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Petroselinum crispum

Garden Parsley · Parsley · Common Parsley

Family ApiaceaeGenus Petroselinum

Flat, open heads of tiny yellow-green flowers on branching stems above crinkled green leaves, by a fence
FlowerJames K. DouchCC BY-SA 4.0
A plate of parsley: flat umbels of tiny greenish flowers over finely cut leaves, with a pale taproot, a single flower and ribbed seeds drawn beside it.
IllustrationFranz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-PflanzenPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
HerbExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.7-3 ft20-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.7-1 ft20-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, GreenExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Algeria, Greece, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen.GBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • From the Greek petroselinon, rock-celery. Linnaeus gave its wild home as Sardinia. Wikipedia: Parsley

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 12, 2023.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1460 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 4 years from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 25 days.

71% germination in 19–25 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Petroselinum p. 54Public domain
Show the original text
Petroselinum (Apiaceae). P. hortense (Parsley) germ, in 4th w in 70D confirming an earlier report (2n Ed.). This confirmation is reported because there are numerous popular articles claiming that parsley is difficult to germinate. A sample DS 4 y germ. 72% in 10-18 d in either 70D or 70L and 40(71 % in 19-25 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Petroselinum p. 54. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 16, 2023.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1460 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 4 years from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

55% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Petroselinum p. 54Public domain
Show the original text
Petroselinum (Apiaceae). P. crispum DS 4 y germ. 70D(55% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Petroselinum p. 54. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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