Parsley tests most new gardeners' patience before it tests their growing skill — it is simply slow to appear.
Parsley is notoriously slow to germinate, and it’s easy to assume a sowing has failed when really it just needs more patience than most herbs. It’s biennial rather than annual, and a plant will often keep going through a mild winter into a second year.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in March | Sow in April | Sow in May | |||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in June | Harvest in July | Harvest in August | Harvest in September | Harvest in October | Harvest in November |
Care details
- Sow March – May
Sow indoors or direct — it germinates slowly, so don’t give up on it too soon.
- Harvest June – November
Cut outer stems from the base; it’s biennial and often keeps going through a mild winter.
Growing tips & common problems
- Don't give up on a sowing after two weeks with nothing showing; parsley can take three weeks or more to germinate.
- Soak seed overnight before sowing to speed up otherwise slow, patchy germination.
- Cut outer stems from the base rather than shearing the whole plant, for continuous new growth.
Grows well with
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