Flat-leaf Parsley
Forest Green Parsley is a compact heirloom herb that brings deep, tightly curled dark green foliage to any garden bed, container, or raised bed. This open-pollinated variety matures in 70-80 days and grows to just 12-14 inches tall, making it perfect for gardeners who want abundant fresh parsley without sprawling plants. The real magic lies in its exceptional heat and drought tolerance, a trait that sets it apart from more delicate parsley varieties, combined with a mild, savory flavor that shines whether you harvest it fresh or dry it for winter cooking.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
14in H x ?in W
Annual, Biennial
High
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Forest Green Parsley delivers the kind of reliability that makes heirloom varieties worth preserving. Its compact, upright growth stays remarkably tidy and clean, while the rich, deeply curled foliage creates visual interest in the garden. What truly distinguishes it is the combination of genuine heat and drought tolerance with a flavor profile sophisticated enough for both everyday cooking and specialty cuisine. This variety thrives everywhere from field rows to container gardens, making it exceptionally versatile for different growing situations and skill levels.
Forest Green Parsley excels as a fresh garnish and in applications where its mild, savory character can shine without being overpowered by competing flavors. The cultivators specifically recommend it for bunching, harvesting whole stems for bouquets of fresh herb, making it ideal for farmers markets and home kitchens alike. Its excellent suitability for drying means you can preserve the season's abundance for winter cooking, when fresh herbs are scarce. The dense, curled foliage also makes it visually appealing as an edible ornamental in garden beds and container arrangements.
Start Forest Green Parsley indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds on the surface or just barely press them into moist seed-starting mix, as light helps germination. Keep soil consistently moist and maintain temperatures around 65-70°F. Seedlings typically emerge within 14-21 days. Harden off transplants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before moving them to the garden.
Transplant Forest Green Parsley outdoors after the danger of hard frost has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 50°F. Space plants 8 inches apart with 12 inches between rows. Harden off seedlings first by setting them outside in a sheltered spot for a few hours daily, gradually increasing exposure over about a week. Water transplants thoroughly after planting and keep soil consistently moist for the first 2-3 weeks as they establish.
Direct sow Forest Green Parsley seeds outdoors after the last spring frost, pressing them lightly into moist soil. Space seeds about 6 inches apart along rows set 12 inches apart. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination occurs in 14-21 days, then thin seedlings to final spacing of 8 inches.
Begin harvesting Forest Green Parsley around day 70-80 from transplanting, when plants have developed enough foliage to sustain regular cutting. Pinch off outer stems at the base once they reach a harvestable size, working your way around the plant to encourage even growth. For bunching parsley, cut whole stems just above soil level, leaving the center growth intact for regrowth. Harvest in the morning after dew has dried for the best flavor and freshness. Continue harvesting throughout the growing season, and the plant will reward you with continuous new growth.
Forest Green Parsley doesn't require formal pruning due to its naturally compact, upright growth habit. Instead, harvest outer stems regularly from the base of the plant to encourage fuller, bushier growth from the center. This continuous harvesting actually keeps the plant tidier and more productive than if left unpruned.
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“Forest Green Parsley is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, preserved and shared across generations of gardeners who valued its combination of hardiness and compact growth. The lineage of curly parsley in European gardens stretches back centuries, and varieties like Forest Green represent the careful selection work of seed savers and farmers who prioritized plants that could handle variable growing conditions while maintaining excellent flavor. By being listed as a heirloom and certified organic by True Leaf Market, this cultivar carries forward the tradition of garden-to-garden seed saving that has kept it viable and relevant for modern gardeners.”