How to Grow Parsley Plants

Plant parsley in the spring after the last threat of frost. Plant in full sunlight in northern climates and partial shade in southern climates. The soil should be dark in color and have a pH level between 5.5 and 6.7. Insert a soil pH tester into the ground to identify the proper location.

Spread a slow-release, granular fertilizer over the area, using the amount specified by the fertilizer instructions for the size of the planting area.

Loosen the soil in the planting area, using a pitch fork or a shovel, or by tilling it if a larger garden site is being planted.

Create a 1/2-inch-deep trench along the length of the site, using the handle of the shovel. Insert the parsley seeds into the bottom of the trench, spacing them at 6- to 8-inch intervals. Cover the trench with soil and pat the top of it lightly. If you are planting parsley seedlings, plant them in holes only as deep as the root ball and the same distance apart as the seeds.

Water the area until it is damp to a 3- or 4-inch depth. Keep the soil constantly moist until the seeds germinate and thereafter to maintain healthy plants.

Spread a 1-inch layer of organic mulch on the ground under the parsley plants, but keep it pulled back at least 3 inches from the stems to prevent rot from developing.

Prune the stems back by one-third in September in a warm regions where the plant will survive the winter. In a colder climates, prune the stems back to the ground to tidy up the landscape, or pull the roots up altogether.