Parsley
A biennial usually grown as an annual; sow in both spring and autumn for a year-round supply since it's slow to germinate.
- Sun
- shade
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 20cm
- Harvest
- Ready in 60-85 days
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Expected yield
- Continuous leaf picking for months
- Cost to grow
- ~$4 NZD
- Grocery value
- ~$20 NZD
- Companion plants
- Tomatoes, Asparagus, Carrots
- Plants to avoid nearby
- Eggplant, Leek
- Common diseases
- Leaf spot
- Common pests
- Aphids, Swallowtail caterpillar
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Germination & sowing3-6 weeks (parsley germinates slowly)
- Germination is slow and uneven; keep soil consistently moist while waiting for seedlings to appear
- Sow in both spring and autumn to keep a year-round supply coming
- Aphids can target seedlings as soon as they emerge
Seedling & establishment
- Prefers a shaded spot, unlike most other herbs
- Watch for swallowtail caterpillars stripping young foliage
- Keep soil evenly moist as roots establish
Leaf growth & harvest60-85 days from sowing, then ongoing
- Pick outer leaves regularly to keep new growth coming
- Leaf spot can appear on foliage in humid conditions; remove affected leaves
- Being a biennial, plants will bolt and toughen in their second year as they run to seed