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Italian Giant

Scientific name Petroselinum crispum

About this variety

Italian Giant seeds belong in a garden plan built around timing, soil, and the way the harvest will actually be used. Italian Giant is best suited to fresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers. Its defining kitchen character is fresh green flavor, stronger in flat-leaf types.In our seed room, we do not treat a...

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Alliance of Native Seedkeepers  |  SKU: HB83
$150 USD $200
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At a glance

The facts most gardeners need first

View the full variety record
700 minimum seeds per packet
  • Germination14–28 Days days · 60–75 °F
  • Maturity70-79 Days · First usable harvest varies by crop and season; see packet and field notes
  • SunFull sun
  • Support & spacingNo-Support · space 8 in · rows 18 in
  • Growth habitClumping/Tufted · Biennial · 13–18 in tall
  • Best usefresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers
Secure checkout Details
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Triple-tested seed qualityRegular quality and germination checks support every packet.

We regularly test seed quality and germination as lots move through storage and packing. We stand behind the seed we send and want customers to contact us when a packet does not perform as reasonably expected.

1-year seed warrantyCoverage begins on the date of purchase.

When properly stored, planted, and cared for, we guarantee reasonable germination and true-to-type growth for one year from the date of purchase. Conditions outside our control—including extreme weather, pests, unsuitable storage, and gardener error—are excluded. Contact us when something is not right so we can review the situation and work toward a replacement, refund, or another fair resolution.

Non-GMO / BE seed policyWe do not buy or sell genetically engineered or bioengineered seed.

Every seed variety we sell is non-GMO.

USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard defines bioengineered foods as containing detectable genetic material modified through in vitro recombinant DNA methods in ways not achievable through conventional breeding or found in nature.

  • Hybrid means parent lines were conventionally crossed; hybrid does not mean GMO.
  • Heirloom and open-pollinated describe how a variety is maintained and reproduced.
  • Organic certification is separate and is shown only when verified for the individual product.

Read how we define heirloom, hybrid, and GMO/BE seed · USDA BE Standard

Packed in Colerain, North CarolinaPrepared in our seed room for gardens across the country.

Seeds are packed and shipped from Colerain, North Carolina. Our packets use forestry-certified paper, and we use recyclable paper mailers where appropriate. AONSK is also a 1% for the Planet partner while continuing to reduce waste in packing and fulfillment.

Seed-starting profileDifficulty, preparation, reliability, and timing Open

Seed success profile

Gardener experience Beginner to Intermediate
Germination difficulty Moderate
Preparation before sowing
Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required
Germination speed
14–28 Days
Growing complexity
Moderate
Patience and timing
Varies by crop, cultivar, and season
Is this seed a good match for your experience?
Expected germination
14–28 Days
Germination temperature
60–75 °F
Stratification
None
Scarification
None
Pre-soaking
Optional 4-8 hour soak for slow parsley seed
Light during germination
Cover lightly
Germination pattern
Reliable but slow
Transplant sensitivity
Transplant young or direct sow
Starting method
Cataloged for indoor starting or transplanting; follow the hardening-off guidance.
Best chance of success
Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required
Planning window

Plan around 14–28 Daysat60–75 °F. Keep moisture, light, and preparation aligned with the sowing instructions below.

Slow germination is not automatically failed germination.

Maintain the listed temperature, moisture, light, and treatment conditions for the full expected window. Some seed lots emerge gradually rather than all at once.

Looking for an easier starting point? Japanese Mitsuba Parsley Seeds

1 Beginner-friendly 2 One extra step 3 Some experience helpful 4 Patient growers 5 Advanced propagation

Seed age, storage, sowing depth, moisture, temperature, light, local conditions, and aftercare can affect results. Last reviewed July 2026.

Browse AONSK seed-starting and garden guides

Garden tools

Need a plan for your space?

Open the garden-fit planner or soil calculator only when you need them.

Open garden tools Uses this product’s recorded growing information. Local weather and garden conditions may vary.

About this variety

What to expect from Italian Giant

A vigorous flat-leaf parsley for sauces, garnish, repeated cutting, and cool-season container or bed culture.

Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record

Italian Giant seeds belong in a garden plan built around timing, soil, and the way the harvest will actually be used. Italian Giant is best suited to fresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers. Its defining kitchen character is fresh green flavor, stronger in flat-leaf types.

In our seed room, we do not treat a packet as a decoration or a promise detached from conditions. We look at the lot, the germination window, the crop family, the plant habit, and the point at which the harvest is at its best. For Italian Giant, that means sowing 1/4 inch deep, maintaining even moisture, and giving plants enough room to express the form named on the packet.

Curled and flat-leaf parsley are forms of Petroselinum crispum selected for leaf shape and kitchen use. Both are biennials, even when gardeners harvest them as annual herbs.

