Parsley

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Start parsley indoors 9 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 8 in (20 cm) apart.

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended
  1. Start indoors9 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestabout 80 days after planting out

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 80 days after planting out

Optimal Direct Sow

From seed
  1. Sow outdoorsaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestabout 75 days after sowing

Growing parsley

Spacing in the row
8 in (20 cm)
Between rows
15 in (38 cm)
Planting depth
1/4 inch
Sun
Partial Shade
Soil
Well-drained, rich in organic matter, pH balanced
Germination
14-30 days at 60-70°F
Harvest season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Mature height
12-18 inches
Life cycle
Biennial

Sow shallowly, keeping soil consistently moist for reliable, albeit slow, germination.

Watering. Keep soil consistently moist; avoid waterlogging. Critical during germination and establishment.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid feed (half strength) once true leaves appear.
Growing
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during active foliar growth.
Flowering and fruiting
Not typically grown for bloom; fertilize for foliage production.
How often
Every 4-6 weeks
Note
Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can reduce flavor intensity. Focus on consistent, moderate feeding.

Your parsley, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add parsley to your planting calendar →

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