I hope someone answers because I also want to know. I have a lot of parsley. Since parsley is a biennial, would you uproot it the second year? My second year plants have thick stalks and look like little trees! but the leaves are still very tasty.

I grow both parsley and parsley root. I wouldn't eat the roots of the regular parsley plant grown for leaves, but that's just me.

The root of the root parsley looks like parsnip. Those are great for flavoring soups and stews. Not sure if the leaves are edible, so being the fraidy-cat that I am, I just toss them in the composter.

But it won't posion me or anything? I don't mind if the root isn't pretty, I just don't want to get sick. I figure I'd rather regrow the parsley than have it bolt in spring (how soon does it go to seed the second year?).

No, the leaves of root parsley won't poison you, an

No, the leaves of root parsley won't poison you, and the roots of leaf parsley won't poison you, either. They're the same species, just grown for different parts of the plant, like chard and beets or cabbage and broccoli.

The root is regular (herb) parsley will likely just be small and relatively tough, but would still add flavor to soups, etc. You could always puree and strain to get the fibers out.

The leaves of root parsley taste just like regular parsley, and can be used like any flat-leaved parsley. Once again, stems may be tougher than the kind bred and grown just for the leaves.

If you want to use the overwintered roots, by the way, as with any root vegetable, you need to use it first thing in the spring, since quality of the root declines rapidly as the plant grows and more-or-less canibalizes its own root in order to put energy into stalk and seed formation.

"The root is regular (herb) parsley will likely just be small and relatively tough, but would still add flavor to soups, etc. You could always puree and strain to get the fibers out."

Thank you Denis! I will do that.

I have some plants that are just about to flower, some are done flowering. I guess this would be the time to collect the roots, right? after it flowers? (I like to save the seed)

I think what Dennis was saying is that it will be tougher and les nutritious once it flowers. I plan to dig mine up as soon as the ground softens, before it goes for it's second run.

Yup, like wild forager said, you should eat them ASAP in the spring if you want to eat them, otherwise, they really won't be much good as a foodstuff. I suppose you could still add them to soups, etc, like one would a bay leaf or a sprig of thyme, let them steep in there a while to add flavor, and then pull out and discard. But, if you ever grow root crops like carrots, etc., and pull one up after it has regrown and is in the blooming stage, you'd be amazed at how shrunken, shriveled, and decayed looking it is compared to what it had been a few months previously.

So, it's pretty much going to be a choice -- food or seed, but probably not both. Good news is, though, one or two plants would probably provide all of the seed you'd ever possibly need, since they're prolific.

And, if you are seriously interested in parsley roots as food, you really should try the Hamburg (edible rooted) parsley this year.