How to Grow Parsley

Compact and easy to grow from seed, parsley produces tasty fresh-flavoured leaves from late spring through to autumn. It makes an attractive edging to herb and veg beds and grows well in containers, in sun or partial shade. Choose from curly-leaved or flat-leaved types for a wide range of culinary uses.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial

Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle over the course of two years. In the first year, biennials typically produce leaves and roots but no flowers. In the second year, they flower and produce seeds before dying. Some common biennials include foxgloves (Digitalis), honesty (Lunaria annua) and viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare). herb, meaning it grows leaves in its first year, then flowers and sets seed in its second year. When grown as a culinary herb, it's usually treated as an annual and discarded after its first year. It’s easy to grow from seed, indoors or outside, but can be slow to germinate. Parsley grows 30–60cm (12–30in) tall, depending on the variety, and provides repeated harvests if you just take one or two stems from each plant at a time.

Parsley is not just a decorative garnish, chopped leaves can be mixed into salads or included in cooked dishes, such as casseroles, sauces and pies. It’s frequently teamed with garlic and onions, as it’s said to freshen the breath and cleanse the palate.

There are two main types of parsley to choose from – flat-leaved varieties, which tend to have a stronger flavour, and curly-leaved varieties, which are more decorative and are still tasty but have a slightly milder flavour. Curly-leaved parsley plants are typically shorter than flat-leaved plants. When choosing varieties to grow, look for those with an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which shows they performed well in our growing trials –see our list of AGM fruit, veg and herbs (135kB pdf) and our Recommended Varieties below. You'll also find a wide range of herbs, including parsley, in the RHS gardens, so do visit to compare varieties and pick up growing tips and inspiration.

What and where to buy 

Parsley is widely available as seed in garden centres and from online retailers, both of which may also sell plug plants

Seedlings or young plants grown singly in small modules, with the advantage that they can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. Bedding plants and young veg plants are often sold as plug plants of various sizes, with smaller ones requiring more aftercare. They usually need to be potted up and grown on indoors until large enough to plant outside. in spring. Slightly larger plants, often in 9cm (3½in) pots, are also available in garden centres in spring and summer.

Many supermarkets also sell pots of parsley plants but these are designed for short-term, indoor harvesting – the pots usually contain lots of thin, overcrowded seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. . There are biosecurity

Measures aimed at preventing the spread of potentially harmful organisms (pests, diseases or invasive species) into the environment. These include sourcing plants responsibly, quarantining new plants and practising good garden hygiene. risks (such as introducing plant diseases) associated with planting herbs bought in supermarkets outside, so this should be avoided.

Recommended Varieties

'Titan' AGM

A robust variety of Italian parsley. Flat leaves with a strong flavour.

Read more

'Moss Curled' AGM

Produces green rosettes of tightly curled leaves on short stems.

Read more

'Bravour' AGM

A good curly-leaved variety with an excellent classic parsley flavour.

Read more

'French'

Flat-leaved parsley with strongly-flavoured leaves. Ideal for cooked dishes.

Read more

'Envy' AGM

Densely curled leaves that look attractive and have a good flavour.

Read more

Italian parsley

Flat leaves with a strong, clean, slightly peppery flavour.

Read more

+1

Showing 3 out of 6 recommended

Show more

Parsley grows well in fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Before planting or sowing parsley, weed the ground thoroughly then fork it over to break up any hard lumps. If you have poor or very free-draining soil, mix in some well-rotted organic matter. If sowing directly into the ground, remove any stones and rake the soil until it has a fine, crumbly texture. Alternatively, if you’re practising no-dig, mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. the surface with well-rotted organic matter and sow or plant directly into the mulch.

It’s easiest to sow parsley outside directly into its final growing site, either in the ground or in a container. Direct sowing is an effective way to avoid any root disturbance that may be caused by potting on

Moving a plant from one pot into a slightly larger one, once its roots have filled the current pot. Most container plants need potting on every few years. If you leave a plant in the same pot for too long, its roots will become overcrowded (pot bound), hindering growth. or transplanting. Although you can also sow indoors in early spring if you want earlier harvests. Bear in mind that parsley seeds can be slow to germinate, often taking a month or more, so don’t give up on them too soon.

Sowing indoors

From early spring, you can start parsley seeds off indoors – in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill – if you’re keen for an early crop. Sow into modular trays of moist peat-free seed compost

Seed compost is a free-draining compost formulated for germinating seed. It often contains a mix of fine materials including sterilised loam, coir, coarse sand or grit. It contains low levels of nutrients, as high levels could damage seedlings. at a depth of about 1cm (½in). Keep in a warm, bright location, and move seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. into larger modules

Small individual cells, usually in a tray, used for sowing seeds. The resulting seedlings can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. or pots as they grow. They can be transplanted

Moving a plant from one growing position to another, often from a pot to its final spot in the garden. outside when 10–15cm (4–6in) tall (see Planting below), or you can keep a plant or two indoors to grow on a sunny kitchen windowsill.

