Parsley: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates

About parsley

Parsley is a biennial herb that produces generous harvests of vitamin-rich leaves in its first year, useful in everything from chimichurri to tabbouleh.

Spacing & yield

Parsley wants 8×12 inches and about 0.4 lb per plant at ~80 days to maturity.

Growing tips

• Soak seeds overnight — parsley germinates slowly (2-3 weeks) without pre-treatment.
• Harvest outer stems first, leaving the center crown to continue producing.
• In mild climates, parsley overwinters and provides early spring harvest before bolting.
• Grow both flat-leaf (Italian) and curly varieties for different culinary applications.

Common mistakes

• Giving up on germination too soon — parsley routinely takes 14-21 days to sprout.
• Cutting the crown instead of outer stems, which kills the plant.

Harvest & storage

Cut outer stems at the base when they have 3 leaf segments, starting about 80 days from sowing.

Wrap in a damp paper towel and refrigerate for 2 weeks, or chop and freeze in ice cube trays.

Companion planting

Good neighbors for parsley: tomatoes, asparagus, corn, roses. Avoid planting beside: lettuce, mint.

Planting calendar

Start indoors about 6 weeks before last frost, then transplant 2 weeks after frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).

Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.