Planting and care
How to grow parsley
Cool/Warm season · Biennial, usually grown for first-year leaves
Seed or young transplant in mild weather
10–18 in tall and wide
About 60–90 days from seed or 30–45 days from an established transplant.
Light feeder
Compact Herb
How to prune
Remove entire outer stems at the crown, leaving central new growth. Remove yellow leaves and flower stalks; second-year plants often bolt and need replacement.
How to harvest
Cut the oldest outside stems close to the base; leave the young center growing. Avoid clipping only the leaf tops, which leaves unproductive stalks.
Harvest and kitchen use
Fresh leaves and stems for soups, salads and sauces; freeze chopped leaves.
Nutrition and garden value
Aromatic herbs provide flavor and small amounts of vitamins/phytonutrients
High customer value in small space; flowers on many herbs support pollinators/beneficial insects
Common challenges and troubleshooting
Bolting, winter injury or root rot varies by herb