Herb · Biennial herb (grown as annual)
Parsley
Petroselinum crispumParsley is the slow-starting workhorse of the herb bed, taking its time to germinate but then cropping steadily for months. It is biennial, so plants left in the ground will flower and set seed the following year. The one rule: soak seed before sowing to speed up the notoriously slow germination.
Sow depth
¼ in
Spacing
8 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Sun or part shade
Germination
18–28 days
Time to harvest
70–90 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow parsley
- Sow from about 10 weeks before your last expected frost until about 2 weeks before your last expected frost.
Soak seed overnight — this softens the hard coat and speeds germination.Start indoors in deep modules, since the taproot dislikes shallow trays.Keep the compost consistently moist; germination is slow and erratic if it dries.
Be patient early on — seedlings sit still for weeks before growth speeds up.Harden off gradually and transplant once several true leaves have formed.Water regularly through summer to prevent leaves toughening and turning bitter.
Cut outer stems first — always leave the central crown to keep producing.Harvest a little at a time rather than stripping a plant bare.Flavor is best on younger, outer leaves picked before the plant bolts.
Companion plants
Parsley left to flower in its second year attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps that help protect tomatoes.
Watch out for
Slow, patchy germination — Cool soil and a hard seed coat delay sprouting for weeks. Soak seed first and keep the bed consistently warm and moist.