easy · windowsill
How to grow parsley
A biennial workhorse that crops for the better part of a year from one sowing. Slow to germinate, then very generous.
Petroselinum crispum · Apiaceae
Why bother
It is the herb you reach for constantly and the one shops sell in mean little bunches. One pot on the sill covers a household.
What it needs
- Light
- 4-6 hours of light. Tolerates a little shade better than most herbs.
- Water
- Keep steadily moist; it sulks if allowed to dry right out.
- Soil
- Rich, moisture-retentive peat-free compost.
- Temperature
- Wide tolerance, roughly 7-24C.
- Container
- A 20cm pot per two or three plants.
- Time to harvest
- 8-10 weeks — patience early, then months of picking.
- Best season to start
- Sow spring or late summer; year-round indoors with enough light.
Step by step
Day 0
Soak and sow
Soak seed overnight, then sow 1cm deep in damp compost. Keep warm.
Weeks 1-3
Be patient
Keep moist and warm; germination is slow. Do not give up before three weeks.
Week 4+
Thin and grow on
Thin to strong seedlings and feed monthly once established.
Week 10 onward
Pick from the outside
Take outer stems at the base; the centre keeps producing.
What usually goes wrong
Nothing comes up for weeks
Cause: Parsley is naturally slow to germinate.
Fix: Soak seed overnight before sowing and keep warm and moist — it can take 3 weeks.
Leaves turn yellow
Cause: Hungry or waterlogged.
Fix: Feed monthly and make sure the pot drains freely.
Grows well beside
Cherry tomato, Chives
Before you eat anything you grow: be certain of the identification. This guide describes parsley specifically — it is not a way to confirm that an unknown plant is safe. Never eat a plant on the strength of an app alone.