What do I feed parsley
Zoe Patterson
Updated on May 09, 2026
Parsley is a hungry plant, so use a general granular plant feed in the soil before sowing or planting out and feed with a liquid plant food throughout summer. Should plants start to flower and go to seed, remove the flower heads immediately.
What is the best Fertiliser for parsley?
Parsley grows best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Fertilize plants in garden beds once or twice during the growing season, using a 5-10-5 commercial fertilizer at a rate of three ounces per 10 feet of row.
How do you fertilize parsley?
Apply a 5-10-5 vegetable garden fertilizer, using 1.5 ounces of fertilizer for every 5 feet of the garden bed. Spread the fertilizer in a strip a few inches away from the row of parsley, and immediately water to help carry the fertilizer’s nutrients to the parsley’s roots.
What nutrients does parsley need to grow?
Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A, E and C and includes many essential minerals like iron and calcium. It is also used as a natural breath freshener. Hardy plants grow 10-20 inches tall and make a remarkable border around gardens.How do you care for a parsley plant?
Space parsley plants 6 to 8 inches apart in an area with full sun and nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.7. Offer partial shade if growing in warm climates. Before planting, ensure your native soil is packed with nutrients by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.
Does parsley need feeding?
Parsley is a hungry plant, so use a general granular plant feed in the soil before sowing or planting out and feed with a liquid plant food throughout summer.
Should I Fertilise parsley?
Fertilising parsley is a must as you will probably be constantly taking prunings for your meals, so they need the extra food for new growth. Apply fertiliser once a week for strong growth. Parsley can be harvested at anytime and is great in most cooking applications.
Why are my parsley leaves turning yellow?
The most common reason for parsley turning yellow is because the soil is too damp as a result of of boggy ground, over watering or the parsley is planted in a pot without drainage holes in the base. Parsley prefers moist soil with plenty of organic matter that allows for good drainage.How much sunshine does parsley need?
Light. Parsley prefers full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days, for optimal growth.
How often should you water parsley?Parsley that is grown outdoors requires a thorough watering once or twice each week. The soil should be damp to a depth of around 2 inches. Allow the soil to mostly dry before you water in abundance again. Keep the water around the base of the plants and try to keep the leaves as dry as possible.
Article first time published onDoes parsley like a lot of water?
Once a plant reaches full size, parsley needs 1 to 2 inches of rain or supplemental water per week to continue growing well. Water is the crucial element for keeping parsley happy. If you let the soil go too dry, the plant withers and dies. But don’t go overboard with the water or the roots will rot.
Can I use potting soil for parsley?
Potting Soil Mixture Most regular potting soil is too light to use to grow herbs, but normal garden soil is not suitable for growing parsley in a container.
Why does my parsley not grow?
Parsley likes consistent moisture but cannot tolerate boggy soil. Keeping the soil evenly moist will make for happy plants, but too much or too little water can cause wilting. Full sun locations in the summer may also see limp leaves and stems appearing during the middle of the day.
How do I make my parsley bushy?
Cut the outer leaves and stems down to the ground, leaving the inner stems to grow. Don’t be afraid to cut too much. Your parsley will love it. Once you have pruned the parsley, mulch around the plants with mature compost to aid in water retention.
How long will a parsley plant live?
Parsley plants are biennial which means that they live for two years and at the end of the second growing season will flower and produce seeds. When growing parsley for seed production, remove every imperfect or weak plant so that only the healthiest plants can fertilize each other.
Does parsley regrow after cutting?
Yes, parsley will regrow after cutting. In fact, the more you cut the stems, the fuller the plant will get, and the larger your harvest will be.
Does parsley need mulch?
Sow seeds, cover, firm down and water well. … Water regularly to keep soil moist and mulch around the base of the plants with organic mulch like sugar cane or pea straw to help retain moisture. Harvest when leaves are dark green and remove flowering stems to help extend the harvest window.
How do you care for potted parsley?
Indoor parsley care is easy. Keep the soil lightly moist and empty the saucer under the pot after every watering so that the roots don’t sit in water. Feed the plants every two weeks with fish emulsion or half-strength liquid fertilizer. You can grow other herbs in the container with parsley, if desired.
How do you trim parsley for growth?
Just as with other herbs, parsley likes to be snipped, which encourages additional growth. Bunch the stems and leaves together and snip them off at ground level with kitchen shears. You can also just take a sprig or two starting with the outside stalks first. Be sure to cut at ground level though.
Can parsley get too much sun?
Similarly, your parsley can become damaged due to being exposed to too much sunlight. Parsley plants love full and bright sunlight, but this can become detrimental during the summer months when the sun is particularly hot and full light hours are longer.
Can you grow parsley over winter?
You can overwinter spring sown Parsley that you’ve been picking from all summer long. These plants will have developed tap roots and should be hardy even with some frost and snow. A more reliable method for lots of fresh tasty leaves overwinter is to sow Parsley in August.
When should parsley be pruned?
Some gardeners agree that the best time to trim your parsley is when it’s about 6 inches tall. In their reasoning, this is when you get the most parsley that has the best flavor. On the other hand, some experts say that you should cut back a parsley stem only when it has developed an adequate number of leaves.
How do you revive wilted potted parsley?
If your potted parsley is consistently wilting despite frequent watering then transplant the parsley to a larger pot with lots of compost to help retain moisture. With frequent watering and some protection from the intense heat of midday sun the parsley should perk up again after a few days.
Why is my parsley curling?
Aster yellows is a disease that is caused by an organism identified as a phytoplasma, formerly known as a mycoplasma. … Disease symptoms in parsley are foliage abnormalities, sometimes causing grossly distorted and curling leaves.
Can you grow parsley in the shade?
Both curly and flat-leaved parsley grow great in shade. A true biennial, parsley produces only foliage its first growing season. Most common parsley varieties survive the winter in all but the coldest climates.
What does Overwatered parsley look like?
Overwatering: Some people will see a parsley plant’s leaves turning yellow and will automatically water the plant. And will do it again and again, even right after a rainfall! And the parsley leaves keep turning yellow and eventually the plant roots rot and the plant dies.
Does parsley grow well in pots?
But parsley can actually be pretty awesome, and it thrives in container gardens with its herb cousins like basil and thyme. … Like many herbs, parsley needs a sunny spot and consistent water. That’s about it. It doesn’t need a lot of room, which makes it perfect for container gardens.
How do you trim herbs to promote growth?
Always cut your herbs with sharp, clean scissors or clippers. This prevents plant damage and promotes the growth of the plant. If you are pinching with your fingers, clean your hands before starting. Start snipping leaves from annual plants like Basil, cilantro, stevia and dill* as soon as the plant is strong.