Your Guide To: Parsley
Let’s get garnishing with this flavorful herb!
Parsley is truly a jack of all trades. It can enhance curb appeal when planted in your landscaping and the flavor of your favorite meals like pasta or salad. Whether you are using the herb as a landscape decoration or garnish on food, it is a must-grow, and we are here to tell you how.
How to Keep Parsley Happy
It doesn't matter where you live—parsley can be grown successfully anywhere. If you live in the North, plant your parsley in the spring. If in zones 7+, go ahead and plant in the fall. Normal winters in the South and Southwest provide wonderful growing conditions for parsley. When planting in any region, space your parsley 6 to 8 inches apart in rich soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.7. Parsley thrives in cool, moist soil, so we recommend putting down some mulch around your plant. Not sure what zone you're in? Find out here.
How Much Lighting Does Parsley Need?
Place your parsley in an area of full sun or partial shade. If you are growing indoors and worried your space will not get enough light for your parsley plant, a grow light is a great solution. Grow lights bring the strength of the sun indoors, even in basements or other dark areas of your home.
How Do I Know When to Water Parsley?
The soil surrounding parsley should be consistently moist, so it is recommended to water your plant twice per week. If growing indoors, make sure to plant your parsley in a pot with drainage holes to avoid root rot.
How Do I Use Plant Food for Parsley?
Plant food is an important part of fostering healthy growth. We recommend feeding your parsley plant with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food once every 7 to 14 days. The plant fertilizer instantly feeds to grow bigger, more beautiful plants compared to unfed plants. Just mix with water according to package directions and feed at the base of the plant—it's that easy.
What is Parsley's Ideal Environment?
Parsley can be grown in a variety of places. Plant in-ground in an herb garden, or use it in pots and flower beds as a green foliage filler. You can also grow it in little containers indoors near a sunny window.
How Do I Prune and Maintain Parsley?
There are multiple benefits to pruning parsley. It encourages productivity during the growing season and prevents the leaves' flavor from turning bitter. Check in on your plant every once in a while throughout the season and trim the stems and flowers whenever necessary.
Show Them You Care
How Do I Harvest Parsley?
Gather parsley stems and leaves as needed. Harvest parsley by cutting the leafy stems from the base of the plant. This will also serve to make the plant grow back bushier.
How to Address Common Parsley Issues
Parsley is enjoyed by the brightly striped parsleyworm caterpillar. The parsleyworm will not kill the plant, just munch. Leave them be if you see any. As soon as they move on to the next step in metamorphosis, you can cut off damaged leaves and fertilize your plant, and it should recover. Keep an eye out for whiteflies, however. To get rid of whiteflies, thoroughly spray the undersides of parsley leaves with insecticidal soap.
What to Do if I Still Have Questions
Our plant experts are here for you if you need advice about parsley or buying herb and vegetable plants online. With a vast array of plants for delivery, you'll be sure to find the right option to elevate your space. Visit our website, email at [email protected], or chat live with a Greendigs team member to get all of your growing questions answered.