We Discovered the BEST Way to Make Your Parsley Thrive All Summer Long

Parsley Plant Basics

How to Care for a Parsley Plant

Parsley grows best in cool summers; it will quickly fade in heat and doesn’t do well in hot climates in the summer. In warmer places, grow it in fall and winter. The seeds can be finicky and take from seven to 30 days to germinate, so it’s easier to grow this herb from seedlings. Plant seedlings in the ground or pots after all danger of frost has passed.

Sunlight

Parsley is one of the few herbs that, although it loves full sun (six or more hours of direct sunlight), will also tolerate some afternoon shade. In fact, in hot climates, it prefers afternoon shade.

Water

Keep the plants consistently moist, and do not allow them to dry out completely.

Soil Type

Parsley tolerates most soil types, but it does best in well-drained, rich soils. If you have heavy clay soil, which may stay too wet, plant in pots.

Fertilizer

Apply a balanced fertilizer twice a season, or use a water-soluble fertilizer in containers every month or so to keep the plants producing.

Parsley is easy to grow with few issues. However, you may occasionally encounter fungal diseases such as leaf spot or powdery mildew, which show up as ugly brown or tan spots. Space the plants well to allow good air flow to prevent these diseases, which can kill the entire plant, from developing. Aphids occasionally appear, too; simply blast them off with a spray from your garden hose.

How to Harvest Parsley

You can snip off individual stems or leaves as needed once the plant reaches about eight inches in height. If taking the whole stalk, snip off the entire stem, close to the ground, starting from the outside of the plant. Harvesting this way will ensure a steady supply all season long.

Types of Parsley

There are two basic types of parsley:

• Italian, or flat-leaf (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum), which has leaves that resemble celery leaves. It grows about three feet tall and has a more open, gangly habit. Many people say its flat leaves have a more intense flavor.
• Curly leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum) has tightly curled leaves. It grows about eight to 14 inches tall.

There’s also a type of parsley called root parsley (Petroselinum tuberosum), which has edible leaves and a white root that is cooked like a parsnip or turnip. It’s grown far less frequently in gardens than the other types of parsley.

Yes and no. While it’s technically not “toxic” like garlic or onions are if a pet ingests them, parsley contains furanocoumarins, which can cause dermal irritation, which is similar to a sunburn, if ingested in large amounts. Also, any plant can cause GI upset, such as vomiting, if eaten in large enough quantities. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so contact your vet if you suspect your pet has ingested parsley.