Collecting the seeds from your parsley plants means that you’ll have plenty of seeds to sow the following year.
In this post I’ll show you how to collect, store and plant parsley seeds from your garden.
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Parsley is an easy herb to grow and it can reach 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) tall, depending on the variety.
There are many different types of parsley including flat leaf, curly leaf and Hamburg parsley and the process of collecting and saving the seeds is the similar for all parsley varieties.
I’m growing flat leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum) which is also known as Italian or continental parsley.
Parsley is a biennial plant which means it will produce flowers and seeds in its second year of growth.
It can be used as a decorative accent plant in the garden and it can also be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill.
How to collect parsley seeds
After the parsley plants have finished flowering, leave a few flowers on the plant until they turn brown.
Cut the flowers off using scissors and place them in a paper bag to finish drying out.
Leave the paper bag in a cool, dry place for about two weeks until the flowers are completely dry.
Remove the dried parsley flowers from the paper bag and crush them to release the seeds.
Gently blow to remove the debris and the parsley seeds will be left behind.
Store the seeds in an envelope or small paper bag and write the date and type of seeds on the front.
Place the parsley seeds in the envelope, and store it in a dry, cool spot until you’re ready to plant them.
If you don’t pick the parsley flowers, your plants will self-seed.
That means they will drop their own seeds so that next year you’ll have new plants without needing to sow any seeds.
How to plant parsley seeds
Parsley seeds are slow to germinate so it’s best to start them indoors in early spring and plant them out in the garden in spring when the weather has warmed up.
You can also plant the seeds directly in the garden if you prefer.
Choose a spot in the garden that is partially shaded and sow the seeds about 1/2 inch (12 mm) deep.
Parsley seeds are very small so it can be difficult to space them out but you can always thin them out later.
Keep the soil evenly moist and the seeds will germinate in 21 to 28 days.
Once your parsley plants are about 2 inches (5 cm) high, they can be transplanted into the garden or into larger pots to grow on.
Parsley plants are easy to care for and they don’t need much water or attention once they’re established.
Parsley is a very hardy plant and can withstand cold temperatures in spring and fall if it’s not too severe.
Harvest the leaves throughout the growing season as you need them and trim the plants back in fall when they’ve finished blooming.
Parsley is commonly used as a garnish but it can also be added to soups, salads or pesto.
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So there are my tips for collecting, storing and planting parsley seeds.
Have you tried collecting parsley seeds from your garden? Let me know in the comments below.
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