Herb · Leafy / Soft Herb
Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
A biennial herb grown as an annual for its bright, fresh leaves in either flat-leaf or curly form. Slower to establish than most herbs but keeps producing for a long season.
At a glance
Water
Medium
16–28 fl oz/wk
Light
Partial sun
4–6 hrs/day
Space
Small
8 in
To maturity
70–90 days
Edible parts: Leaves
Family: Carrot
Includes carrots, celery, parsley, and dill. Known for feathery foliage and umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
Harvest
Cut outer stems from the base as needed, letting the center keep producing new growth.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 45–75 °F
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.7
- Soil type
- Compost-rich, moist, well-draining soil
- Climate
- Biennial, cold-hardy; usually grown as an annual and often survives a mild winter to flower in its second year.
- Growing season
- Start seed in early spring; germination is slow, so starting indoors gives it a head start.
- Nitrogen
- Low (≈20–40 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Seedling
- Feeding schedule
- Light, regular feeding supports steady leaf growth over its long season.
- Pest resistance
- Moderate - sometimes hosts swallowtail caterpillars, otherwise generally trouble-free
- Pests
- Swallowtail caterpillars: Green-and-black-banded caterpillars that feed on the foliage of herbs in the carrot family, eventually becoming swallowtail butterflies.
- Pruning
- None beyond harvesting outer stems.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— 8in+ pot depth for its taproot.
- In-Ground GardenIdeal
- Raised BedIdeal
- HydroponicPossible— Can work in NFT or media-bed systems, though slower to establish than other hydroponic herbs.
- WindowsillPossible— Tolerates lower light better than most herbs, given its partial-shade preference.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
Companions & antagonists
No known companion pairings yet.
Sources
- How to Grow Parsley in Your Home Herb Garden — Gardener's Path