How to Grow Parsley

Parsley is a popular herb used for flavoring many dishes, and it is commonly seen on plates as a garnish. Known for its ability to neutralize bad breath, you can chew on the sprig of parsley garnishing your plate after your meal to freshen your breath. Parsley is an easy-to-grow biennial plant in mild climates, and an annual in cold climates.

EditSteps

EditPreparing for Planting

Choose a type of parsley. Parsley comes in two general varieties: curly leaf and flat leaf (also known as Italian parsley). Flat leaf parsley tends to have a slightly stronger flavor than that of curly-leaf parsley, but both types are relatively mild. You will also need to decide if you want to grow your parsley from seed, or if you will grow the plant from a start/potted version.

Select a location. Parsley works well in any garden or pot, as it doesn’t have strict growing conditions under which it thrives. Choose an area that gets at least partial sunlight, either in its own plot or between other garden plants. If you decide to pot your parsley, place it on a windowsill that gets morning sunlight.

Prepare the soil. Soil that is relatively loose, full of compost/nutrients, and has a pH level between 6 and 7 is perfect for parsley. Test the pH of the soil, and incorporate peat moss into it if the soil is too basic. To create the perfect soil mixture, mix 50% potting soil with 50% compost for nutrients. This will create a light and airy soil mixture that will make it easier for the small root-system of the parsley to attach itself to.^[1]

EditPropagating the Seeds

Soak the seeds in soapy water. Fill a large cup or bowl with warm (not hot) water. Add a splash of dish soap, and stir the mixture to help it to dissolve. Place all of your parsley seeds into the mixture and allow them to soak for one hour. The heat of the water and the dish soap will help to break down the notoriously tough outer casing of the parsley seeds, helping them to grow faster than they would without soaking.

Rinse and move the seeds to another bowl of water. Using a small strainer, pour the soapy water out and run the seeds under lukewarm water. This should remove any traces of the soap, and prepare them for the next step. Fill a bowl with very warm water (near 105 degrees Fahrenheit) and place the seeds in the water. Leave these to soak overnight to continue the germination process.

Dry the seeds. After 24 hours soaking in the water, remove the seeds with a strainer and lay them out on a piece of wax paper to dry. When they have been fully dried, they are ready to be planted.

Start your seeds indoors. If you want to speed up your planting time even further, you can plant your parsley ahead of time in small containers and move them to their final destination after sprouting. 6-12 weeks prior to the last frost before Spring, plant your parsley seeds into small containers and water them daily. This should give them enough time to begin sprouting, increasing their time to full bloom when planted outdoors or in a larger pot.^[2]

EditPlanting the Seeds

Plant at the right time. Wait until all possibility of frost has passed and sow the seeds directly in the garden if you did not start them indoors. Typically, the seeds should be planted at the very beginning of Spring, around March or April.

Dig your holes/rows. Using a small trowel, make the rows in your garden approximately 10 to 12 inches apart and long enough so that the seeds can be sewn in 3-inch intervals. The seeds/sprouts need only be covered with ½ inch of dirt, so these holes/rows need not be very deep.

Transplant the seeds. Transplant seedlings started indoors into your garden after the first frost and when the plants are at least 3-inches tall. Place the seeds so that each plant is at least 3 inches from the other plants, in rows that are 6 inches apart. This will give the parsley plenty of space to grow, which it will take full advantage of with the commencement of late Spring.

Water the parsley. Water your parsley deeply at least once a week to encourage the development of a long taproot. You may need to water more frequently during extremely hot and dry periods. If you’re planting your parsley in pots indoors, give them enough water so that the soil is just barely moist. Consider setting up a drip system if you’re unable to water the parsley regularly.^[3]

Keep weeds at bay. Weeds can easily blend in with the parsley, but they take up valuable nutrients and block out sunlight. Mulch around the plants to help the soil retain its moisture and discourage weed growth. Further, pull any weeds on sight and dispose of them far away from your garden.

Continue adding nutrients. Fertilize the parsley once a month using a general purpose fertilizer to sustain production of the herb for the entire season. You can also add compost to the soil to help keep it full of nutrients, giving your parsley an extra boost.

Harvest the parsley. When the parsley sprouts out with sets of three leaves that are fully developed, it is ready to be picked. Harvest the parsley slowly throughout the season by cutting the outer stalks of the plants just above ground level to encourage additional growth. Harvesting the leaves from the top of the plant will reduce your yield.^[4]

Freeze the leaves for later use, or dry them and store them in airtight containers. Use your stored parsley within a year for optimal flavor.

EditTips

The roots of parsley plants are also edible. Depending on the variety of parsley you grow, the roots may be similar to parsnips or carrots. Raw or cooked, the roots are great in soups, stews and vegetable mixes.

Parsley also grows well indoors in a sunny location. If you grow parsley inside, be sure to use deep pots to allow the plants to develop their long roots.

EditWarnings

Hot, dry weather may cause your parsley plants to turn brown. If this happens cut the plants back, removing any dead plant matter, and water them generously.