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Growing Parsley (herb), also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley

(Petroselinum crispum)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
P P P P           P P P

(Best months for planting Parsley (herb) in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)


  • Easy to grow.
  • Harvest in 65-135 days
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
  • Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C.
  • Space plants: 20-30cm

Takes a long time to germinate, about 3 - 5 weeks before the seedlings appear. Grows to about 20 -30cm (8 -10in) until it flowers when the stems will shoot up to about 1m (3ft) .

The useful leaves disappear when parsley flowers so it is best to have some more seedlings ready to plant.

Will self seed and produce plenty of new plants every year. Can survive snow and light frosts

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Parsley (herb)

Use the leaves and stems to add flavour and colour.
Can be cooked in dishes such as ratatouille
Traditionally used in white sauce

Your comments and tips

20 Jun 11 jill-an cram (New Zealand - temperate climate)
good for taking garlic breath away when chewed after a meal and is nice made into parsley butter.
03 Nov 11 (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Also well worthwhile as an alternative to basil in a pesto
11 Jan 12 Shona Hall (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Question. What is the best way to preserve parsley safely and keep flavour. Is freezing in ice blocks ok . or freeflo in plastic bags. I haven,t ever had my parsley grow again by selfseeding. I live in partial cold mountain and temperate zone in Invercargill.Southland, N.Z. Parsely adds extra flavour to salad greens.

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See planting calendar for these climate zones

New Zealand - cool/mountain,   New Zealand - sub-tropical,   New Zealand - temperate  

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