How to Grow Curly Parsley

Choose a suitable planting site. Curly parsley tolerates various soil and lighting conditions, but it prefers locations with full sun and well-drained, organically rich soil.

Prepare your seeds. They germinate better if you soak them in water for about 24 hours before you plant them, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.

Sow the seeds — at a depth of no more than 1/4 inch — after the danger of frost has passed for your area. Allow 12 to 18 inches of space between rows. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, which takes two to five weeks.

Thin the plants when they reach 2 to 3 inches in height. Final plant spacing should be 4 to 6 inches.

Provide a deep watering at least once a week. Don't allow the plants to completely dry out between waterings.

Remove weeds that sprout up around the plants. Apply a light layer of grass clippings or chopped up leaves to prevent weed growth, if needed.

Apply fertilizer once or twice during the growing season, using 3 ounces of 5-10-5 fertilizer for every 10 feet of parsley plants.

Watch your curly parsley for Septoria leaf spot. This fungal disease commonly affects parsley foliage. Apply a commercial fungicide treatment to infected plants. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label. Help to prevent this disease by avoiding overhead watering.

Start harvesting your curly parsley leaves when the plants reach about 6 inches tall. Cut the stems close to the ground to encourage new growth. Carefully remove the leaves from the stems, place them in a plastic baggie and refrigerate them until you're ready to use them.