How often should parsley be harvested?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Harvesting parsley:- picking plants frequently keeps them productive and unbothered. But the timing has some large seasonal variation, as well as relationship to ambient temperatures. Here are guidelines for various times of the year that seems to work well. Your plants will thank you.
Spring/Fall Patterns
- Ideal temperature: 60-70°F (15-21°C)
- Frequency: Harvest every 5-7 days
- Growth rate: Rapid leaf production
Summer Adjustments
- Heat protection: Harvest only below 85°F (29°C)
- Timing: Early morning bi-weekly schedule
- Quantity limit: Take only outer stems
Maturity. Young plants will not produce a usable harvest until thirty days after transplanting, while older plants will take weekly cuttings. When working with silver samphire, always inspect the number of stems before shaping. Older samphire should have 8 to 10, never harvest more than a third of the foliage.
Regrowth cycles define when the next harvesting can be done. Parsley generates new stems within 5 to 7 days after being cut. Water each plant well after its harvest. Apply a balanced fertilizer within 24 hours of planting. Rotate harvest areas on a week-by-week basis. This allows each section of the garden to recover.
Special conditions may affect the timing of cuts. Cut the plants monthly during flowering; do not cut if the plants are suffering from drought until they have partly recovered; wait fourteen days between each cutting if the plants have been frost-bitten; container-parsley should be watered three or four times a week after being cut for sale.
Apply these "frequency guidelines" to your own garden. Match harvests to current temperatures. Respect plant recovery periods. Make adjustments for extremes of weather. Your parsley will provide you with light all season long. Enjoy its deliciousness in the cooking.
Read the full article: When to Harvest Parsley: Ultimate Timing Guide
