When to plant Parsley
A biennial herb grown as an annual, in flat-leaf (Italian) and curly forms. The seed is famously slow — soaking it overnight speeds things up. It's cold-hardy and keeps cropping into winter; it bolts its second spring.
Companions: Tomato, asparagus, carrot — let it flower for beneficial insects
How to grow Parsley
Parsley is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this half-hardy crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun to part shade and space plants about 8 inches apart. It takes roughly 75 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include tomato, asparagus, carrot — let it flower for beneficial insects.
Grower's tip: Slow to germinate — soak seed overnight and be patient. Cold-hardy well into fall.
When to plant Parsley by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same parsley goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 20–May 4 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 Direct sow outdoors Jun 1–Jun 29 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 15–Apr 29 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 Direct sow outdoors May 27–Jun 24 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 22–Jun 19 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 16–Jun 13 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Mar 30–Apr 13 Transplant outdoors May 11–May 25 Direct sow outdoors May 11–Jun 8 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Mar 25–Apr 8 Transplant outdoors May 6–May 20 Direct sow outdoors May 6–Jun 3 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 20–Apr 3 Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 Direct sow outdoors May 1–May 29 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 15–Mar 29 Transplant outdoors Apr 26–May 10 Direct sow outdoors Apr 26–May 24 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 19 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Apr 16–May 14 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Mar 8–Apr 5 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Mar 1–Mar 29 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 29 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |