How to grow parsley
Family Apiaceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 3a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun to part shade. Ready in 70-90 days.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
8-10 in
Days to harvest
70-90 days
Hardiness
Zone 3a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant parsley
- Start indoors: ~8 weeks before last frost.
- Transplant out: ~-2 weeks after last frost.
- Direct sow: ~-2 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for parsley
Plant with: Tomato, Asparagus, Carrot.
Avoid near: Mint, Lettuce.
Common pests & problems
Swallowtail caterpillars (leave them. The butterflies are worth it).
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options: Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When to feed: Feed the bed, not the plant. Carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for: Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
When to plant parsley in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for parsley
Soil & pH
6.0-6.8
Deep, stone-free, sandy loam. One rock or fresh manure lump = one forked carrot.
Fork the bed 12 in deep. Only well-finished compost, never fresh manure or high N (causes hairy roots).
Watering
1 in / week; keep the top 1 in moist for the first 14 days
Fine sprinkle until germination, then deep drip. A burlap or board cover for the first 10 days keeps seed from drying out.
Carrots and parsnips crack when a dry spell is followed by a big soak. Keep the top 2 inches of soil just slightly damp for the whole season, not bone-dry then flooded.
Knowing when to harvest
- Cut outer stems at the base once plant has 6-8 stems.
- Plant grows back; harvest all season.
- Second-year plants bolt in spring: take a final harvest then pull.
Storing & keeping
Stems in water in the fridge. 2 weeks. Chop and freeze in ice cube trays.
What to expect
Per plant: 0.5-1 lb over the season
Troubleshooting parsley
Slow germination
Likely cause: Seed hates dry surface
What to do: Soak seed 24 hrs; sow shallow; keep moist for 3 weeks.
Yellow older leaves
Likely cause: Slight N deficit. Steady low feed
What to do: Fish emulsion at half strength every 3 weeks.
Varieties worth growing
Giant of Italy (flat-leaf)
Best flavor; the chef's parsley.
Moss Curled
The garnish parsley; also edible.
Growing parsley in containers
10 in deep pot; excellent perennial in mild zones.
Nutrition
Beta-carotene, vitamin K, luteolin (parsley). A nutrient bargain per square foot.
Common questions
Can parsley overwinter?
Yes in zone 6+. It bolts in year 2 spring: take the final harvest then.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.