By growing herbs such as parsley at home, gardeners can make sure they have fresh specimens available for seasoning when needed. Parsley seeds should be soaked in warm water overnight before planting. This can help them to germinate, or begin growing. They should be placed in an area of moderate light and in moist and nutritious soil that is just the right temperature. This herb can be grown either in either indoor or outdoor containers instead of flowerbeds for year-round harvesting.
Parsley seeds are more likely to germinate when they have been warmed and moistened first. For this reason, it can be a good idea to soak the seeds in very tepid water for approximately 24 hours before planting. After placing them in the ground, parsley seeds can be watered with boiling water to further provide heat and moisture. This should only be done at the initial planting because doing so at other times could cause the seedlings to burn up.
Before planting parsley seeds, many gardeners like to add manure or fertilizer to the soil. This is because parsley does especially well in soil that has high nitrogen levels, and both of these things tend to increase the amount of this nutrient in the ground. The dirt where these seeds are planted should retain moisture well but should not have patches of standing water after a heavy rain. This means sandy or clay soil should be avoided if possible.
The temperature of the soil is very important when planting parsley seeds, as these herbs may not thrive in very warm or cool climates. An ideal temperature range for parsley is anywhere between 60° and 75° Fahrenheit (16° to 24° C) because the soil will neither be too hot nor too cold. The seeds should be located in a mostly sunny area, and one that is shaded in the afternoon is ideal when growing these herbs in hot climates.
If parsley seeds are planted indoors, shallow containers approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) deep normally provide best results. There should be holes in the bottom of the pots to allow for proper water drainage. These containers can be placed outdoors during the summer months, but may need to be brought indoors during the winter. These herbs should be located in a sunny windowsill and watered once or twice each week. Maintaining the right amount of light and water can be the key to growing parsley plants in containers whether the pots are placed on a patio table or in a kitchen windowsill.