Compact and easy to grow from seed, parsley produces nutritious tangy leaves through summer and into autumn. It makes an attractive edging to veg beds and grows well in containers. It comes with either curly or flat leaves. You can use it in salads, sauces, butters, and on top of many types of cooked food.
Parsley is an indispensable herb in many gardens. With its vibrant green leaves that pack a punch of flavor, vitamins and minerals parsley brings color and nutrition to dishes. Growing parsley from seed can ensure you have a steady supply of fresh leaves for months. However, parsley’s long germination time can be frustrating. Here’s how to get parsley seeds to sprout quickly and successfully.
Why Parsley Seeds Are Slow to Sprout
Parsley seeds have a dormancy period you must overcome before they will germinate. This survival mechanism prevents seeds from sprouting prematurely in the wild. For gardeners, it translates to excruciatingly slow germination that can take 3-6 weeks!
The key is replicating spring growing conditions to break dormancy. Parsley thrives in cool weather and can even germinate at cold temperatures. However, warmer soil speeds up the process.
How to Boost Parsley Germination
Follow these tips to bypass parsley’s stubborn germination:
Soak Seeds in Warm Water
Pour hot water (110°F) over seeds and let soak 24-36 hours before planting. This jumpstarts the germination process.
After soaking, drain seeds and pat dry with a paper towel. Discard any floaters.
Keep Soil Warm
Ideal soil temperature for sowing parsley is 70-75°F. Use a heat mat if starting seeds in cool conditions.
On a budget? Place seeds atop your fridge which provides gentle bottom warmth as the motor runs. Just monitor soil moisture closely in this dry spot.
Cover Seeds and Keep Humid
Sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep in containers with seed starting mix. Gently water and cover with plastic wrap or a humidity dome to preserve moisture.
Allow Time
Be patient! Soaked parsley seeds can still take 10-28 days to sprout. Avoid overwatering, but don’t let soil dry out.
Check pots daily and remove covers once sprouts emerge. Then provide light to help seedlings thrive.
Growing Parsley from Seedlings
For impatient gardeners, start with nursery transplants instead of seeds. Look for young seedlings vs. older, leggy plants.
Those exposed to consistent warmth germinate better and are less prone to bolting.
Caring for Parsley Plants
Parsley enjoys full sun but appreciates afternoon shade in hot zones. Space plants 10-12 inches apart with good airflow.
Snip outer stems first as plants naturally shed older leaves. Always leave some behind to nourish the plant.
Harvesting and Drying Parsley
Begin cutting parsley when stems are vigorously growing. Curly varieties dry better while flat leaf excels fresh.
To retain color and flavor, dry leaves quickly in a dehydrator or warm oven under 130°F. Store in airtight containers.
Troubleshooting Problems
Slow sprouts? Recheck soil temperature and moisture. Soak seeds longer to break dormancy.
Leggy seedlings? Give more sun and gentle air circulation.
Wilting plants? Improve drainage and avoid overwatering.
Bolting? Start new plants midsummer to avoid heat triggering premature blooming.
Caterpillars? Hand pick or relocate pests to sacrificial “trap plants.”
Diseases? Space and prune plants for airflow. Disinfect tools and avoid overhead watering.
Final Tips for Parsley Germination Success
Patience and care will be rewarded with a bountiful parsley harvest. Key takeaways:
- Soak seeds in warm water for 1-2 days before planting
- Keep soil warm, 70-75°F
- Maintain even moisture but avoid overwatering
- Expect germination in 10-28 days
- Buy young seedlings to skip tricky seed starting
- Start new plants midsummer to extend harvests
- Harvest often, pruning mature leaves first
With the right conditions, you can coax even persnickety parsley seeds to sprout. Soon you’ll have plenty of vibrant parsley to flavor soups, salads, and more!
What and where to buy
People can easily find parsley seeds in garden centers and online. In the spring, both types of stores may also sell plug plants. Larger potted plants are also available in garden centres and supermarkets.
