Menuette
Petroselinum crispum
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The deeply incised, feathery, narrow leaflets are easy to chop during kitchen prep and make an elegant garnish or bunch. Delicate in appearance but firm enough to stand up to handling, packing, and plating. Standard parsley flavor. Suitable for field or pot production. Has shown some resistance to tipburn in our trials. Ht. 12-18".
Harvest
75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Menuette in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 herb →Zone Map
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Menuette · Zones 3–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – March | — | March – December |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – July | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – June | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – April | — | April – December |
Succession Planting
Menuette takes 75 days to harvest and germinates slowly — 7 to 14 days — so plan ahead. In zone 7, start seeds indoors in February or March and transplant out from April through early June. For a steady cut-and-come-again supply, stagger two or three small plantings about 3 weeks apart rather than putting in one large batch; the last safe transplant date before summer heat stresses the plants is roughly mid-June.
Because Menuette is biennial, first-year plants put their energy into leaf production — that's what you want. If you leave plants in the ground over winter, they'll bolt and flower in spring of year two, at which point the leaves turn bitter and aren't worth harvesting. Pull second-year plants by April and start fresh from seed each season.
Complete Growing Guide
The deeply incised, feathery, narrow leaflets are easy to chop during kitchen prep and make an elegant garnish or bunch. Delicate in appearance but firm enough to stand up to handling, packing, and plating. Standard parsley flavor. Suitable for field or pot production. Has shown some resistance to tipburn in our trials. Ht. 12-18". According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Menuette is 75 days to maturity, biennial, open pollinated. Notable features: Grows Well in Containers.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Menuette reaches harvest at 75 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 12-18". at peak.
The small, ridged seeds are formed in the second year from July to September. The fruit and seeds are poisonous to birds.
Type: Schizocarp.
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: Leaves as flavoring and garnish
Storage & Preservation
Freshly harvested Menuette parsley keeps best in a refrigerator at 32–40°F in a sealed plastic bag or container lined with damp paper towels, maintaining 95% humidity. Under these conditions, expect 2–3 weeks of usable freshness before wilting and yellowing accelerate. For longer storage, freezing works reliably: blanch sprigs briefly, shock in ice water, pat dry, then freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags for up to three months. Alternatively, air-dry bundles hung upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space; dried Menuette retains flavor for six months in an airtight jar. Menuette's tightly curled leaves shed moisture more slowly than flat-leaf varieties, making it slightly more forgiving during storage and drying—a practical advantage for gardeners without ideal drying conditions.
History & Origin
Menuette is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Europe
Advantages
- +Deeply incised feathery leaves are exceptionally easy to chop during prep work
- +Elegant garnish appearance makes it ideal for high-end plating and presentation
- +Firm texture withstands handling, packing, and transport without excessive leaf damage
- +Demonstrates tipburn resistance in trial conditions, reducing crop loss risk
- +Versatile for both field and container production systems
Considerations
- -Standard parsley flavor offers no unique taste distinction from other varieties
- -Relatively long 75-day maturity delays harvest compared to faster cultivars
- -Moderate height at 12-18 inches may require frequent cutting for continued production
Companion Plants
Tomatoes and peppers are the most practical neighbors for Menuette. The common claim is that parsley repels aphids from these crops, and while that evidence is shaky, the real payoff is spatial: parsley fills underused ground at the base of tall nightshade plants without competing for light, and it's shallow-rooted enough that it doesn't fight for the same 12–18 inches of soil. Marigolds work on a similar principle — they draw in hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids, which Menuette itself is susceptible to during dry spells.
Fennel produces allelopathic compounds that suppress germination and stunt nearby plants, and parsley is particularly sensitive to it — keep at least 3 feet between them. Sage and rue have comparable problems; their volatile oils interfere with neighboring herbs at close spacing. Common thyme is a subtler issue: it thrives in the same dry, well-drained microclimate and will quietly crowd out Menuette's 12-inch spacing before either plant hits full size.
Plant Together
Tomatoes
Basil repels tomato hornworms and may improve tomato flavor and growth
Peppers
Basil deters aphids and spider mites that commonly attack pepper plants
Oregano
Both Mediterranean herbs share similar growing conditions and attract beneficial pollinators
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and provides ground cover without competing for nutrients
Lettuce
Basil provides light shade for lettuce and repels aphids that damage leafy greens
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Carrots
Basil may improve carrot flavor and repels carrot flies
Asparagus
Basil repels asparagus beetles and both plants have complementary root depths
Keep Apart
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most herbs including basil
Common Thyme
May compete aggressively for space and nutrients, potentially stunting basil growth
Rue
Inhibits basil growth through allelopathic compounds and may stunt development
Sage
Competes for similar nutrients and may inhibit basil's growth when planted too close
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Parsley worm, spider mites, aphids
Diseases
Leaf spot, septoria, fusarium wilt
Troubleshooting Menuette
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Small tan or brown spots with dark borders spreading across leaves, starting on older growth first
Likely Causes
- Septoria leaf spot (Septoria petroselini) — fungal, spreads via water splash and wet foliage
- Overhead watering that keeps leaves wet for extended periods
What to Do
- 1.Remove and trash (don't compost) affected leaves as soon as you spot them — NC State Extension notes that prompt removal of diseased leaves slows septoria's progress
- 2.Switch to drip or base watering; if you use overhead irrigation, run it in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall
- 3.As a preventive, spray with 1 tablespoon baking soda plus 1 tablespoon summer horticultural oil per gallon of water every 3 to 5 days during wet stretches
Plants wilting during the day even when soil is moist, stems turning brown at or below the soil line around day 60–75
Likely Causes
- Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) — soilborne fungus that colonizes the root and vascular system
- Poorly drained soil or chronic overwatering, which NC State Extension identifies as favoring root rot pathogens
What to Do
- 1.Pull the affected plant; there's no rescuing it once the vascular system is compromised
- 2.Don't replant parsley or other Apiaceae in that spot for at least 2 seasons
- 3.Amend heavy clay beds with compost to improve drainage before the next sowing, and avoid waterlogging at the seedling stage
Leaves stripped to bare stems overnight, or large caterpillars (bright green with yellow and black banding) visible on foliage
Likely Causes
- Parsley worm — larva of the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes)
- Heavy infestations more likely when wild carrot (Queen Anne's lace) grows nearby, which also hosts this caterpillar
What to Do
- 1.Hand-pick caterpillars and relocate them to a patch of wild carrot or fennel if you don't want to kill them — they become pollinators
- 2.If populations are heavy enough to defoliate the plant, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to the foliage; it won't harm beneficials once dry
- 3.Sow a few extra Menuette plants as a sacrifice row so the butterflies have somewhere to lay eggs other than your main crop
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Menuette parsley take to harvest?▼
Can you grow Menuette parsley in containers?▼
Is Menuette parsley good for beginners?▼
What does Menuette parsley taste like?▼
Is Menuette parsley a good garnish?▼
When should I plant Menuette parsley?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.