Parsley grows better if you regularly cut off a few stems to use in the kitchen. By cutting back you stimulate the development of new leaves. The plant then becomes beautifully bushy. Also remove wilted or pest-infested leaves.
How do I cut parsley correctly to stimulate growth?
To prune parsley properly and stimulate growth, always cut off the outer stems with at least three pairs of leaves, leave the heart, remove yellow leaves and cut the plant back sharply before long periods of absence.
Stimulate the growth of parsley by cutting it properly
- Cut stems with at least three pairs of leaves
- Leave the heart of the parsley
- Always cut off the outer stems first
- Cut out yellow leaves
If you want to harvest parsley, always cut off the outermost stems.
At least three pairs of leaves should have formed on the stem, then the leaves are particularly aromatic.
Cut back parsley before the holidays
If it is foreseeable that you will not harvest your parsley for a long time, perhaps because you are on vacation, cut the plants back beforehand.
You can remove all stems except for the middle stems. You must not cut back the heart because the plant will then die.
Pruning will prevent the leaves from turning yellow while you are away. They also promote the growth of the parsley plant. When you return, you can harvest fresh parsley from a particularly bushy plant.
Cutting two-year-old parsley
Parsley plants are biennial. In the second year they begin to bloom in summer. Afterwards they are no longer edible due to the toxic apiol content.
Harvest all plants that grow for the second year beforehand and freeze the leaves if necessary.
No need to cut back before winter
Perennial parsley does not need to be cut before winter. At the end of autumn the leaves turn yellow. Eventually the stems will retract themselves.
Harvest the plants again shortly beforehand and freeze them. Then you will have almost fresh parsley available until new parsley leaves appear in spring.
Cutting parsley in the kitchen
To prepare parsley for the kitchen, first wash the picked stems and remove any remaining dirt and insects.
Cut the stems and pick the leaves from the top stems. Parsley that is to be used for decoration is not chopped, but placed on the plate as a whole leaf or small bunch.
If you want to season quark or other dishes with parsley, you should cut it into small pieces. Place the still wet leaves on a cutting board, press them together a little and cut them into small pieces with a sharp knife. Professionals cut parsley with a chopping knife that has two blades.
Tips & Tricks
If you have cut too much parsley, you can store any stems that are not going to be used straight away in the fridge. Wrap them in damp kitchen paper to keep the herbs fresher for longer. But you shouldn't wait too long to process them.
