How to Grow Parsley from Seed

Nothing completes a homemade soup or salad like a sprig of aromatic parsley fresh out of the garden. Low-maintenance once established, this often finicky herb does take a bit of patience to get started.

Whether you live in a warm climate and you’re eager to sow directly into the garden, or you live in a cold zone with a shorter growing season and you’re eager to get a jump on the preparations to provide a springtime bounty, our guide can help.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Read on to discover our top tips to successfully start parsley from seed.

Is It Hard to Grow Parsley from Seed?

Not at all! But you may need to be patient at first, to get the results you’re looking for.

Parsley is known for being a bit difficult to get started, with a less than stellar germination rate. But with our tips, you’ll be well on your way to producing a successful harvest.

While it’s quick and easy to grab a bunch of fresh herbs from the store, how many times have you done this and used exactly what you needed in a recipe, only to leave the rest to rot in the bottom of the fridge after you forgot it was there?

When you grow your own, there’s no unnecessary waste, and you can save money, too.

Packets of seeds are easy to obtain, and affordable. Mature plants can even be allowed to overwinter, so you can start harvesting seeds of your own for planting the following season.

If you produce more than you’re able to use right away, fresh parsley can be dried in a low oven or dehydrator, or blended into pesto and other sauces and frozen for later use.

Anything that remains beyond that, you can feel free to toss on the compost pile, to

plants soil gardening seeds germination parsley cover Heather Buckner