Parsley

Planting parsley

Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost, or sow outside early in spring. Soaking seed overnight speeds up its slow, uneven germination.

Planting details

• Germination can take 2 to 4 weeks
• Spacing: 6 to 8 inches
• Seed depth: about 1/4 inch

Growing requirements

Parsley tolerates partial shade and cool weather, and it does best in rich, evenly moist soil. As a biennial it flowers and turns bitter in its second year, so most gardeners treat it as an annual.

Harvesting and care

Cut whole outer stems at the base rather than snipping leaf tips. Regular cutting from the outside keeps the plant producing fresh growth from the center.

Common mistakes

• Giving up on seed that has not sprouted after two weeks
• Letting the bed dry out, which slows already slow germination
• Cutting the central crown, which stops regrowth

Companion plants

Tomatoes, peppers, and asparagus sit well beside parsley. If a few plants bolt, their flowers feed small beneficial wasps.