General Description

Parsley is a biennial plant with bright green, feather-like leaves. It’s in the same family as dill and carrots and is most commonly used as a garnish. Here’s how to grow parsley in your own garden.

This popular herb is used in sauces, salads, and especially soups, as it lessens the need for salt. Not only is parsley the perfect garnish, it’s also good for you; it’s rich in iron and vitamins A and C!

Native to Mediterranean Europe, the parsley plant is a biennial, but is usually grown as an annual in home gardens. After the first year, the leaves tend to become more bitter and tough, but the plant will gladly reseed itself in temperate zones.

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Planting

Pick a spot that gets full sun (6+ hours of sunlight) and has well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. This herb needs more fertile soil than most herbs. Soil pH should ideally be around 6.0—slightly acidic.

Try to also choose an area that is weed-free; it’ll be easier to see the parsley sprouting.

When to Plant Parsley

Parsley seeds can be started indoors or sown directly in the garden. However, the taproot of parsley plants is delicate, so take extra care if transplanting!

• For a head start, plant seeds in individual pots indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date.
• Sow seeds outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost, as parsley is a slow starter.
• For the best germination, soil should be around 70ºF (21°C), though parsley seeds will germinate in temperatures as low as 50ºF (10ºC).

How to Plant Parsley

• The germination rate of parsley seeds tends to be low, so consider soaking the seeds overnight before sowing to improve your chance of success.
• Sow parsley seeds 1/4 inch deep.
• Sow seeds about 6 to 8 inches apart. For larger plants, sow about 8 to 10 inches apart.
• Be sure to keep soil moist while seeds germinate.
• It can take 2 to 4 weeks for seedlings to appear.
• Tip: Plant radish seeds in the gaps between parsley seeds. The radishes will sprout and grow before the parsley appears, and the radishes will mark the row.
• Indoors, you can use a grow light to help seedlings grow. Make sure it remains at least two inches above the leaves at all times.

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