Petroselinum Species, Curly Parsley, Garden Parsley

Parsley is a very easy herb that simply loves to grow. I had to move mine once and was astounded at how LONG and spread out the roots ge...Read Moret! No wonder it grows back so faithfully every time I harvest it to use in the kitchen. These long roots get very thirsty, so though you don’t want to over-water it (don’t water it if the soil is wet one inch down), make sure to give it plenty of water when it does need water, because it soaks it up fast and needs the water to keep the curly leaves from getting dried and brittle.

If you’re not harvesting your parsley to use pretty regularly, make sure to prune it now and then to help it grow nice and full. There’s no reason not to be harvesting it for yourself, though—adding a little parsley to the top of any meal is a quick way to make it more impressive!

Parsley is wonderful planted alongside chives. They have very similar coloring but the curly parsley and straight chives is a wonderful contract in texture that is pleasing to see in your herb garden. Don’t bother trying to propagate via cuttings—they will not work.

I have a fancy parsley plant that came back from the winter. I just kept it there because it was flourishing so well. Planted some basil,...Read More dill, lemon thyme, chives with it for company. The other day I found a little fella munching on it. He doesn't eat much so I am going to keep taking his picture until he gets his wings. When he does he will be an Eastern Black Swalowtail. Parsley is one of their favorite foods. So if you like butterflies planting some parsley outside will attract this one if you live in any of their zones. I am sharing a picture in the forum of my parsley and my little guest.

I first saw Curley Parsley planted among the flowers at Brookgreen Gardens at Murrell's Inlet in South Carolina. I found the seeds local...Read Morely and started them in peat pots. When the plants were a couple of inches high, I alternated them with varigated liriope plants, making a lovely border around the flower bed. I didn't find seeds on the plants and will be pleasantly surprised if plants emerge next Spring.

Surprisingly to me, curly parsley is a perennial in my garden in the Pacific Northwest (Zone 8b-9a), not having needed any replanting in ...Read Moresix years now. I clip off the flowerheads in summer before the seeds mature, and after August or so, the plants stop trying to flower and just start putting out more lush leaf growth instead. They stay green and delicious throughout the winter. I am able therefore to use it as a low border to planting beds, as well as for culinary uses. It is one of several biennials that I have tricked into being perennials.

I buy parsley plants now and then because they are pretty, useful, and because some butterflies will use these as larval plants. I am hap...Read Morepy to feed caterpillars to enjoy the butterflies they become!