Quick facts
| Fact | Figures given |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Hardy biennial, usually grown as an annual (UMD, Illinois, Wisconsin); leaves in year one, a flower or seed stalk in year two (Arkansas, Wisconsin) |
| Size | First-year rosette about 12–18 in tall (Wisconsin); 12–18 in high and wide (UC Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County); curly types 8–14 in, Italian flat-leaf 2–3 ft (UMN) |
| Sun | 6–8 hours of direct sun, tolerates light shade (UMN); full sun with afternoon shade in hot areas (UC Master Gardeners) |
| Germination | Seedlings may take 2–3 weeks to emerge (UMass); 2–5 weeks, depending on seed freshness (UMN) |
| Seed to harvest | 70–90 days (Arkansas) |
| Heat limit | Sustained temperatures above 90°F greatly reduce growth and can kill the plant (Arkansas) |
Why parsley is slow to come up
Every source opened for this page calls parsley seed slow to germinate. Wisconsin adds that it germinates unevenly and at a low rate even in good conditions, and Purdue's production guide notes the problem is worst in cold, wet spring soil. Arkansas says the seed is short-lived, so fresh seed matters; UMass suggests checking the germination percentage of older seed and sowing more to make up for it.
- 1. Year one: a leafy rosette about 12–18 in tall (Wisconsin); cut outer stalks close to the ground (UMN)
- 2. Taproot: it dislikes disturbance, so transplant with care (Wisconsin, Illinois)
- 3. Winter: plants tolerate light frost and may resprout in spring, depending on the winter (UMN)
- 4. Year two: a seed stalk forms, leaves turn tough and bitter, and the plant dies after setting seed (Illinois, UMN)
- 5. UMass: seedlings may take 2–3 weeks to emerge
- 6. UMN: 2–5 weeks, depending on seed freshness
Sowing steps
- Soak the seed. Soak overnight before planting (Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas), or in warm water for up to 24 hours (UMN).
- Sow shallow. Cover with about ⅛ in of soil (UMN); no deeper than ¼ in (Arkansas, Purdue); about ⅓ in in a well-prepared seedbed (UMass).
- Keep it moist for the whole wait (UMN, Wisconsin). On heavy soils that crust, Purdue suggests covering the seed with leaf mold, sand or peat instead of soil.
- Mark the row. UMN says to mark rows because germination is slow; Illinois sows quick-sprouting radish seed with the parsley so the row shows and the seedlings are not weeded out by mistake.
- Thin when seedlings are 2–3 in high; they look grass-like at first (UMN).
When to sow or plant
Parsley is planted earlier than tender herbs such as basil. UNH's planting table sets parsley transplants out 2–3 weeks before the last frost, after 9–10 weeks from seed to transplant. Purdue, writing for commercial growers, says that in the North, starting plants indoors and transplanting gives better results than direct seeding. Wisconsin suggests several sowings through mid-summer for a steady supply. In Florida, UF/IFAS Pasco County says the best planting time is the cooler months of fall and winter, and that plants may bolt in the hottest summer months. Find your dates on frost dates explained and count back with the planting calendar.
Spacing and containers
| Source | Spacing between plants |
|---|---|
| UMD | About 6 in |
| Wisconsin | 6–12 in |
| UMN | 10–12 in |
| Arkansas | Thin to 4–6 in (root parsley 3–5 in), 12–18 in between rows; its summary table gives 6 × 18 in |
| Purdue (commercial) | Transplants 4–8 in apart on 36 in rows |
For grid beds, see square foot gardening spacing.
- Pot size. UMD lists parsley among the "larger herbs" needing at least 4–6 gal of growing media, 8–12 in deep, a size class above basil and cilantro. More crops: container sizes for vegetables.
- Mind the taproot. It dislikes disturbance, so handle transplants carefully (Wisconsin, Illinois).
- Drainage. Use pots with drainage holes (UMN) and well-draining soil; UF/IFAS lists root rot from waterlogged soil, and infected plants cannot be saved.
- Indoors. Give about 6 hours of bright window light, or 12–16 hours under fluorescent or LED lights (UC Master Gardeners); indoor plants may be spindly from lower light (UMN). For winter, plants can be dug in fall, potted (4–6 in pots, Arkansas) and kept in a cool, bright spot, then discarded in spring (Illinois, Arkansas).
Cutting and harvest
- Cut whole stalks from the outside. Snip outer stalks close to the ground; cutting only the tops leaves the plant less productive (UMN).
- Protect the growing point. Cut about 1 in above the soil line (UMass); leave 2–4 leaves and take no more than one third at a time (UF/IFAS).
- Keep cutting. A well-kept planting can be cut three to five times a season (UMass); pick continuously (UC Master Gardeners).
- Remove flower stalks as they appear to keep harvesting leaves (Arkansas, UF/IFAS).
To store fresh parsley, Illinois and Arkansas wash and drip-dry the leaves and refrigerate them in a plastic bag; UF/IFAS keeps stems in water out of direct sun, or wraps them in moist paper towels in the refrigerator.
