From the Outside-In
Parsley grows from the center of the plant. When harvesting stems, pinch from the outside first to harvest the oldest and keep the new growth coming. You can either harvest entire stems or single leaves. Leave at least one third of the leaves on the plant to allow it to photosynthesize.
Two-Year Grower
Parsley is a biennial, meaning it will put out foliage the first year, and come back the next spring to go to seed. You'll notice the plant start putting out new growth in early spring, and it will quickly "bolt", or start putting out flowers. As soon as you notice flowers on the plant, do not harvest the leaves; they'll be tough and bitter.
The flowers will turn from a mix of white and yellow to green. The green balls are all seeds. Once the plant begins to die back and the stalks turn brown all the way up to the seeds, cut off the seed heads and place in a paper bag. Roll the bag shut and allow the heads to dry completely for about 2-3 weeks. To pull the seeds from the heads, simply shake the bag. Return the empty seed head to the garden or compost pile.
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Read up on how to care for parsley here. For information on preserving parsley, please check out our complete Preserving Herbs guide.
