Crops › Parsley
How to grow Parsley
in the US
Sow March to September, plant out October, harvest May to November. About 75 days from seed to plate. You can sow it this month.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Parsley is a proper kitchen staple, easy to grow and ever so handy for all sorts of dishes. You can always find a spot for it on the plot, in a raised bed, or even a pot on the patio. It's one of those herbs you'll use constantly, you know what I mean.
Sowing
Parsley can be a bit slow to get going, to be honest, so don't fret if it takes a while to pop up. For most zones, you're looking at sowing from late winter through spring, then again in late summer, early fall depending on your first and last frost dates. Zones 3 and 4 might sow April to June, while zones 9 and 10 can get going as early as January. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch (6mm) deep, either direct in the ground or in trays indoors. Keep the soil moist, and once they're up, you can sow a small batch every few weeks for a continuous supply.
Growing on
Once your indoor seedlings are big enough to handle, gently prick them out into individual pots. When they're a bit bigger and the danger of your last frost has passed, harden them off properly before planting them out. Space them around 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) apart, or you can keep some in containers on a sunny windowsill. Parsley doesn't need any special support, it just gets on with it.
Looking after it
Parsley likes a consistently moist soil, so give it a good drink, especially in dry spells. A bit of general purpose feed every now and then won't hurt, but it's not usually a hungry plant. Mulching around the base can help keep the moisture in and weeds down. Just keep harvesting the outer leaves and it'll keep producing for you.
What goes wrong
The main nuisances for parsley on my plot are usually slugs, who love a tender young leaf, and sometimes aphids can show up. Keep an eye out for them. Planting marigolds or nasturtiums nearby can sometimes help deter them, like I say, it's worth a try. Otherwise, just pick the slugs off by hand, or give aphids a spray with some soapy water.
Harvest
You'll be ready to start picking your parsley in about 75 days from sowing, sometimes quicker. Just snip off the outer leaves as you need them, letting the inner ones keep growing. This encourages the plant to produce more. If you end up with a proper glut, you can chop it up and freeze it in ice cube trays with a bit of water for later, or just keep it in the fridge.
I always make sure I've got a row of parsley on my plot, you know, it's just so handy for pretty much everything and really perks up a dish.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Giant of Italy This cracking flat-leaf variety is a real staple for the kitchen. Perfect if you want plenty of flavorful leaves for cooking and freezing. | No club votes yet |
| Single Plain A straightforward and dependable variety, ideal for direct sowing into your garden. It's a solid choice for beginners looking for a reliable harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Dark Green Italian This flat-leaf type gives you lovely dark green leaves with a proper strong flavor. Great if you're starting seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse before planting out. | No club votes yet |
| Gigante Catalogno As the name suggests, this one produces really big, robust leaves. It's excellent for big harvests, especially if you get it going indoors early. | No club votes yet |
| Titan A tough and reliable variety that does well when sown straight into the ground. It's a great choice for a steady supply of leaves all season long. | No club votes yet |
| Plain Italian Another cracking flat-leaf variety, known for its consistent growth and good taste. Start this one undercover for a reliable early start before moving it outside. | No club votes yet |
| Triple Curled This fancy variety has lovely tightly curled leaves, great for garnishing your dishes. It's a good one to get started indoors for a bit of a head start. | No club votes yet |
| Moss Curled A classic curled parsley, hardy and perfect for sowing direct into your garden patch. It's a good all-rounder for both cooking and a bit of decoration. | No club votes yet |
| Festival This variety is known for its vigorous growth and excellent flavor, a real workhorse on the plot. Get it going undercover to give it the best start before transplanting. | No club votes yet |
| Champion A strong performer that gives you plenty of tasty leaves throughout the season. Start it indoors for a reliable crop you'll be chuffed with. | No club votes yet |
| Krausa This one's a vigorous grower, making it ideal if you want to keep cutting fresh leaves all summer. Just sow it direct where it's going to grow. | No club votes yet |
| Forest Green Produces lovely deep green leaves with a proper strong parsley taste, a good solid choice. Ideal to start in a cold frame or greenhouse to get it established. | No club votes yet |
| Paramount A very uniform and reliable variety that's great for consistent harvests. It's also a cracking choice if you want to freeze some for later. | No club votes yet |
| Prezzemolo This is a sturdy Italian type that performs well when sown directly into your garden. You'll get plenty of aromatic leaves from this one. | No club votes yet |
| Lisette A nice compact variety, great for smaller spaces or even a container if you start it undercover. It still gives you plenty of flavor for your cooking. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Parsley seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April to June | June to September |
| Zone 4 | April to June | June to September |
| Zone 5 | March to June | May to September |
| Zone 6 | March to September | May to November |
| Zone 7 | February to September | April to November |
| Zone 8 | February to October | April to December |
| Zone 9 | January to November | March to December |
| Zone 10 | September to April | February to December |
Cook the harvest
Gremolata is a Milanese condiment of finely chopped parsley, lemon zest, and garlic that is scattered over osso buco at the last moment, cutting through the richness of the braised veal with fresh, bright contrast. It takes five minutes to make and transforms any slow-braise, roast fish, or grilled vegetable it touches. The ratio of parsley to zest to garlic is everything — keep the parsley dominant.
5 min · easyAuthentic Lebanese tabbouleh is primarily a parsley salad with a modest amount of bulgur — the proportions most Westerners reverse. The fine-chopped parsley, tomato, and scallion are dressed with lemon and olive oil to create a salad that is bright, herby, and immensely refreshing. It is essential to chop everything finely by hand so the textures integrate without any single element dominating.
30 min · easyPersillade — the French mixture of finely chopped parsley and garlic — stirred into softened butter creates a versatile compound butter that elevates nearly any savory dish it touches. Slice a coin onto grilled steak, melt over roasted vegetables, stir into hot pasta, or spread on bread before toasting. The key is using a truly generous amount of parsley so the butter is thoroughly green and fragrant.
10 min · easyA thick, brilliant-green parsley crust pressed onto salmon fillets turns an everyday piece of fish into something genuinely striking. The crust is made from parsley, breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest, and olive oil — it sets in the oven to form a fragrant, slightly crispy shell that keeps the salmon moist underneath. The whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal effort.
25 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: marigolds, nasturtium
Questions people ask
When do you sow Parsley in the US?
Sow Parsley from March to September in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out October, after the last frost.
How long does Parsley take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest May to November.
Which Parsley varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Giant of Italy, Single Plain, Dark Green Italian, Gigante Catalogno and more.
Track your Parsley from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.