The second year: seed stalk and bitterness
Parsley overwinters in some gardens, but its second season is short. Illinois says the overwintered plant sends up a seed stalk and its leaves become tough and bitter, so gardeners start new plants each season; UMN harvests until the seed stalk appears and the plant dies, and calls second-year growth more bitter. UC Master Gardeners in Santa Clara County say parsley planted at any time will likely bolt the following spring, so fresh spring transplants give the longest harvest. Arkansas adds that planting too early in spring can trigger early flower stalks, and that plants in a protected spot can be harvested well into the second year.
Pests and diseases
| Problem | What sources say |
|---|---|
| Black swallowtail caterpillars | Feed on carrot-family plants including parsley, dill, fennel and carrot; older caterpillars are green with black bands and yellow spots, about 1½–2 in long, and push out an orange, forked scent organ when disturbed (Wisconsin Master Gardener). They rarely do much damage; hand-pick them or move them to other carrot-family plants (Wisconsin). Or plant an extra parsley for them (UF/IFAS) |
| Aphids | The most common insect pest, often kept in check by natural predators or a strong spray of water (Wisconsin) |
| Caterpillars of cabbage pests | Cross-striped cabbageworm, cabbage looper and imported cabbageworm (UMass) |
| Septoria leaf spot | The most common disease (Wisconsin), seed-borne and spread by splashing; buy quality seed and use drip rather than overhead irrigation (Purdue) |
| Damping-off | The most common stand problem, caused by Pythium and other soil fungi (Purdue) |
| Soil-borne diseases | Rotate parsley plantings each year (UMass) |
This page gives no pesticide or fertilizer rates. Wisconsin's swallowtail fact sheet says insecticides are rarely justified for this butterfly. Ask your county extension office to confirm a diagnosis. Keeping chickens? One extension list names parsley as toxic to them: see herbs and backyard chickens.
Types and varieties
| Type | Traits | Varieties named |
|---|---|---|
| Curly (moss-curled) | Finely cut, used mainly as garnish (Illinois); dense 8–14 in clumps for borders and containers (UMN) | Banquet (Illinois); Forest Green, Green River, Extra Curled Dwarf (Arkansas); Triple Moss Curled (UMass) |
| Flat-leaf (Italian) | More flavor, preferred for cooking (Illinois); stronger, sweeter flavor (UMN, Wisconsin); tends to overwinter better (Wisconsin) | Plain Italian Dark Green, Argon (Illinois); Giant of Italy (Arkansas); Italian Gigante (UC Master Gardeners) |
| Hamburg (turnip-rooted) | Grown for its white, parsnip-like root as well as leaves (UMN, Wisconsin); dig in late fall (Wisconsin) | Hamburg, 85 days and slow to germinate (Arkansas) |
UMN also lists Japanese parsley (Cryptotaenia japonica), a different plant that resembles Italian parsley and tastes more bitter.
Where sources disagree
| Topic | Figures |
|---|---|
| Weeks to start indoors | 9–10 weeks from seed to transplant (UNH); 9 weeks (UC Master Gardeners); 8–10 weeks before last frost (Wisconsin); 6–8 weeks before last frost (UMN) |
| Soil temperature for sowing | Sow once spring soil is warm (Arkansas, Wisconsin) vs "needs cool weather to germinate" (UC Master Gardeners) |
| When to plant out | 2–3 weeks before last frost (UNH); direct-sow after spring frost danger has passed (UMN); seed started in early spring (UMD) |
| Does it overwinter? | Cold hardy and can overwinter (Arkansas); often dies in cold Minnesota winters but may resprout (UMN); "will not overwinter" (UMass, Massachusetts commercial fact sheet) |
| Drying | Drying and freezing lose much of the flavor (UMN) vs leaves and roots keep their flavor when dried (Wisconsin) |
Small-space checklist
- Buy fresh seed and soak it overnight before sowing.
- Sow shallow, keep the soil moist and mark the row; expect 2–5 weeks before seedlings show.
- Give each plant a 4–6 gal pot, 8–12 in deep, or 6–12 in of bed space, with 6–8 hours of sun.
- Cut outer stalks near the base and leave the center to regrow.
- Leave swallowtail caterpillars or move them; check leaves for spots.
- Start new plants each year rather than relying on second-year leaves.
More crop pages: basil, carrots (another carrot-family crop with slow seed), lettuce and spinach.
Sources
- University of New Hampshire Extension — Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden (fact sheet)
- University of Maryland Extension — Parsley (updated 2023)
- University of Maryland Extension — Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing parsley (reviewed 2026)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension — Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Susan Mahr, revised 2026)
- University of Illinois Extension — Herb Gardening: Parsley
- UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment — Parsley (vegetable fact sheet, 2013)
- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture — Home Gardening Series: Parsley (FSA6091, Craig R. Andersen, PDF)
- Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service — Parsley: A Production Guide (HO-202, Simon, Rabin and Clavio, 1988)
- UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County — Spice Up Your Life: A Beginner's Guide to Growing Parsley (Julia Sirchia, 2024, updated 2026)
- UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County (UC ANR) — Parsley (updated 2026)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin Master Gardener — Black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Susan Mahr, 2015, PDF)
All sources were opened and checked in October 2026. Rules and figures change; confirm with the original before acting.