Start with fresh seed, write down the sowing date, and judge the crop across the whole planting rather than one exceptional plant. A reliable variety is not one that survives neglect by accident. It is one that answers good care with a useful harvest, then gives the seedkeeper enough honest information to decide whether it deserves another season.

Minimum Seed Count: 700 seeds

Additional variety overview

Italian Giant seeds belong in a garden plan built around timing, soil, and the way the harvest will actually be used. Italian Giant is best suited to fresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers. Its defining kitchen character is fresh green flavor, stronger in flat-leaf types. In our seed room, we do not treat a packet as a decoration or a promise detached from conditions. We look at the lot, the germination window, the crop family, the plant habit, and the point at which the harvest is at its best. For Italian Giant, that means sowing 1/4 inch deep, maintaining even moisture, and giving plants enough room to express the form named on the packet. Curled and flat-leaf parsley are forms of Petroselinum crispum selected for leaf shape and kitchen use. Both are biennials, even when gardeners harvest them as annual herbs. Start with fresh seed, write down the sowing date, and judge the crop across the whole planting rather than one exceptional plant. A reliable variety is not one that survives neglect by accident. It is one that answers good care with a useful harvest, then gives the seedkeeper enough honest information to decide whether it deserves another season.
View all growing and care factsBotanical identity, timing, climate, soil, spacing, mature size, and crop-specific details

Plant identity

Minimum seed count 700 seeds
Seed product profile Culinary herb
Scientific name Petroselinum crispum
Also known as Parsley, Parsley Seeds - Italian Giant
Color Green
Life cycle Biennial
Botanical family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Reproductive type Open-Pollinated (OP)
Heritage qualifiers Heirloom
Native to the United States Domesticated Plant
Domestication note Mediterranean Basin

Seed success and gardener experience

Gardener experience Beginner to IntermediateLevel 2 of 5
Germination difficulty ModerateLevel 2 of 5
Preparation before sowing Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required
Stratification None
Scarification None
Pre-soaking Optional 4-8 hour soak for slow parsley seed
Light during germination Cover lightly
Germination pattern Reliable but slow
Growing complexity Moderate
Transplant sensitivity Transplant young or direct sow
First harvest or bloom Varies by crop, cultivar, and season
Best chance of success Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required

Timing and climate

Days to maturity 70-79 Days
Germination 14–28 Days
Germination temperature 60–75 °F
Planting season Spring
Bloom season Summer
Frost tolerance Semi-Hardy
Sunlight Full sun
Water needs Moderate

Site, soil, and space

Soil type Loamy
Preferred soil pH 6.0–6.5
Seed depth 1/4 in
Plant spacing 8 in
Row spacing 18 in
Mature height 13–18 in
Growth habit Clumping/Tufted
Support needed No-Support
Suitable growing locations In-ground bed, Raised bed, Greenhouse, High Tunnel, Containers, Community garden, Hydroponic, Indoor growing

Crop-specific details

Flavor profile fresh green flavor, stronger in flat-leaf types
Garden toolsOpen the garden-fit planner, planting-window questions, or soil calculator only when useful

Uses this product’s recorded growing information. Local weather, soil, and garden conditions may vary.

Garden-fit planning for this variety

Will Italian Giant fit your garden?

Check container space, harvest use, life cycle, light, moisture, and sowing method.

Questions for this culinary herb seed
Seed-starting fit and patience
Recorded product profileBeginner to IntermediateModerateRead why
Soil test, pH, drainage, and amendment calculator Have a laboratory soil report? Enter pH, nutrients, texture, bed size, and site observations here. Open soil tools
Recorded soil typeLoamy
Recorded pH range6.0–6.5
Water needsModerate
LightFull sun

Use a current laboratory soil test

Soil-test interpreter

Compare your report with this product's listed pH target: 6.0–6.5.

This tool interprets values you enter; it does not replace laboratory or Cooperative Extension amendment rates. Soil test methods and nutrient recommendations vary by region.

Full growing record

Open only the section you need

How to start Italian Giant from seedPreparation, timing, depth, germination, transplanting, spacing, and early care

Recorded germination plan

Expected germination
14–28 Days
Germination temperature
60–75 °F

Complete sowing and planting guidance

Sow 1/4 inch deep during early spring and fall in mild climates. Space plants 6-10 inches apart with 12-18 inches between rows. Germination commonly begins in 14-30 days near 55-75°F. Provide full sun to partial shade and even moisture.
How to grow this specific varietyLight, water, fertility, support, spacing, airflow, crop behavior, and season-long care

Variety-specific growing notes

Use a fine, well-drained seed-starting mix or a carefully prepared garden bed. Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required. Sow 1/4 inch deep and follow this light rule: Cover lightly. Keep the seed zone moist but never airless. After emergence, provide bright light and circulation so stems remain sturdy. Thin or transplant to 6-10 inches, leaving 12-18 inches between rows. The plant habit is dense leafy rosette; flowering stalk in year two, generally reaching 10-18 inches. Water according to the root zone rather than the surface appearance. Harvest regularly where leaf production is the goal, but reserve clearly labeled plants when you intend to save seed.

