How to Grow Parsley: Planting, Spacing, Care & Harvest

Quick answer

NDSU: start indoors about 10 weeks before last frost and transplant about 3 weeks before. Spacing: NC State seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart; Arkansas thins to 4 to 6 inches — show both. Do not spray insecticides on herbs (UMD). Host for eastern black swallowtail — plant extras rather than kill larvae.

Curly parsley plant (Petroselinum crispum)
H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · source · license

Parsley at a glance

PlantStart indoors: 10 wk before last frost; Transplant: 3 wk before last frost
SunNC State: consistently moist, well-drained rich soil; full sun or light shade; better in cool summers; can wilt in hot humid Deep South.
Waterkeep evenly moist; Arkansas notes death risk if forced long periods above 90°F.
SpacingArkansas: plant 10 to 15 seeds per inch of row, no more than ¼ inch deep; thin to 4 to 6 inches (root parsley 3–5 inches); rows 12 to 18 inches.
Days to harvest70–90 days from seed to a harvestable plant (University of Arkansas)
-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Updated

Planting dates for your ZIP: the ZIP planting planner counts each window from your local frost dates.

Organic pests and diseases: see also organic pest control. Use any product as the label directs.

Herbs: University of Maryland Extension says do not spray insecticides on herbs. Parsley hosts eastern black swallowtail caterpillars — plant extras rather than kill them.

Curly parsley plant
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Photo: H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized).

Planting timing

NDSU time chart: sow 10 weeks before last frost; transplant 3 weeks before last frost. (NDSU H1139) Planner uses start indoors −10 and transplant −3. NC State: plant seedlings after spring frost; start seed indoors before spring frost or outdoors after frost or midsummer; long germination — seedlings easier. (NC State) UMN herbs: cool-season herb; start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting; transplant after frost danger; soil consistently ≥50°F. (UMN herbs) Arkansas Extension: hardy; plant when soil warm in spring; soak seed overnight; 70 to 90 days seed to harvestable plant; late fall for winter harvest or late winter for spring; early spring cold can trigger first-year flowering. (Arkansas Extension) CSU: parsley listed semi-hardy — as early as 0–2 weeks before average last spring frost. (CSU Extension)

Depth and spacing

Arkansas: plant 10 to 15 seeds per inch of row, no more than ¼ inch deep; thin to 4 to 6 inches (root parsley 3–5 inches); rows 12 to 18 inches. NC State: seedlings 8–12 inches apart; minimize taproot disturbance when transplanting. The finish-spacing sources differ (Arkansas 4–6 in vs NC State 8–12 in), so we show both — closer favors leaf harvest; wider favors larger plants.

Sun, soil and water

NC State: consistently moist, well-drained rich soil; full sun or light shade; better in cool summers; can wilt in hot humid Deep South. UMN: most herbs ≥6 hours sun; well-drained; pH about 6.0–7.5; avoid soggy soil. UMD herb care: ≥6 hours for most herbs; drainage critical. Water: keep evenly moist; Arkansas notes death risk if forced long periods above 90°F.

Care

Biennial: leaf year 1; flowers/seed year 2 (NC State; Arkansas). Flavor drops when flowering (NC State). Remove flower stalk and keep harvesting if desired (Arkansas). Fertilizer: NC State fertilize outdoors twice in the growing season — no rates. UMN fertilize lightly. UMD: do not over-fertilize herbs. Harvest: snip outer stalks (NC State); when about 8 inches tall. Arkansas: leaf by leaf when established; dry surplus; refrigerate washed leaves. Swallowtail: parsley is a host (NC State). Prefer planting extras over killing caterpillars.

Types

Describe groups without cultivar lists (NC State): curly-leaved (var. crispum), Italian flat-leaf (var. neapolitanum), Hamburg root (var. tuberosum). Days: Arkansas 70–90 from seed. NC State harvestable ~8 in height.

Pests and diseases (organic)

UMD: “Do not spray insecticides on herbs.” (UMD herb problems) NC State insects: carrot weevil, flea beetles, leafhoppers, tarnished plant bugs. Cultural: healthy moist plants; row cover on seedlings where flea beetles are bad. Parsleyworm / black swallowtail: tolerate or plant extra. Diseases: NC State Septoria leaf spot, stem rot. Cultural: air flow, avoid overhead wetness, remove debris.

Related: how to grow dill · organic pest control · ZIP planner

Frequently asked questions

When do I start parsley indoors?

NDSU: about 10 weeks before last frost; transplant about 3 weeks before last frost. UMN: 6–8 weeks before transplant after frost danger.

Why is germination so slow?

NC State / Arkansas: long germination; soak overnight (Arkansas); use fresh seed (Arkansas — seed is short-lived).

Can I harvest the second year?

Yes until it flowers hard; flavor declines when flowering (NC State). Arkansas: can harvest into year 2 if temps are not extreme.

How far apart should parsley be?

NC State: seedlings 8–12 inches apart. Arkansas: thin to 4–6 inches. Show both.

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