Dark green, densely curled leaves that make an attractive edging to beds and look great in pots. The
Petroselinum crispum Bravour This is one of the best curled leaf parsleys with an… The
Petroselinum crispum French One of the two varieties of flat-leaved parsley, French is the… The
Parsley looks nice around the edges of flower beds, herb beds, and vegetable plots. It also does well in containers. Sow from early spring to early summer for pickings throughout the summer and autumn. Parsley can be sown outdoors or indoors, or bought as young plants.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival
Our detailed growing guide will help you with each step in successfully growing Parsley.
Compact and easy to grow from seed, parsley produces nutritious tangy leaves through summer and into autumn. It makes an attractive edging to veg beds and grows well in containers. It comes with either curly or flat leaves. You can use it in salads, sauces, butters, and on top of many types of cooked food.
It takes two years for parsley (Petrosilenum crispum) to flower and set seeds after growing leaves the first year. So it’s usually treated as an annual and discarded after its first year, then resown each spring. Parsley is easy to grow from seed, but can be slow to germinate. You can either sow outdoors, where it is to grow, or sow indoors and transplant outside later. It can also be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill. Parsley grows in a leafy rosette that is about 30 cm tall. It can be picked many times, taking a few leaves from each plant each time. Parsley, especially curly types, looks great along the edges of beds, and it also does well in pots. So however small your growing space, you’re sure to have room for a few parsley plants. The bright green leaves are full of antioxidants and good for you vitamins, like iron and vitamins A, C, and K. They give salads a fresh, tangy kick. For a brighter look and taste, chop the leaves and sprinkle them over cooked pastas, soups, omelettes, and pizzas before serving. Some people also mix parsley with garlic and onions because they believe it will clean your breath and taste buds.
- Sow outdoors in the ground on in large containers
- Sow outdoors in the ground on in large containers
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| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Harvest | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
There are two types of leaf parsley to choose from:
- Curly-leafed types look great in the garden and on the plate, and they don’t taste too strong.
- This type of parsley, which is also called Italian or French parsley, has flat leaves and a stronger flavor. They are also easier to prepare in the kitchen.
There are several varieties of each, offering larger or more decorative leaves or improved flavours. When picking plants, choose varieties that have an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which means they did well in tests. Here is a list of AGM fruit, herb, and vegetable varieties.
How to Grow Parsley Plants from Seed and How to Speed up Germination.
FAQ
What is the best way to germinate parsley seeds?
Should you soak parsley seeds before planting?
How to germinate parsley quickly?
Why won’t my parsley seeds germinate?
How long does it take for parsley to germinate?
You just might need to pack a little patience. Parsley takes a whopping six weeks to germinate! Parsley, like most herbs, does best in a sunny area with at least six to eight hours of sun per day. Parsley seed growing should be done in well-draining soil that is fairly rich in organic matter with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0.
How do you grow parsley from seed?
Sow the soaked seeds on top of the soil, then cover with 1/8 inch (.3 cm.) of loose soil. When growing parsley from seed, keep the soil moist but not soggy during the germination process. Gardeners can expect seedlings to appear within 2 to 5 weeks. Parsley seedlings can be thinned or transplanted once they reach 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) tall.
Do parsley seeds germinate sporadic?
It’s also very common for germination to be sporadic. How do you germinate parsley seeds faster? Soaking the seeds before planting, and also placing the trays on a heat mat will both help make parsley seeds germinate quicker. Growing parsley from seed can be a bit of a challenge, so remember to have patience, and give them plenty of time.
How do you propagate parsley?
Keep the soil moist while the new plants become established. In warm climates, gardeners can also propagate parsley by allowing it to self-seed. As a biennial, parsley will regrow and produce seeds in its second year. Allow seed heads to mature. The seeds will fall to the ground where they will sprout for a continuous supply of fresh parsley.
