How to Grow Parsley Both Indoors and Out, According to Gardening Experts

If you’re new to growing herbs, parsley is an excellent beginner's choice—and a great one for experienced gardeners as well. This fresh green will amp up your pasta and seafood dishes; plus, it's remarkably easy to plant indoors and out. Parsley grows from spring well into late fall; harvesting regularly ensures that it keeps producing new foliage all season long. Let our experts guide you from start to finish—or rather, from seed to harvest—with their pro tips and tricks. 

Planting from Seed 

Parsley is easy to grow from seed, although it can be slow, taking three weeks or more to germinate. To start, bury seeds 1/4 or 1/2 inch below the soil surface and keep watered. "You can sow seeds outdoors directly into the ground after the danger of frost has passed in the spring," says Bernadette Gallagher, farm associate at the Case Western Reserve University Farm. "You can also start the seeds indoors a month before the last spring frost and transplant seedlings out after the danger has passed—this will give them a bit of a head start."

Luay Ghafari, creator of and recipe developer at Urban Farm and Kitchen, usually starts his parsley seeds eight to 10 weeks before the last average frost date. "Because the seeds are small, I surface sow them onto a moist, seed-starting mix, then very lightly cover with more mix—but only a light dusting,"  he says. "I keep my trays moist during the germination process by spraying them with water, but a humidity dome will also help keep the growing medium moist and aid in germination. Grow lights will help your seedlings grow strong and healthy before transplanting them outside in the spring." 

Care 

Once your parsley is ready to transplant, Ghafari suggests spacing the seedlings about 10 to 12 inches apart. "If you transplant multiple plants too close together, they may get stressed, flower, and then set seeds prematurely," he says. "Parsley is a biennial, meaning it shouldn't set any flowers in its first season. If it does, it usually means that it was stressed."

Soil 

The most ideal soil for parsley is well drained, and rich in organic matter, with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. There are a number of ways to test the pH of your soil, and it's a great idea to do so before you start a garden each spring. 

Fertilizer 

Once the plant has sprouted its true leaves, you can start to work in fertilizer to boost the beginning stages of growth. "Fertilizing through the growing season once a month should suffice in productive growth," says Sarah Akovic, a regenerative farmer and crop production instructor for the sustainable agriculture program at Lorain County Community College. "I wouldn't recommend using synthetic fertilizers, but side dressing with compost works great."

Container plants also need a bit more fertilizing, so Gallagher advises feeding with a balanced liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks.

Water, Sunlight, and Temperature

Watering should remain consistent. Once planted, keep the soil moist, but try not to over water. While partial sun is adequate for growth, six to eight hours of direct sunlight is optimal. "Full sun creates the most production and vibrant color for parsley," says Akovic. 

Parsley does better in the cooler months, with temperatures around 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot summer temperatures may result in your parsley plant bolting.

Your plants should thrive all spring, summer, and fall—even through light freezes. Freezing temperatures may ultimately kill the foliage, but there's a chance they may sprout again next spring, depending on the severity of your winter. 

Growing in Containers 

You can certainly grow parsley in containers, but it may need a bit more attention. "Containers have a tendency to dry out faster, so be sure to check on and water your plants any time the top two inches of soil have dried out," says Gallagher. "Container plants also need more fertilizing, so feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks."

Parsley grown in containers may never get as large and bushy as plants grown in the ground or in raised beds. "I like to grow smaller parsley plants in three or five-gallon pots that I can bring into the kitchen or leave near my patio door for easy access," says Ghafari. "Make sure the pots are regularly watered, as certain types of containers—like terracotta and fabric—will dry out quickly." 

How to Prune 

Gallagher recommends pruning off and discarding any yellowing or damaged leaves to keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth—but don't get carried away. "Cut the outermost leaves," says Akovic. "But leave at least two to continue growth and allow the plant to photosynthesize."

How to Harvest 

Parsley plants send out new shoots from the center. So when harvesting, it's important not to disturb where these fresh stems and leaves emerge. Ghafari suggests harvesting outer stems first, working inwards. "If you want to harvest larger quantities, make sure not to harvest more than one-third of the plant," he says. "You want to leave enough leaves so that it doesn't get stressed and can continue to grow."

Akovic recommends waiting until there are at least six stems with leaves on the plant. "This will result in a small harvest, and as the plant matures, the harvest will grow," she says.

Common Pests and Diseases

Parsley is a fairly easy plant with few common pests or diseases—though snails, slugs, and rodents can sometimes be a problem. "Be sure to keep the area weed free so your parsley plant doesn't have to compete for light, water, and nutrients," says Gallagher. 

There is one insect, however, that you might appreciate for its added color, and that's the Eastern Black Swallowtail. "These beautiful butterflies lay their eggs on parsley, where the caterpillars will grow until it's their turn to transform into a butterfly," says Ghafari. "If you see these green, black, and yellow caterpillars on your parsley, you can choose to let them stay."