Growing Parsley
Give a slow start time to become useful
Parsley rewards a little patience at the start of the season. Mark the sowing location and date so a slow emergence is not mistaken for an empty patch ready to disturb.
Establish the planting
Parsley is a biennial commonly grown as an annual for leaves. Maryland Extension notes slow germination and suggests about six inches between plants. Use the variety's instructions when they differ, and distinguish seed-starting time from the date an established transplant enters the bed.
Harvest leaves, observe the life cycle
Cut leaves once they are large enough to use. Keep notes on the amount you actually harvest: a few frequently visited plants can be more useful than a long neglected row. A plant retained into its second season may shift toward flowering; plan a new leafy planting rather than assuming the old one will stay unchanged.
Keep a useful comparison
Record seed or transplant, emergence date, first harvest and flowering. That gives you a basis for choosing between starting seed and buying plants next spring.
Sources and next steps
University of Maryland Extension: Parsley supports the growing guidance. Regional timing and cultivar behavior vary; the profile above comes from our curated herb data. Reviewed September 23, 2026.
- Record a parsley observation and include the herb name in your note.
- Compare the herb guides before grouping plants by care needs.
- Understand soil drainage.