How to Grow Parsley in Your Backyard: A Step-by-Step Guide

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a hardy and versatile herb that thrives in a variety of growing conditions, making it an excellent addition to any backyard garden.

Parsley is a biennial herb belonging to the Apiaceae family, which also includes other famous vegetables and herbs such as carrots, celery, and dill. It has finely divided, feathery leaves that can be curly or flat. The plants can grow up to 30.5-46 cm (12-18 inches) tall, producing a rosette of leaves in their first year and flowers in the second year before setting seed.

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, parsley is relatively easy to grow and maintain. This guide will provide you with all the essential steps and guidelines to successfully cultivate parsley in your backyard.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Variety

Parsley has 2 main varieties/types:

1. Curly-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum)—This herb has tightly curled, frilly leaves and is commonly used as a garnish.
2. Flat-leaf parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum) – Also known as Italian parsley, this variety has broader, flat leaves and a stronger flavor, making it the preferred type for cooking.

Choose the variety based on your culinary needs and aesthetic preferences. Both varieties are easy to grow.

Step 2: Selecting the Planting Site

Parsley prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hot climates. When selecting a location in your backyard, ensure that the area receives at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day.

Parsley grows best in well-draining, loamy soil rich in organic matter. The ideal soil pH is 6-7. Before planting, loosen the soil and add compost or organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient content.

Step 3: Planting Parsley

You can plant parsley using seeds or plantlets (transplants). Here’s how to start each:

Starting from Seeds:

Parsley seeds can be sown directly in the garden 2-4 weeks after the last spring frost or indoors (e.g., in the house or a greenhouse) 8-10 weeks before that time. To improve and accelerate germination, a pre-soaking (in water 12-24 hours before planting) of the seeds might be needed. Parsley seeds have a tough outer coating and can take longer to germinate. You can sow the seeds 0.6 cm (0.25 inch) deep, spacing them about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) apart to give the plants enough area to grow. Parsley tends to have relatively low germination rates, so you are advised to sow seeds densely and thin seedlings later to maintain proper spacing.

Starting from Transplants:

You can buy small plants (seedlings) from a plant nursery in your region. In this case, you can space them in your pot or yard about 15-25 cm (6-10 inches) apart, depending on the variety and available space.

Step 4: Watering and Care

Parsley requires regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Maintaining moderate moisture levels is important, especially during hot weather. Prefer to water deep once or twice a week, ensuring the soil remains moist (but avoid waterlogging/overwatering since it can lead to root rot). Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this can stress the plant.

Many gardeners (especially in warmer regions) apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. You can use organic mulch, such as straw or compost.

Step 5: Nutrient needs – Fertilization

Parsley benefits from regular application of nutrients throughout the growing season. You can use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer or add organic compost to the soil. A general advice is to fertilize once every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. If you prefer organic methods, compost or well-rotted manure can be worked into the soil before planting and applied as a top dressing throughout the season. It is essential to avoid over-fertilizing. Excessive nitrogen can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flavor, so follow the recommended application rates for fertilizers.

Step 6: Managing Pests and Diseases

Parsley is generally pest-resistant, but some common garden pests may affect it, including aphids, spider mites, and parsley worms (caterpillars of the black swallowtail butterfly). If pests appear:

• Aphids and spider mites: Control them by spraying the plants with water or using insecticidal soap.
• Parsley worms: These caterpillars are harmless to humans and are often left in gardens to support butterfly populations. However, if you want to remove them, handpicking is an effective solution.

Parsley is also susceptible to fungal diseases, such as leaf spots and mildew, especially in damp or crowded conditions. To prevent disease, ensure good air circulation, exposure to sunlight, and water at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry and avoid overcrowding.

Yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies. Check your watering schedule and consider feeding the plant with a balanced fertilizer.

Step 7: Harvesting Parsley

Parsley is ready for harvest about 70-90 days after planting seeds or once the plant reaches 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) in height.

• How to harvest: To harvest parsley, snip the outermost leaves at the base, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing. This method encourages the plant to produce more foliage.
• Harvesting frequency: You can begin harvesting parsley once it is established and continue to do so throughout the growing season. The more frequently you harvest, the bushier the plant will become.

Step 8: Preserving Parsley after Harvesting

If you have an abundant parsley harvest in some point in the growing season, you can preserve the leaves for later use by drying or freezing them. You can bundle parsley sprigs and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place. Once fully dry, store the leaves in an airtight container.

If you want to freeze the leaves, you can chop them into small pieces and put them in the freezer. Frozen parsley retains more of its flavor and nutrients than dried parsley.

Conclusion

Parsley is a rewarding herb to grow in your backyard, offering fresh, flavorful leaves throughout the season. By following these guidelines on planting, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting, you can enjoy a bountiful parsley crop that enhances your cooking and provides valuable nutrients. Whether you grow it from seeds or transplants, parsley’s adaptability makes it a great choice for any home garden.

References

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/parsley-petroselinum-crispum/  

https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170416/nutrients

https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-parsley

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/parsley/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/parsley, https://algemeen.verstegen.nl/en/over-kruiden-en-specerijen/parsley/, https://usaregenalliance.org/blog/parsley

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-792/parsley

https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/parsley/grow-your-own

https://www.wifss.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Parsley_PDF.pdf

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2024/03/26/spice-up-your-life-a-beginners-guide-to-growing-parsley/

Further reading

Parsley: Uses, Nutritional Value, and Health Benefits

Basil in pots – Basil in the garden – Everything you need to know

Growing Spearmint in my Backyard

Common Sage Uses & Plant Information

Peppermint Plant Information