Growing Instructions for Parsley

Season: 

Summer and Winter 

Flat leaf (Italian) Parsley is a hardy crop and can be grown in winter and summer. Moss-curled Parsley is a bit more fragile in hot areas, but in Gauteng, it grows beautifully in full sun during the winter months. 

 

Position: 

Semi-shade (summer) and full sun (winter) 

Flat leaf (Italian) parsley can be grown in full sun year-round. Moss-curled parsley can be grown in full sun in winter and in semi-shade in summer. 

 

Soil ph: 

Between 6 and 7 

 

Watering needs: 

In summer, water regularly – at least 3 times a week. In winter, once or twice a week should be sufficient. 

 

Possible pests & problems: 

Root rot can occur when overwatering 

Aphids (very rare) 

 

Maintenance & Extras: 

Parsley is quite easy to grow and does not need a lot of extra care and maintenance. Moss-curled parsley can be tricky to grow during the summer months in hot regions. It is advised to keep this variety shaded during summer. 

 

Additional fertilizers: 

Root feed (once a month or once every two months). 

 

Harvest: 

You can wait for your plant to fully mature before you harvest, or you can start harvesting individual leaves when the plant reaches about 20 to 30 cm in height. Always pick the outer leaves first, as the new leaves form from the middle of the plant. 

 

Cultivars: 

The two main types of parsley are the flat leaf (or Italian) parsley and the moss-curled (or curly) parsley. Both are bi-annual, which means they take two seasons to grow to maturity and make seed. In their first season, they produce foliage (leaves) and in their second season, the leaves will get smaller and smaller as the plant is pushing all its energy into producing seed. For this reason, parsley is often treated as an annual and gardeners replace their parsley plants every season. But if you are interested in harvesting and saving the seed from your parsley plant, you can let it grow for another season and let it go to flower. 

 

General: 

On very hot days, your parsley plant might get a bit limp. They usually stand up straight again later in the evening, when temperatures drop. Be careful not to overwater during the heat of the day. During summer months, always water your parsley plants early in the morning or in the evening. To keep the roots cool, use a thick layer of mulch in your garden beds. 

Parsley has a long tap root and can be grown in containers of at least 30 cm to 40 cm deep. 

Parsley grows well with asparagus, strawberries, tomatoes, beans, carrots and maize. Keep it away from leeks, lettuce and mint.