Choosing your parsley
Flat-Leaf vs Curly Parsley for Kratky
Both kinds of parsley grow well with the Kratky method, from the same seed-starting steps and the same container. The real difference is what happens in the kitchen.
The short answer
Which Parsley Should You Grow?
Grow flat-leaf parsley (also called Italian parsley) if you cook with it. Its flavor is stronger and brighter, and its flat leaves chop easily into sauces, salads and soups. Grow curly parsley if you want a garnish that holds its shape, or a milder taste for tabbouleh-style salads.
If you have room for two containers, grow one of each. They take the same care, described in the main Kratky parsley guide.
2kinds, one method
Side by side
Flat-Leaf and Curly Parsley Compared
Flavor
Flat-leaf is stronger and more peppery. Curly is milder and slightly grassy.
Texture
Flat-leaf leaves are thin and tender. Curly leaves are firmer and keep their crunch.
Growth habit
Flat-leaf grows taller and more open. Curly stays shorter and denser.
Harvest
Both regrow from the center after you cut the outer stems.
Best uses
Flat-leaf for cooking, pesto and chimichurri. Curly for garnish, salads and freezing in portions.
In a Kratky container
How Each One Grows Hydroponically
Both start slowly from seed; parsley is one of the slowest herbs to sprout. See parsley seed germination for how to speed it up. Once established, both make steady leaf growth for months in a Kratky container.
Flat-leaf parsley tends to grow taller, so give it a container with a sturdy lid and enough room for its longer stems. Curly parsley's dense leaves can trap moisture, so leave space between plants for air to move and harvest the outer stems often.
Neither needs special nutrients. A standard hydroponic mix for herbs or leafy greens suits both, and the same light rule applies: 6 to 8 hours of direct window sun, or 12 to 16 hours under a grow light.
Another kind
What About Root Parsley?
Hamburg or root parsley is grown for its thick, parsnip-like root rather than its leaves. It needs deep soil to form that root, so it isn't a good fit for a Kratky container. Stick with flat-leaf or curly for hydroponic growing.
Harvest and kitchen
Harvesting and Using Each Kind
Harvest both the same way: cut whole outer stems close to the base once the plant has eight to ten stems, and leave the inner ones to keep growing. Taking single leaves from the tips leaves bare stalks and slows the plant down. A well-fed Kratky parsley can be cut every week or two for months.
Flat-leaf parsley's flavor holds up in cooking, so add it to soups and sauces near the end, or blend it into pesto, chimichurri and salsa verde. Curly parsley's firm leaves stay crisp in salads, hold their shape as a garnish, and chop into tabbouleh without turning to mush.
Both keep for several days with their stems in a jar of water in the refrigerator, and both freeze well chopped.
- Flat-leaf: pesto, chimichurri, salsa verde, pasta, soups.
- Curly: tabbouleh, garnish, potato salad, herb butter.
FAQ
Parsley Variety Questions
Is flat-leaf parsley the same as Italian parsley?
Yes. Italian parsley is another name for flat-leaf parsley.
Which parsley grows faster?
They sprout at a similar slow pace. Once established, flat-leaf parsley often looks bigger because it grows taller.
Can I grow both in one container?
Yes. They have the same needs, so two net pots, one of each, can share a container.
Which parsley freezes better?
Both freeze well chopped. See preserving your herb harvest.
Is cilantro a kind of flat-leaf parsley?
No. Cilantro is a different plant with a very different flavor, though the leaves look similar. It has its own Kratky cilantro guide.
Does curly parsley have less flavor?
It is milder, but not flavorless. Use a little more curly parsley than flat-leaf when a recipe calls for one and you have the other.
Can I swap flat-leaf and curly parsley in recipes?
Usually, yes. Flat-leaf gives a stronger taste and softer texture; curly gives crunch and a lighter taste.
Which parsley is easier to keep clean?
Flat-leaf. Its open leaves rinse clean easily, while curly leaves can trap grit and water.
Which parsley do chefs prefer?
Most cooks reach for flat-leaf parsley for its stronger flavor and easy chopping, and keep curly parsley for garnish and crisp salads.
Do flat-leaf and curly parsley need different light?
No. Both want 6 to 8 hours of direct window sun or 12 to 16 hours under a grow light. Curly parsley stays more compact in strong light.
Which parsley lasts longer in the container?
They last about the same. Both are biennials that keep producing leaves until they start to flower.
Related Parsley Guides
Ready to sow? Parsley seed is slow, so start it right.