How To Harvest Parsley And Cilantro

You can harvest parsley and cilantro by snipping the outer stems first, and both herbs will keep growing back for months if you do it right.
 
The good news is that parsley and cilantro are cut-and-come-again herbs, so once you learn how to harvest parsley and cilantro properly, you’ll have a steady supply for salads, salsas, and soups.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to harvest parsley and cilantro, when to start picking, and the mistakes that ruin flavor.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

How to Harvest Parsley and Cilantro the Right Way

When you harvest parsley and cilantro, the goal is to take what you need without stressing the plant.
 
Both herbs grow from a central crown, and new leaves emerge from the middle, so the way you cut matters more than most gardeners realize.
 
Here’s how to harvest parsley and cilantro step by step.
 

1. Start With the Outer Stems First

The best way to harvest parsley and cilantro is to work from the outside in.
 
The outer stems are the oldest and thickest, and removing them opens up the center so fresh growth gets more light and airflow.
 
If you only ever pluck the inner leaves, you’ll slow the plant down and end up with weak, spindly stems.
 

2. Cut, Don’t Pull

When you harvest parsley and cilantro, always use clean, sharp scissors or pruners.
 
Snip the stem about an inch above the soil line or just above a leaf node, never yank it out by the roots.
 
Pulling tears the crown and can kill the whole plant, which defeats the purpose of a cut-and-come-again harvest.
 

3. Never Take More Than a Third at Once

A rule that saves you from killing your plants: when you harvest parsley and cilantro, take no more than one-third of the foliage in a single cutting.
 
The plant needs those remaining leaves to photosynthesize and bounce back.
 
If you strip it bare, it may survive, but regrowth will be slow and the flavor of new leaves can turn bitter.
 

4. Pinch Off Flower Stalks Immediately

Once parsley and cilantro start bolting, the leaves turn tough and the taste goes from fresh to soapy.
 
So whenever you harvest parsley and cilantro, keep an eye out for tall stalks with tiny flower buds and pinch them off right away.
 
This keeps the plant in leaf-production mode instead of seed-production mode.
 

When to Harvest Parsley and Cilantro

Timing is everything if you want the best flavor from your herbs.
 
Here’s when to harvest parsley and cilantro for peak taste.
 

1. Wait Until Plants Are Established

Don’t harvest parsley and cilantro the week you plant them.
 
Give them three to four weeks to settle in, develop strong roots, and push out new growth.
 
For parsley, you can usually start harvesting when the plant has at least eight to ten mature stems.
 
Cilantro grows faster, so you can often harvest parsley and cilantro at the same time about a month after sowing.
 

2. Harvest in the Morning

The best time to harvest parsley and cilantro is early morning, right after the dew dries but before the heat sets in.
 
That’s when the essential oils are most concentrated in the leaves.
 
If you harvest parsley and cilantro in the middle of a hot afternoon, the flavor will be weaker.
 

3. Pick Before the Plant Bolts

Cilantro bolts fast in warm weather, sometimes within weeks.
 
So if you’re growing cilantro, harvest parsley and cilantro regularly to delay bolting as long as possible.
 
Once you see fern-like leaves at the top instead of rounded ones, the plant is bolting and you should harvest everything you can right away.
 

Common Mistakes When You Harvest Parsley and Cilantro

Even experienced gardeners mess up these herbs, so here’s what to avoid.
 

1. Cutting Too Low

If you cut below the crown when you harvest parsley and cilantro, you can damage the growing point.
 
Always leave at least an inch of stem above the soil, and never cut into the central rosette.
 

2. Harvesting Wet Leaves

Wet foliage invites fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
 
So when you harvest parsley and cilantro, wait until the leaves are dry, or pat them dry before storing.
 

3. Storing Them Together

Parsley and cilantro have different moisture needs.
 
If you harvest parsley and cilantro on the same day, store them in separate containers so the cilantro doesn’t wilt while the parsley stays fresh.
 

So, How Do You Harvest Parsley and Cilantro?

You harvest parsley and cilantro by snipping outer stems first, cutting above the crown, and never taking more than a third at once.
 
Do that, and both herbs will keep producing for months.
 
Just remember to harvest parsley and cilantro in the morning, pinch off flower stalks, and keep the leaves dry.
 
With a little practice, you’ll harvest parsley and cilantro like a pro and never buy sad supermarket bunches again.