Dark Green Italian Plain

Family: Apiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, dark green foliage unfurls with a velvety, flat-leaf look and a distinctly bright, parsley-green aroma that lingers as you gather it.

Dark Green Italian Plain forms dense, upright clumps of finely textured leaves with a tender, crisp bite—ideal for repeated harvests through the season. Grow it for fresh garnishing, flavorful sauces, and vibrant finishing touches that showcase its classic Italian-flat-leaf character.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Dark Green Italian Plain

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Dark Green Italian Plain Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	May 18th	Aug 3rd	Oct 12th – Jul 15th
Zone 1b	May 4th	Jul 20th	Sep 28th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	Jul 13th	Sep 21st – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 11th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 11th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	Jul 7th	Sep 15th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 11th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	Jul 1st	Sep 9th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	Jun 26th	Sep 4th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Jun 22nd	Aug 31st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Jun 19th	Aug 28th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Jun 13th	Aug 22nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Jun 8th	Aug 17th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	May 29th	Aug 7th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	May 20th	Jul 29th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	May 11th	Jul 20th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Mar 30th	Jun 8th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This Italian flat-leaf parsley has a fresher, brighter aromatics-per-leaf ratio and a tender, crisp bite that holds up better to last-minute heat than curly types. Chop it fine and use it as the timing-critical finish—steam and simmer long enough, and it turns from vivid to slightly dull.

Best Uses

finely chopped finishing for pasta, beans, and roasted vegetables
whisked into quick pan sauces and emulsions where it stays green and lively
blended into herb-forward sauces like green salsa or pesto-style variations
tossed through warm grains at the last minute for a crisp, not-dulled bite

Flavor Profile

bright parsley-green aroma clean, slightly peppery bitterness tender-crisp flat-leaf texture fresh herb snap with a lingering finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil parmigiano-reggiano chicken broth white beans capers

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Petroselinum crispum (flat-leaf Italian parsley), and how do I treat it?

Flat-leaf Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is prone to leaf spot and, in damp weather, early blight-like spotting from fungal pathogens. Remove the most affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line rather than overhead; avoid wet foliage at night. If spotting persists, use a labeled fungicide that’s appropriate for edible herbs and follow the label’s pre-harvest interval.

How often should I water during the main growing phase for Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum?

Keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist while plants are establishing, because parsley has slow, uneven germination and shallow feeder roots. After plants are established, water deeply about 1–2 times per week to maintain steady moisture—more often during hot spells—so soil never dries out fully between waterings. Use part-sun conditions to reduce evaporation, but don’t let the crown sit in waterlogged soil.

How can I tell when Dark Green Italian Plain parsley is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants have developed a full rosette and you can cut multiple stems without removing the center growth. For Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum, you’ll typically be able to start picking around 70 days from sowing, then harvest leaf stems as needed. Cut outer leaves first, leaving the inner stems to regrow for continued harvests.