Dark Green Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley Seeds

Parsley seeds germinate very slow, not earlier that 14-28 days after sowing. To shorten the period a little, soak the seeds in warm water for 12-24 hours before sowing. Plant Italian Parsley seeds 1/4 inch deep and 12-15 inches apart in well-drained soil. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date for an early harvest. Or, direct sow outside when the soil has warmed to 50 °F. Cold soil just makes the germination take even longer.

Full sun provides the best, fastest, and most flavorful growth. Partial shade is also acceptable, however, it will grow slower. Parsley is not picky about soil type, provided it is well drained. A heavy clay soil will cause rot roots before it will grow. A compost addition before planting is all it needs. It does require consistent watering, however. The top inch of the soil should dry out before watering. Drought can cause bolting, and once it does, leaf growth is greatly reduced.

Thin seedlings to 12-15 inches. Complete growth bolts quickly and stays short. Harvest the outside growth first, cutting at the base of the stem. This will encourage continued growth. You can add balanced fertilizer at 4-6 weeks to stimulate growth. Too much fertilizer promotes leaf growth at the expense of flavor. In zones 5-9, mulch the crown before the first frost and it often regrow the next spring. This second-year growth will go to seed more quickly, but the extra spring growth is worth the wait.