Pretty easy, actually. I usually direct sow the stuff early in the season and it does well for me. It does take some while to germinate if you don't treat the seeds first. I don't treat the seeds but if you search back through back posts you will find what others do to pre-treat their parsley seeds to speed germination. Pretty much you think it has failed and about the time you are considering a replant, there are new little parsley sprouts coming up.

Patience can be an issue if you are not expecting seeds to take that long. This can make people think seeds have failed when they really didn't. Replanting rows.....etc. I don't know the particulars but could this be possible?

FataMorgana

There's an old saying, "Parsley has to go to the devil and back seven times before it grows." I guess an old-fashioned way of what Fatamorgana is saying - it takes a while. You can try soaking the seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting them. And don't let the soil dry out completely while waiting for germination. We had an extremely wet growing season this year and Italian flat leaf parsley grew exceptionally well.

Thanks. Since it is so hard to get parsley going. Is it practical for the home gardener to grow enough parsley to use as salad greens on a regular basis during the growing season?

Parsley really isn't that hard and you shouldn't be deterred. Here's a link to a thread on starting parsley that you may find useful: trick to parsley?? GardenWeb:Herbs thread

Please try parsley again. Make sure to get good quality seeds. While there are good deals to be had, be careful buying seeds at some of your "discount marts." They may be poor quality seeds - and I'm quickly coming to that opinion after hearing all the difficulties people here have on starting very easy to grow herbs from seeds that they got from "discount marts." If you are going to take the time and effort, start out right. I included a link below for a place that you can get seeds from very inexpensively and I have had very good luck with.

I grow enough parsley in a few plants to use fresh as well as harvesting to dry it for winter use. Since I direct sow the seed, my parsley is ready late summer into fall. To stretch the season, start some indoors in late winter and direct sow outdoors with your early spring garden planting. They will be ready at different times. Take care not to disturb the roots during any transplanting for best results.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinetree Seeds - Parsley

Thanks FataMorgana

Yep, mu seeds were from the discount stores.

I have been having very good luck winter sowing curly parsley. I've never tried flat leaf though, since someone here on the web advised me to grow the curly for butterflies since there is more leaf (eating) suface.

My wintersowing is so easy!! About four years ago I purchased two of those big plastic trays that come with clear lids and 72 peat pellets. I winter sow everything in these! I've just been buying the refills of pellets and reusing the trays. The trays with the pellets were about $7 each when I bought them. The pellet refils are about $3. This past summer my brother found a bunch at a garage sale, so I don't have to buy them this year.

A lot of people don't like finding the netting from the pellets in their gardens the next spring. They can get to be a slight pain. I usually score the netting along the sides, so it's not quite so bad. But, I think it's all worth it since it's so so easy.

I think I'll try some flat leaf this year.