Sowing outdoors

Sow parsley seeds outdoors from mid-spring to late summer, directly where they are to grow, either in the ground or in a container, in sun or partial shade. Sowing small batches of seeds every few weeks (successional sowing) will give you a plentiful supply of fresh leaves throughout summer and into autumn.

• When sowing in the ground – choose a site with fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Make a shallow drill
  A miniature furrow typically 1–5cm deep, made with a stick, hoe or rake. It is used for planting seeds or bulbs, and ensures they are positioned at the correct depth and spacing. about 1cm (½in) deep, water along the base, then sow the parsley seeds thinly along its length. Cover with soil and water gently. Space any additional rows 20–30cm (8–12in) apart, depending on the size of the variety
• When sowing in a container – choose a pot at least 25cm (10in) wide and deep, and fill with peat-free multi-purpose compost
  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. . Scatter the seeds thinly, then cover with a 1cm (½in) layer of compost and water gently

Make sure the soil or compost doesn’t dry out, and seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed. should appear within six weeks. Thin out the seedlings if necessary, allowing 15–30cm (6–12in) between plants, depending on the variety. The thinnings can be added to salads.

If you don’t have the time or space to grow parsley from seed, you can buy plug plants

Seedlings or young plants grown singly in small modules, with the advantage that they can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. Bedding plants and young veg plants are often sold as plug plants of various sizes, with smaller ones requiring more aftercare. They usually need to be potted up and grown on indoors until large enough to plant outside. or potted plants from garden centres and online retailers. These can be grown indoors on a well-lit windowsill or planted outside in containers or in the ground (see Preparing the ground above). The best time to plant parsley outside is from mid-spring to early summer. Harden-off young, indoor-raised plants to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions.

Parsley will grow well in full sun or partial shade. Position the plants at the same level they were previously growing, and space them 15–30cm (6–12in) apart. Firm them in, then water well.

Once established, parsley needs little attention. Simply water in dry weather, keep weeds at bay, and snip off any lower leaves that turn yellow, to keep plants looking good and encourage new growth.

Watering

To grow well, parsley needs moist but not waterlogged

Describes soil or potting compost that is saturated with water. The water displaces air from the spaces between soil particles and plant roots can literally drown, unless they are adapted to growing in waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted. soil or compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. , so you may need to water young plants to help them establish, and during hot, dry spells in summer. Plants in containers need particular attention, as the compost can dry out very quickly in warm weather, so check the compost regularly and aim to keep it evenly moist. Move containers into a shaded spot during hot, sunny spells, to reduce the need for watering. For more water-saving tips, see our guides below.

Feeding

When growing in the ground, parsley shouldn’t need feeding, but if plants in containers need a boost, consider applying an organic-based, balanced liquid feed every few weeks during the growing season.

Parsley leaves can be harvested from late spring through to autumn – picking regularly encourages plants to produce more leaves. Take a few leafy stems from the outside of a plant, snipping them near the base with scissors or secateurs.

When grown outdoors, parsley dies down over winter, so to keep plants productive bring them indoors or into a greenhouse or coldframe, or cover plants in the ground with cloches. Given sufficient light and warmth, they should continue producing new leaves. However, it’s not worth keeping parsley plants into their second year for cropping, as these biennial

Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle over the course of two years. In the first year, biennials typically produce leaves and roots but no flowers. In the second year, they flower and produce seeds before dying. Some common biennials include foxgloves (Digitalis), honesty (Lunaria annua) and viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare). plants will stop producing tasty leaves and concentrate on flowering and setting seed instead. Although you could just keep a couple of plants, if you can spare the space, so you can collect the seeds for sowing.

Parsley leaves are best used fresh, but can also be frozen or dried for use in winter, after harvesting has stopped. To freeze parsley, chop the leaves and add to an ice-cube tray, then top up with water and freeze. You can then simply add the cubes to your cooking whenever needed.

To dry parsley, hang up a bunch of leafy stems in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place for a few weeks. When fully dried, crush the leaves and store in an air-tight jar. Dried parsley has less flavour than fresh leaves.

Parsley is closely related to carrots and celery, and can be affected by the same diseases and insects. Slugs and snails like to eat parsley, so growing it in pots is often a good option, as the plants may be harder for them to reach. See Common problems below for more information.

Common Problems

Aphids

Aphids are sap-sucking insects, they have many predators and are the basis for many food chains. The sap sucking can cause a lack of plant vigour, dis...

Read more

Carrot fly

The larvae of carrot fly can make a large proportion of carrots and allied vegetable crops inedible.

Read more

Celery leaf mining fly

The larvae of celery leaf mining fly feed within the leaves of celery, celeriac and related plants. Damaged areas dry up and give the foliage a scorch...

Read more

Slugs and snails

Slugs and snails are common garden animals, and they are well suited to the damp, mild climate of the UK. A few species feed on garden plants, but mos...

Read more

Showing 3 out of 4 recommended

Show more