Parsley is such a wonderful herb and is a great addition to any herb garden. Lets take a look at how to grow it and its uses.
Over recent years I have noticed a decline in the popularity of parsley. Not many people I come across seem to like its flavour, which is quite earthy.
I have to admit when I think of curly parsley, instantly that cheesy 90s garnish look pops into my head, Sorry if you still garnish this way. It just isn’t my cup of tea anymore.
But, after growing parsley now for the last few years, I have found it has quickly become one of my favourite herbs to grow and use.
My parsley journey all began when I realized just how easy it is to grow parsley, I also found that it was easy to dry and preserve too.
When we find something that is easy, especially when it comes to growing plants, it is a real motivating force to keep going and persevering with it.
Let me share what I have learnt about parsley and make it your favourite too.
Table of contents
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Where to grow parsley, what does it require?
Parsley comes from the same plant family as dill, carrots and parsnips. The genus group is called Apiaceae.
It is not a mediterranean herb, although, I did read somewhere that said it was.
It requires good moisture, rich soil and some shelter from the hot sun. Mediterranean herbs on the other hand prefer a well draining loose gravely soil, in full sun.
Because it isn’t a Mediterranean herb it does require slightly different conditions to grow in. So when planting your herb garden you need to keep this in mind. If you already grow them, just think of carrots and parsnips and the conditions they prefer to grow in, parsley likes the same.
Because it does get quite large and also needs different growing conditions to my other herbs, I tend to plant my parsley in with my vegetables it is very happy in the deep raised beds I have, that are filled with a rich manure compost.
In pots or in the ground?
If you don’t have a raised vegetable garden then directly in the ground would be preferable.
An area that has good well worked soil, with no sitting water, as well as good protection from the hot afternoon sun would be ideal for growing parsley.
If you are to grow it in a pot it will need to be deep. Parsley has a long tap root so to keep it happy you will need to give it space to shoot this root down deep into the soil.
Pot choice?
Go for a ceramic pot if possible. I have found that these pots seem to be good at holding moisture in, they also don’t tend to get too hot when out in the sun.
Plastic would be my second choice, it too holds in moisture quite well, but they will warm up in the sun. The nice thing with using pots though is that you can move them around. So if you find the spot you chose isn’t working, then maybe move it to another location.
I definetly do not recommend using terracotta, they are naturally porous and really heat up in the sun, this make them fantastic for Mediterranean herbs that don’t like to stay too wet and want to be nice and warm. But, this is not great for parsley which prefers to stay moist and cooler.
Some great companion herbs to grow with parsley.
- Chervil
- Dill
- Fennel
- Lovage
Which variety should I grow?
In terms of difficulty it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose. The growing requirements are the same no matter what. So, if that is the case does it matter which one you choose? Yes and no.
I choose to grow curly leaf parsley, this is because it has a much milder flavour, which I personally prefer. If you are not a huge fan of the flavour, then I would suggest you go for the curly leaf variety. I also love the look of the ruffled leaf.
If on the other hand you love the flavour of parsley then the flat leaf would be the one for you. You may have also seen is named Italian or French parsley, it is the same. Some also say it is easy to chop and cook with. This variety would be really good to use in an alfredo sauce.
How to grow parsley from seed
First off there is the question. Do you need to presoak the seeds before sowing them? No, you do not. Some say it speeds up germination but I have never found this helps.
Direct sowing outside
You can sow the seeds directly into the ground, you do this by thinly sprinkling the seeds into the area you want them to grow, cover them lightly with soil, the seeds want to be around 1/2 inch deep. To direct sow, you will want to do this around April time for a summer harvest.
As they come up you will more than likely need to thin them out. This is so that the pants are not over crowded. As I mentioned earlier these plants can get quick large.
If you choose to do it this way be aware that they are slow to germinate and may take up to 2 months to do so, this is because they will need heat to germinate. But don’t worry the sun will do this as it warms up through spring.
Starting indoors
They can also be sown in seed trays with a seed starting soil. I like to keep mine inside with a heat mat like this one, I love using the heat mat for starting seeds it works so well. They will also germinate a lot faster this way.
You should see growth in around 2 weeks.
Once they get a set of true leaves (these will be the second set of leaves that come in) I will prick out the individual seedlings and repot them into larger pots using an all purpose compost mix this gives them more room to grow on.
The seedings will now need to be moved, they will need to go under a grow light, onto a windowsill or into a greenhouse.
Once the weather outside has warmed and the risk of frost has completely gone, and the plants are a good size, I will then plant them out into their final growing spot. Whether, that is a large deep pot, a raised bed or directly into the ground. The roots are very sensitive so when transplanting them be very careful not to disturb them to much.
Through out the whole process make sure to keep the soil damp, you don’t want it to ever dry out.
Buying it pre grown
If your not into growing from seed that is fine. I too will still buy some my plants pre grown from the local nursery or garden centre. I have even bought potted herbs from the supermarket.
A tip I will share with you is when buying any pre grown herbs is to divided them.
What does this mean? Take a look at the base of the plant, you will probably notice multiple stems coming up. These are actually multiple plants all crammed into one pot. Like any other plants herbs too like space to grow, so being clumped together in a small area will stunt their growth.
To divide them you will need to be very gentle. The roots wont like being disturbed so try and split them very carefully. Then, repot them into either their own pot or well spaced in one pot.
Keep in mind this can get messy. So work on a plat area you don’t mind getting soil on.
They may go into shock, give them time to recover by making sure they stay well watered.
How to plant parsley inside
Is it possible to successfully grow parsley inside?
The seed starting process will be exactly the same as starting seeds indoors in pots. See the heading above.
Now parsley will always be happier outside where it has room to grow. If you are not able to do this and your only option is to grow your plants indoors, then you should follow the same guide for planting parsley in the same way you would for outdoor pots. See above for information on how to do this.
Try to get the deepest pot you can manage in ceramic or plastic, this is so its tap root has room to grow down deep in the soil. You need to give it space to grow.
Do not place it in a window with direct sunlight, instead find a location with bright indirect sunlight.
Keep it in a well venttilated area that doesn’t get too warm.
I am sure it would appreciate a light misting of water every now and then too.
It will want to stay moist, don’t let it dry out but it also wont like being over watered. The best tool I was ever recommended to me was a moisture meter. I love this tool it has saved so many plants from dying on me. Here is a link to the one I own, click here.
Will parsley grow back, how long does it live for?
Parsley is a biennial which generally means in a temperate climate, the plant takes two years to complete its biological life cycle.
So for parsley you will see the best leaf growth and flavour in its first year.
In its second year the plant is going to want to flower. This is the natural process of the plant. The leaf flavour also wont be as good. But this doesn’t mean it can’t be used. For a while you can keep the flower stalks at bay by trimming them back. I will keep using this herb until the very end of its life cycle.
Keep your parsley well trimmed throughout its growing season, it will continue to grow.
Take any bunches you cut off and tie the stalks together with twine, then hang to dry. Dried parsley works great for soups and stews.
Its herbal and culinary uses
Parsley is a rich source of vitamin C and A. It helps to keep our immune systems strong.
It has an earthy green flavour, that is peppery and slightly bitter. Which I think is the reason most do not like its taste of parsley.
Make a parsley sauce by adding the finely chopping herb to a bechamel sauce. This pairs really well with fish or chicken.
Another favourite parsley recipe of mine is Chicken Alfredo fettucine. It the only herb I will add to this sauce.
Parsley is also great added to a salad vinaigrette or you can use the Italian flat leaf parsley in any mixed leaf salad.
You might also want to try a parsley pesto too. It is a nice change from the standard basil pesto we usually see.
