Vegetable Growing Guide: Parsley

Germination is very slow, but soaking the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing or watering the drill before sowing then covering with dry soil will speed it up.

For a continuous supply sow ½in (1.25cm) deep in early spring and again in the summer in a sheltered position outdoors or in soil blocks or trays of compost for thinning or transplanting to about 6in (15cm) apart. In winter cut back the flowering stems to prolong the cropping period.

Root Parsley (Hamburg Parsley) needs a long growing season. Sow in early spring ½in (1.25cm) deep in drills 12in (30cm) apart and thin out to 9in (23cm).