by Francis Jock

Created on: October 12, 2010

Parsley is a bright green garden herb that is a favorite garnish and finish for a variety of zestful recipes. It has finely segmented, fern-like leaves that are either flat or curly, depending on variety. Growing to a height of 8 to 12 inches, parsley is widely used as a companion plant in gardens and is a favorite herb for container gardening.

Gardening Containers

Parsley is an excellent plant for growing in all sorts of garden containers. To start your container garden, you should find some 3" deep garden pots that are made especially for growing parsley from seed. A example of a starter set just for growing parsley is the Herb Garden Gift Set with Organic Soil, available from Amazon.com.

Parsley grows quite well in a container by itself or with other herbs  as long as it receives plenty of sun. Once the parsley seedlings have taken root, you can transplant them to a deeper, 10-inch planting pot. A deep garden container is needed for the plant to have plenty of room for it’s roots.

Soil and Fertilizer

The best soil for growing parsley in a garden container is fertile, well-drained rich loam with a high nitrogen content. You can choose to make your own rich garden soil by composting kitchen scraps in a suitable container. Be sure to check the pH-level of your soil before planting. Testing the pH-level, or acidity of the soil only requires that you buy an inexpensive soil testing kit from your local hardware store or greenery. If you prefer to purchase bags of garden soil, buy garden soil that is nutritionally blended and balanced for growing flavorful herbs like parsley.

Starting your container garden

The recommended depth for planting parsley seed only 1/4" in small "drills", or holes poked into the soil's surface. After sowing your parsley seeds they should be covered with a light layer of compost. You can purchase parsley seed from your local garden shop, or on line. A nice assortment of 12 culinary herb seeds for you herb garden, including parsley, is  available from Amazon.com. 

Location

The most important thing about growing parsley is that it flourishes in open, well drained in full sun and moderate shade. The soil should be kept moderately moist, so it needs a regular supply of water to keep producing new leaves. Water deeply at least once a week to insure the roots are receiving enough moisture during the growing season.

The great thing about growing parsley in a garden container is that, during the summer season, the plants can be

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>