Complete growing guide

Use a fine, well-drained seed-starting mix or a carefully prepared garden bed. Slow germinator; soaking seed for several hours is optional, not required. Sow 1/4 inch deep and follow this light rule: Cover lightly. Keep the seed zone moist but never airless. After emergence, provide bright light and circulation so stems remain sturdy. Thin or transplant to 6-10 inches, leaving 12-18 inches between rows. The plant habit is dense leafy rosette; flowering stalk in year two, generally reaching 10-18 inches. Water according to the root zone rather than the surface appearance. Harvest regularly where leaf production is the goal, but reserve clearly labeled plants when you intend to save seed.

Practical field and garden tips

Keep a written record of sowing date, soil temperature, first emergence, thinning, first harvest, flowering, and seed maturity. Herbs are often judged only by aroma, but plant architecture, bolt timing, winter survival, disease tolerance, and labor at harvest decide whether a variety belongs in a working garden. Do not fertilize aromatic herbs into soft, watery growth. Feed the soil according to a test and let the plant keep its character.
Harvest, storage, uses, and benefitsWhen and how to harvest, ways to use the crop, storage, culinary value, habitat value, and garden roles

Harvest and use notes

Harvest for fresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers. Use the crop at its intended stage, and reserve only healthy true-to-type plants for seed. Parsley is a biennial and insect-pollinated. Overwinter selected plants, isolate flowering varieties, and collect dry umbels in the second season.

Uses and benefits

Best for fresh garnish, sauces, pollinator habitat in year two, and cool-season containers. Flavor and aroma: fresh green flavor, stronger in flat-leaf types. Flowers may support pollinators when the crop is allowed to bloom; harvest use depends on the species and cultivar.
Seed saving and carrying the variety forwardPollination, isolation, selection, harvest, cleaning, drying, and storage
Parsley is a biennial and insect-pollinated. Overwinter selected plants, isolate flowering varieties, and collect dry umbels in the second season.
Problems and answersPests, diseases, troubleshooting, practical response, and product-specific questions

Variety troubleshooting summary

Q: When should I sow Italian Giant?
A: Early spring and fall in mild climates. Match the crop to soil temperature and night temperature rather than relying only on a calendar date.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: Usually 14-30 days near 55-75°F, though seed age, moisture, depth, and species matter.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: Yes when the container has drainage and enough soil volume. Compact basil, parsley, chives, chamomile, thyme, and many onions are especially useful in containers; tall dill, fennel, and leeks need more depth and space.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes. Parsley is a biennial and insect-pollinated. Overwinter selected plants, isolate flowering varieties, and collect dry umbels in the second season.

Q: Is this page medical advice?
A: No. Traditional or herbal uses are presented as cultural and garden context. Use qualified medical guidance for health decisions.

Complete pest and problem guide

The most common failures are cultural: buried tiny seed, stale seed, waterlogged mix, weak light, crowded seedlings, root disturbance in taprooted herbs, or a climate mismatch. Aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, leaf spots, damping-off, and root rots may occur. Identify the organism or condition before treating. Improve airflow, irrigate the soil instead of the foliage, sanitize containers, and avoid keeping woody Mediterranean herbs continuously wet.

Questions gardeners ask

Q: When should I sow Italian Giant?
A: Early spring and fall in mild climates. Match the crop to soil temperature and night temperature rather than relying only on a calendar date.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: Usually 14-30 days near 55-75°F, though seed age, moisture, depth, and species matter.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: Yes when the container has drainage and enough soil volume. Compact basil, parsley, chives, chamomile, thyme, and many onions are especially useful in containers; tall dill, fennel, and leeks need more depth and space.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes. Parsley is a biennial and insect-pollinated. Overwinter selected plants, isolate flowering varieties, and collect dry umbels in the second season.

Q: Is this page medical advice?
A: No. Traditional or herbal uses are presented as cultural and garden context. Use qualified medical guidance for health decisions.
History, provenance, and cultural contextWhat is documented, what is reported, what remains uncertain, and how the variety reached gardeners

Scientific name: Petroselinum crispum

Provenance summary

Curled and flat-leaf parsley are forms of Petroselinum crispum selected for leaf shape and kitchen use. Both are biennials, even when gardeners harvest them as annual herbs.

Plant and variety history

Curled and flat-leaf parsley are forms of Petroselinum crispum selected for leaf shape and kitchen use. Both are biennials, even when gardeners harvest them as annual herbs.

Source and record notes

https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/growing-herbs
https://extension.psu.edu/culinary-herbs-are-good-for-beneficial-insects-including-pollinators

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