 

For square foot gardening plant 4 per square. 

You can also plant parsley transplants. Look for small transplants with bright green leaves. Plant parsley transplants at the same depth as the nursery container. 

Parsley prefers well-draining soil and grows in full sun or partial shade. Do not overwater. 

Carrots, chives, dill, onions, peas, and peppers are good companion plants for parsley. 

Flat Leaf (Italian) Parsley: Looks like a large version of cilantro. Robust flavor often preferred over curly parsley. Try Dark Green Italian Giant. 

Curly Parsley: Often used as a garnish. Flavor is similar to but less intense than flat-leaf varieties. Try Triple Moss Curled Parsley. 

3. Care for parsley correctly

• Watering: Parsley likes evenly moist soil. Water the plant regularly, especially during dry spells, but be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
• Sunlight: Parsley does best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. Some afternoon shade can help prevent the plant from bolting if you live in a particularly hot climate.
• Soil: Parsley prefers rich, well-draining soil. Regularly adding compost or organic matter can improve soil fertility and structure.
• Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the parsley plants to help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
• Fertilizing: If desired, feed your parsley plants a balanced organic fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season to promote healthy growth.
• Thinning: If you’ve sown seeds directly in the garden, thin them to about 6-10 inches (15-25 centimeters) apart once they’re a few inches tall. This gives each plant enough space to grow and ensures good air circulation, which can help prevent disease.
• Pest and Disease Control: Regularly inspect your parsley plants for signs of pests or disease. Handpick any visible pests and consider using organic control methods if necessary. Rotate your parsley crops to help prevent soil-borne diseases.
• Bolting Prevention: Keep your parsley plants cool and well-watered to help prevent bolting. If a plant does start to bolt, you can try cutting off the flower stalks to encourage leafy growth.

A note about how to grow parsley in hot climates:

Parsley is a biennial plant, which means it typically spends the first year growing leaves and the second year flowering and setting seeds. However, in hot climates or under stress, parsley plants can “bolt,” or start flowering in the first year.

This process is often triggered by high temperatures, as the plant’s survival instincts kick in to ensure it reproduces before the end of its life cycle. When the weather heats up rapidly, the parsley plant responds by rushing into its flowering and seeding phase. This is an evolutionary adaptation to secure survival in the event of unfavorable conditions.

Bolting can also be caused by other forms of stress, such as drought, poor soil conditions, or a sudden change in light or temperature. Once a parsley plant bolts, it puts most of its energy into producing flowers and seeds, which can reduce leaf production.

If you’re growing parsley for its leaves, it’s best to harvest regularly to encourage leafy growth and keep the plant in a cool, well-watered location to help prevent bolting. If your parsley does bolt, you can let it go to seed and collect the seeds for planting in the next season.

How to grow parsley in containers:

• Parsley has a long taproot and does best in at least 8 inches (20cm) deep containers.
• Parsley grown in containers benefits from a liquid organic fertilizer application each month during the growing season. 

How to grow parsley indoors:

• Plant a parsley transplant in an unglazed terra cotta pot at least 8 inches (20cm) deep.
• Water parsley only when top inch or so of soil is dry. 
• Provide supplemental lighting for parsley for 10-11 hours, with the lights about 6 inches (15 cm) from the plant. 
• Ideal indoor temperature: 50°F-75°F (10°C-24°C). 
• Parsley grown indoors benefits from a liquid organic fertilizer application each month during the growing season.  

4. Harvest parsley often

• When to Harvest: Begin harvesting parsley when the plants have at least three segments. This usually occurs around 70-90 days after planting.
• How to Harvest: Cut stems from the outside of the plant first, as these are the most mature. Snip them off close to the ground. This method allows the younger inner leaves to continue growing.
• Frequency of Harvesting: Regular harvesting encourages growth, so don’t be shy about picking your parsley! During peak season, you can often harvest parsley every 1-2 weeks.

• Preservation: Fresh parsley is best used immediately, but you can freeze-dry, freeze or dry it if you have a surplus. Wash and chop the parsley, then freeze it in ice cube trays with a little water. To dry, tie the stems together and hang them in a well-ventilated, dark place until completely dry.

• Culinary Uses: Parsley is incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Use it fresh in salads or as a garnish on soups, stews, and roasts. Add it towards the end of cooking to retain its flavor and color.
• Health Benefits: Parsley is packed with vitamins A, C, and K, and is a good source of iron and folate. It’s also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Remember, never pull the parsley up by the root if you want it to keep producing.

5. Use parsley to attract beneficial insects to your garden

Often grown as an annual, this biennial herb will send a flower stalk up during its second year, which attracts pollinators. 

Allow a plant or two to overwinter, and the following year the tall flower stalk will form in the center of the plant. Swallowtail butterfly larvae are attracted to parsley flowers. The flowers develop into seeds that can be harvested to plant again or left to scatter and (hopefully) reseed. 

The foliage of second-year parsley is coarse and not as tasty. Plant new parsley each year to harvest the greens. 

Visual planting guides for vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers & vines.

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