When to plant parsley
Start parsley indoors 9–10 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant 2.5 weeks before the frost date.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Start indoors; set out 2–3 weeks before the last frost. [src]Cited: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”
Start indoors 9–10 weeks before setting out. [src]Cited: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Seed-Starting Date Calculator chart
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: half-hardy (derived from the planting timing above).
Parsley is half-hardy; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Parsley planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | October 20 – October 27 | December 22 – January 5 | — |
| Zone 10b | October 25 – November 1 | December 27 – January 10 | — |
| Zone 2a | February 19 – February 26 | April 23 – May 7 | — |
| Zone 2b | February 27 – March 6 | May 1 – May 15 | — |
| Zone 3b | February 22 – March 1 | April 26 – May 10 | — |
| Zone 4a | February 16 – February 23 | April 20 – May 4 | — |
| Zone 4b | February 12 – February 19 | April 16 – April 30 | — |
| Zone 5a | February 14 – February 21 | April 18 – May 2 | — |
| Zone 5b | February 6 – February 13 | April 10 – April 24 | — |
| Zone 6a | February 2 – February 9 | April 6 – April 20 | — |
| Zone 6b | January 26 – February 2 | March 30 – April 13 | — |
| Zone 7a | January 18 – January 25 | March 22 – April 5 | — |
| Zone 7b | January 9 – January 16 | March 13 – March 27 | — |
| Zone 8a | December 29 – January 5 | March 2 – March 16 | — |
| Zone 8b | December 19 – December 26 | February 20 – March 6 | — |
| Zone 9a | December 5 – December 12 | February 6 – February 20 | — |
| Zone 9b | November 7 – November 14 | January 9 – January 23 | — |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-16. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.