Basically, perennial parsley is hardy regardless of its variety and can do without frost protection. If it is in a very unfavorable location, it may make sense to spread light winter protection over the bed.
Do I need to protect parsley in winter?
Parsley is hardy and usually does not need any frost protection. In very cold locations, light winter protection with straw, brushwood or leaves is recommended. Biennial parsley plants should be removed after flowering and replanted annually.
Parsley is robust
Parsley, whether smooth, curly or moss-curled, is one of the robust herbs that can withstand sub-zero temperatures well. They also require little care in the winter months. In very cold locations, light winter protection won't do any harm. Suitable materials are:
- Straw
- brushwood
- Leaves
It is important that the winter protection is permeable to water so that the plants do not dry out in winter.
Tear up parsley after flowering
, which means that in the first year it only produces leaves but does not bloom. Flowering does not begin until the summer of the second year.
After that, the plant can no longer be used because the poisonous apiol accumulates in the leaves and especially the seeds.
You don't need to bring a two-year-old parsley plant through the winter because you won't be able to harvest it the next year anyway. After flowering or seed production, pull up the plants and plant a new row in a different location the next year.
Root parsley is not overwintered
Winter hardiness doesn't play a role with root parsley. It is one of the annual aromatic plants. The roots are dug up in autumn or winter.
You have to sow parsley roots every year.
Tips & Tricks
Overwintering parsley in a pot in the house is not that easy. It needs a cool place where it gets enough light. It needs to be watered regularly but sparingly. A big problem are aphids, which attack plants in poor site conditions.
