Every kitchen needs Parsley. No garden is complete without parsley. Both curly and flat-leaf parsley are loaded with flavor and productive over a long period in the garden. Parsley is cold-hardy and can even be harvested for much of the winter.
Grow parsley in a deeply dug bed. Add a generous amount of finished compost to the bed several weeks in advance, or the previous fall. For summer crops, aim to grow plants in a place where they will receive some shade during the day.
Native to Europe, parsley is a biennial plant that is generally grown as an annual culinary herb. Growing in clumps of lacy foliage about a foot high, parsley has triangular dark green leaves that make for a good garnish or an aromatic addition to recipes.
Best planted in the spring, most varieties of parsley grow fairly slowly, establishing maturity between 70 to 90 days after planting.
Moreover, different varieties of parsley yield different flavors, so consider how you’d like to use the herb before choosing what to plant in your garden. For example, curly parsley is a little bitter for some palettes, while flat-leaf parsley (also known as Italian parsley) is less bitter.
Quick Answer: How to grow Parsley indoors from seed? You can plant parsley from seed indoors starting in early spring. Simply plant seeds around ¼ inch deep into a fresh potting mix. Use a well-drained Pot, and plant directly into the pot that you want to grow the plant in, rather than in a seedling pot, as parsley does not transplant well
How do you germinate parsley seeds indoors?
Place the dry seeds in a small dish, cover them with very warm (110°F/43°C) water, and let sit overnight. Pour off any seeds that float, and strain the others onto a paper towel. Plant immediately, and keep moist until the seeds sprout.
How long does it take to grow parsley from seed?
As parsley is slow to germinate, often taking up to four weeks, soaking the seeds for 24 hours in lukewarm water will help to hasten. You may also start seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost. Parsley prefers soil enriched with plenty of organic material, such as compost and well-rotted manure
Types of Parsley
Parsley comes in several cultivars, categorized into distinct groups:
Curly (common) parsley: This group includes the standard type of parsley, which is easy to grow and attractive in the herb garden. Common varieties of curly parsley include ‘Forest Green’ and ‘Extra Curled Dwarf’, a fast-growing compact type.
Flat-leaf parsley: This group includes varieties that have flat leaves and grow relatively tall up to 36 inches. It tends to be more flavorful than curly parsley. A popular cultivar is ‘Titan’, which is a compact plant with deep green serrated leaves.
Italian flat-leaf parsley: These parsley varieties have a slightly peppery taste. A favorite cultivar is ‘Giant of Italy’, which has especially large leaves.
Japanese parsley: These are native to Japan and China and are evergreen herbs with a bitter flavor. They have strong stems that can be eaten like celery.
How to grow Parsley
If starting indoors, sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep, in sterilized seed starting mix, in peat pots. Sow outdoors in drills 3cm (1¼”) deep, spaced 8cm (3″) apart. Thin final plants to 15cm (6″) apart.
Growing
Grow parsley in a deeply dug bed. Add a generous of finished compost to the bed several weeks in advance, or the previous fall. For summer crops, aim to grow plants in a place where they will receive some shade during the day – either on the east or west side of a structure or fence.
For winter crops, start new seeds in late summer and transplant them out to a warm, sunny location by September. Parsley will grow all winter (in mild areas) if cloche protection is provided.
Harvest
Cut individual sprigs from the outside of the plant or the whole plant as needed. Sprigs can be dried in the food dehydrator. Chop sprigs into the portions that your favorite recipes call for, place into an ice cube tray and add water to cover. When frozen, bag and store until needed. This keeps the parsley fresh for months.
Companion Planting
Parsley likes asparagus, carrots, chives, corn, onions, and tomatoes.
Asparagus
Carrots
Chives
Corn
Onions
Tomatoes
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Zone: Hardy to Zone http://planthardiness.gc.ca/
FAQ
Is parsley hard to grow indoors?
Flat-leaf parsley is a perfect plant to grow in containers and indoor herb gardens, thanks to its hardiness.
Is parsley hard to grow from seed?
When: While parsley is an easy plant to start from seed, germination can be a slower process than other herbs. Sow seeds directly into garden soil, three to four weeks before the last frost. For speedier germination, soak parsley seeds overnight before sowing them.
Do I need to soak parsley seeds?
Sow seeds outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost, as parsley is a slow starter. The germination rate of parsley seeds tends to be low, so consider soaking the seeds overnight to improve your chances of success.
How often should I water parsley seeds?
Parsley seeds don’t sprout all at once. Continue to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to encourage more parsley seed germination. Once a plant reaches full size, parsley needs 1 to 2 inches of rain or supplemental water per week to continue growing well.
How much sunlight does parsley need?
Light. Parsley prefers full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days, for optimal growth.
Common Plant Diseases
Parsley doesn’t have any serious disease issues. But it can be prone to fungal diseases, including septoria leaf spots, leaf blights, powdery mildew, and damping off. Starting with quality, disease-free seeds and allowing the plants access to good air circulation can help prevent the onset and spread of disease.
In Closing
Hopefully, you found the answers you were looking for in this article on How to grow Parsley indoors from seed? Happy planting.
