Growing Parsley Indoors — Complete Guide
Yes, Parsley can be grown indoors. Here's everything you need to know: container size, light requirements, watering schedule, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Parsley Indoors — At a Glance
Container Size for Indoor Parsley
Recommended: 8–10 inch pot
Parsley develops a deep taproot over its biennial life cycle. Use a pot at least 8 inches deep. A 10-inch deep container produces the most vigorous plants.
Light Requirements
Hours of Light Needed
12–14 hours
per day, consistently
Grow Light Recommendation
Full-spectrum LED grow light for 12–14 hours, positioned 4–6 inches above plants. South- or west-facing windows also work well. Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley is more vigorous than curly in lower light.
Watering and Humidity
Ideal Humidity: 40–60%
Parsley prefers moderate, consistent humidity. Dry indoor air in winter can cause leaf tip browning — place a tray of pebbles and water beneath the pot to add humidity nearby.
Ideal Temperature: 60–75°F (16–24°C)
Keep away from cold drafts (air conditioning, windows in winter) and excessive heat sources (heaters, ovens). Consistent temperature produces the most vigorous growth.
How to Grow Parsley Indoors: Step by Step
Pre-soak seeds
Soak parsley seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting. This softens the hard seed coat and speeds up the notoriously slow germination.
Sow in deep container
Fill a deep 8–10 inch pot with potting mix. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, 3–4 per pot. Keep soil consistently moist until germination (3–6 weeks).
Thin to one or two plants
Once seedlings have 3 leaves, thin to one or two plants per pot by snipping unwanted seedlings at the soil line.
Provide bright light
Position under grow lights for 12–14 hours or on a bright windowsill. Flat-leaf parsley handles lower light better than curly-leaf varieties.
Harvest outer stems first
Always harvest outer stems from the base of the plant, leaving the inner growing point intact. This encourages continuous new growth from the center.
Common Indoor Parsley Problems & Fixes
Slow germination
Cause
Parsley is notoriously slow — 3 to 6 weeks is normal
Fix
Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting to speed germination
Yellow leaves
Cause
Overwatering or nitrogen deficiency
Fix
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; feed with a diluted liquid fertilizer monthly
Bolting in second year
Cause
Normal biennial behavior — parsley flowers in year 2
Fix
Treat as annual and start fresh seeds each year
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Parsley indoors?
Yes, Parsley can be grown indoors with the right conditions. You'll need 12–14 hours of Bright light or grow lights, a 8–10 inch pot, and temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C). The difficulty level for growing Parsley indoors is Easy.
How much light does indoor Parsley need?
Indoor Parsley needs 12–14 hours of light per day. Full-spectrum LED grow light for 12–14 hours, positioned 4–6 inches above plants. South- or west-facing windows also work well. Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley is more vigorous than curly in lower light.
What size container does indoor Parsley need?
Parsley develops a deep taproot over its biennial life cycle. Use a pot at least 8 inches deep. A 10-inch deep container produces the most vigorous plants.
Best Cities for Growing Parsley Outdoors
If you're growing Parsley indoors year-round, check the outdoor calendar for your city — you may be able to grow it outside during warmer months too.
Growing Parsley Outdoors Too?
Find the best planting times for Parsley in your city with our climate-based calendar.