Parsley: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow parsley outdoors?
Sow parsley outdoors from spring to late summer when local conditions allow, in sun or partial shade. Prepare fertile, moist but well-drained soil and rake the surface finely. Make shallow drills about 1 cm deep, with rows 20 to 30 cm apart.
Water the drills, sow the seeds thinly along them, then cover with soil and water gently. Keep the seedbed moist without soaking it. Germination is slow and can take several weeks, sometimes a month or more.
Thin established seedlings to about 15 to 30 cm apart, depending on the variety and packet instructions. Sow small batches every few weeks to spread your harvests. A year-round supply outdoors depends on the climate and any winter protection.
Mark both ends of the row and note the date so you do not accidentally cultivate the area during the long wait. Remove weeds by hand without scratching deeply around the seeds. Sowing directly into a pot at least 25 cm deep and wide avoids later transplanting. In hot weather, pay particular attention to the surface: it can dry out even while the soil remains moist farther down.
How do you plant parsley?
Plant young parsley plants outdoors in spring or early summer, adapting the timing to your climate. Gradually acclimatise plants raised under cover before planting them out. Choose sun or partial shade and fertile soil that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged.
Water the root ball, then plant at the same depth as in the original pot, keeping root disturbance to a minimum. Leave about 15 to 30 cm between plants, depending on the variety. Gently firm the soil and water well.
For container growing, choose a sufficiently deep pot with drainage holes and suitable potting compost. Keep the soil evenly moist while the plants establish, and wait until growth has resumed before harvesting heavily.
Seed-raised plants can move to their final position when they are about 10 to 15 cm tall and have a well-formed root ball. Prepare a hole wide enough to accommodate it without squeezing the roots. For containers, a depth and width of at least 25 cm is a useful guide. In very hot weather, move the pot into light shade to reduce drying, and check moisture before each watering.
How to care for this plant
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Weed
Identify the young plants before starting. If weeds grow between them, remove them gently by hand without loosening the herbs’ roots.
How do you harvest parsley?
Start harvesting parsley once your plants are established and have enough leaves to keep growing. Cut a few leafy stems from the outside near their base, using clean scissors. Leave the centre and enough foliage intact for further growth.
Harvest as needed during the growing season. In cold weather, growth slows and winter picking depends on protection, light and temperature. Parsley usually flowers in its second year, so renew your plants for a regular leaf supply.
Use the leaves fresh when possible. For freezing, rinse them, dry them well and chop them before placing them in a suitable container, or freeze them in ice-cube trays with a little water for cooking.
Take one or two stems at a time from several plants rather than stripping a single plant. Choose green leaves and discard any that are yellowing, damaged or dirty. Avoid pulling the stems, which could disturb the roots of young plants. If you prefer to dry part of your harvest, hang small bunches in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place. Once the leaves are fully dry, store them in an airtight container; their flavour will be less intense than that of fresh leaves.
Parsley
- Type : Aromatic plants
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical Family : Apiaceae (umbelliferae)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Biennial
- Exposure : Partial Shade
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Mature height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse crops : Unheated greenhouse
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 0.5 cm
- Plant Spacing : 10 cm
- Row Spacing : 20 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing