How to grow parsley
Petroselinum crispum · Apiaceae · Herb
When to plant parsley: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 50 to 85°F, fastest near 70°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): plant out Apr 9 – Apr 26, or sow Jul 17 – Aug 3 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Sep 11 – Sep 28 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 30 – Feb 16) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for parsley. See every zone.
Parsley is a cool-season herb in the Apiaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 70–90 days. It handles frost well and a light freeze often improves the flavour.
Grower’s note: Slow, erratic germination - soak seed overnight and be patient for 3-4 weeks. A biennial: it bolts its second spring, so most gardeners resow yearly. Often overwinters with mulch.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 50–85°F — germination is quickest near 70°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–28 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 8″ along the row with roughly 12″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 10″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 10″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, parsley does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long parsley takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 70-90 days (10-13 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 14-28 days in soil around 70°F.
When to plant parsley
When to plant parsley by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Apr 24 – May 11 | Jun 27 – Jul 14 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 19 – May 6 | Jul 7 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 9 – Apr 26 | Jul 17 – Aug 3 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 | Jul 27 – Aug 13 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 | Aug 6 – Aug 23 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 | Aug 17 – Sep 3 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 | Sep 11 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Jan 9 – Jan 26 | Sep 26 – Oct 13 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
What extension services say about when to plant parsley
- Although parsley is a biennial, we generally grow it as a cool-season annual from October through May. Seeds may be planted in the garden or in containers for transplants from September through February, and purchased transplants go in from October through March. (LSU AgCenter, Growing Parsley in Louisiana)
- Parsley planted in the fall is far more productive than when planted in the spring. Fall-planted parsley will generally bolt in late spring or early summer. (LSU AgCenter, Growing Parsley in Louisiana)
- Spring-planted parsley may survive the summer, but heat stress stunts it and there is no harvest until the weather cools in fall. It lasts longer into the heat of summer if it gets some afternoon shade. (LSU AgCenter, Growing Parsley in Louisiana)
- Cover seeds with a quarter to a half inch of soil. They should be up in 10 to 14 days, and seedlings are thinned to about 10 inches apart after three or four weeks. (LSU AgCenter, Growing Parsley in Louisiana)
- In a cold-winter climate, plant parsley seeds in spring after danger of frost is past. Soak the seeds overnight to improve germination, and start them indoors or in a cold frame about six weeks before transplanting outdoors. (Colorado State PlantTalk, Parsley (1059))
- Seeds may be planted in the fall for an early spring harvest and again in late winter for an early summer harvest. Avoid planting parsley during excessively hot periods. Parsley generally overwinters in Colorado and yields a second crop the following season before it flowers. (Colorado State PlantTalk, Parsley (1059))
Companions
Tomato, Bell Pepper, Carrot, Onion
Lettuce
Common problems
Pests: black swallowtail caterpillar, aphids, spider mite.
Diseases & disorders: septoria leaf spot, crown rot, damping off.
Same family (Apiaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant parsley?
Start seeds indoors about 9 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 50 to 85°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does parsley take to grow?
About 70-90 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 14-28 days, fastest in soil around 70°F.
How much sun does parsley need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does parsley need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant parsley?
Space plants about 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow parsley in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 10 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.