Growing Parsley, also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley

Petroselinum crispum : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Parsley in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 9-19 weeks. Cut stalks from outer part of plant.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, Chives, Tomatoes, Asparagus
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

27 Jun 19, Randall Quested (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi. What ph is suitable for parsley? Cheers thanks.
30 Jun 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Parsley will grow in a pH range between 5.6 (acidic) and 7.5 (neutral) with a preferred range between 6.0 and 7.0.
29 Mar 19, Joanne Townshend. (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Do the hadedas (Egyptian ibis) destroy parsley
30 Nov 18, Brigitte (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Is there a difference between 'bolting' and 'going to seed'? Our parsely was wonderful for quite a long time then large thicker stalks started to appear with sparse leaves, no flower heads that I could detect. I cut off the stalks as close to base as possible but more are appearing.
02 Dec 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
They mean the same thing - bolting to seed. If it is an annual it is coming to the end of it's life and setting seed.
06 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am no expert and have usually grown most things from seedlings. Last year I started trying to grow a lot more from seed. I had a couple of parsley plants from seeds last year. My experimenting has lead to this practice. I made a 1m stand at the back of my shed - on the north side. I have 4 Styrofoam boxes on it. I fill the boxes with a mix of sand soil and compost etc. I then put some good really munched up potting mix on the top (about 25cm) - it is quite fine nearly like rough sand/soil. I plant my seeds and then put some more potting mix on top. I have enclosed the whole thing with shade cloth - about 600mm above the boxes to just blow the box bottom (keeps the birds out and provides shade - cooling in hot weather at the moment). I have set up a spray line above the boxes. I plant the seeds and just put the spray line on for 15-20 seconds a day. I have about 80-90% germination of white onion, leeks and red onions in the last 2 weeks or so. The points from above - keep soil moist and cool and don't disturb the soil and water with heavy watering.
31 Dec 17, Trudi (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you freeze parsley
04 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try doing it - put into a few bundles and say try using it after a week - a fortnight and a month.
04 Jan 18, Lloyd (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes. Wash it first. Let it dry. Take the leaves off the stems. put it through a kitchen whiz. Store in airtight containers in the freezer. When required for soups etc,.scrape the parsley directly into the soup.
27 Dec 17, Thabani Mazibuko (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
what other cultivars of parsley beside; flat leaf variety and curley leaf variety that can grow well in Southern Africa? where can i get at least four(4) of the parley varieties to research on
Showing 11 - 20 of 81 comments

Hi Doug, Everyone I know has had all their flat parsley go straight to seed this summer with the heat. Some has finally self-seeded just in the last 2 weeks (now the weather is starting to cool).

- Barb

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