Parsley is an essential herb for every kitchen—and if you think parsley is only a decorative garnish, guess again! While parsley can make any dish prettier and more colorful, it’s the clean and peppery flavor of parsley that makes it a favorite of mine.

And parsley is one of those herbs—like basil—that I just refuse to use in a dried version. Even off-season when my garden isn’t producing parsley, I’d rather buy grocery-store fresh parsley than hit the jar of dried parsley.

From novice to advanced food gardener, cultivating parsley for your kitchen is not only easy—it’s essential! For experienced gardeners, some of this guidance might be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the fun facts about parsley and the recipes!

If you do any cooking at all, you just have to try growing parsley and benefit from the just-cut leaves when flavoring your dishes. And while it’s not difficult to grow parsley, there are some tips and tricks you should learn.

That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and cooking with parsley—so that you’re certain to have a gorgeous green crop!

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some background about parsley—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about growing parsley—from tips on planting and soil preparation to watering, tending, and controlling and preventing disease.

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about the main varieties of parsley, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular varieties of parsley.

Food Gardening Network is, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing their own delicious food at home. And parsley is such a big part of everyday cooking!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. As you’ll discover, parsley can be used in so many different dishes—not only as a garnish.

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Parsley to find out exactly which nutrients are found in parsley. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Parsley will help you learn about some of the benefits of parsley that can help your heart, kidneys, liver, and bones.

To help you explore parsley even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you what you need to grow, harvest, and enjoy parsley, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by clicking on the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection—just in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts about parsley, herbs, and gardening.

Now, grow some perfect parsley and enjoy it in your kitchen!