Many culinary dishes contain parsley (Petroselinum crispum), which grows in USDA zones 2 to 11, but parsley seeds can be notoriously tricky to germinate. Never fear – with a bit of work and water, even novice gardeners can be proud of the parsley sprouts they coax into growing from seed.
Get to Know Parsley
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, parsley is an herb that finds its roots in Europe and the Mediterranean, two places in which parsley sprouts regularly to this day, though it is grown in many other climates. The plant's scientific name roughly translates to "rock celery" in Greek, though the common name means "waved" or "curled." Its leaves are aromatic and can be used to flavor a wide variety of meats and vegetables. It is often used as a garnish as well.
Generally speaking, it can grow up to a foot tall and about as wide. Its dark-green leaves form into curls in some varieties or flat leaflets. It's a seasonal bloomer and produces small yellow-green flowers. Beyond its many culinary applications, the parsley plant also finds use as an attractive landscaping plant found in containers, along edgings and in hanging baskets. It is generally planted in the garden after the final spring frost date.
Making Sure Parsley Sprouts
According to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the best way to make sure you have a good amount of parsley is to start it from seed, but getting it to germinate can be tricky though not impossible with a bit of know-how. Parsley seeds are covered in a very hard shell, and this needs to be softened in order for the parsley seeds to properly germinate.
First, wash the seeds in water with a drop of dish detergent mixed in a jar. Shake the jar well, rinse the seeds twice and soak the seeds in the jar overnight. Remove the seeds, gently dry them with a paper towel and plant them in soil at 1/4 inch.
It can take between 10 and 28 days for the seeds to germinate, and it is also important to note that the seeds have a variable germination rate, which means the parsley sprouts will come out at different times. Keep the seeds in a sunny location and keep them moist. The ideal parsley germination temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, according to PennState Extension. The appropriate temperature range is 50 to 85 degrees.
Tips for Parsley Seeds and Sprouts
According to the University of Minnesota Extension, direct seeding is the least labor-intensive way to start parsley sprouts and seedlings. The ideal time to sow seeds directly into the soil is after the last spring frost date.
Give the seeds a cover of 1/8 inch of soil to help keep the parsley seeds moist. Give the parsley seeds and sprouts a lot of sun. Like most herbs, they enjoy a good deal of light, ideally six hours a day, though parsley sprouts can also handle partial shade.
Try not to lose track of the parsley seeds and sprouts when growing them among other plants. The parsley seedlings will look kind of like grass when they emerge from the soil, and it is a good idea to mark each part of a garden that has parsley sprouts about to pop up. The best time to thin the weaker-looking parsley sprouts from a potential crop is when they are between 2 and 3 inches tall. Try to shoot for a final spacing of 10 to 12 inches.
Doug Johnson is a Canadian writer, editor and journalist.