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When to plant parsley

Carrot family, Petroselinum crispum

Spacing
8″ apart
Per sq ft
4
To harvest
70–90 days
Frost
Hardy

Companion plants for parsley

What to grow next to parsley, what to keep away, and what is only tradition. Every pairing says how strong the evidence is.

Grow together 2

Helps, or shares the bed well.

Keep apart 1

Shared pests, disease or competition.

  • Mint Practical Mint spreads by runners and will overrun slower herbs. Keep it in a pot.

    Mint guide

Tradition only 1

On many charts, with little or no evidence.

  • Carrot Tradition Said to help Traditional pairing; both are in the carrot family and share pests.

    Carrot guide

Studied Field or lab research shows an effect, at least under some conditions.
Mixed Some studies find an effect, others don’t, or it only works in a narrow way.
Practical Explained by light, space, timing, support or a shared pest or disease.
Tradition Widely repeated, but with little or no evidence behind it.

See every pairing side by side in the companion planting chart, or try them in a bed with the garden planner.

When to plant parsley by city

Start parsley indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks before your last frost, or sow seed outdoors 1–3 weeks before your last frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.

City Last frost Start indoors Plant out Sow outdoors
Seattle, WA (9a) Mar 13 Jan 2–16 Feb 27 – Mar 13 Feb 20 – Mar 6
Portland, OR (8b) Feb 25 Dec 17–31 Feb 11–25 Feb 4–18
Sacramento, CA (9b) Jan 12 Nov 3–17 Dec 29 – Jan 12 Dec 22 – Jan 5
Phoenix, AZ (10a) Jan 5 Oct 27 – Nov 10 Dec 22 – Jan 5 Dec 15–29
Salt Lake City, UT (7b) Mar 31 Jan 20 – Feb 3 Mar 17–31 Mar 10–24
Denver, CO (6a) Apr 30 Feb 19 – Mar 5 Apr 16–30 Apr 9–23
Dallas, TX (8b) Mar 2 Dec 22 – Jan 5 Feb 16 – Mar 2 Feb 9–23
Minneapolis, MN (5a) Apr 23 Feb 12–26 Apr 9–23 Apr 2–16
Kansas City, MO (6b) Apr 4 Jan 24 – Feb 7 Mar 21 – Apr 4 Mar 14–28
Chicago, IL (6b) Apr 10 Jan 30 – Feb 13 Mar 27 – Apr 10 Mar 20 – Apr 3
Columbus, OH (6b) Apr 20 Feb 9–23 Apr 6–20 Mar 30 – Apr 13
Nashville, TN (7b) Apr 1 Jan 21 – Feb 4 Mar 18 – Apr 1 Mar 11–25
Atlanta, GA (8a) Mar 24 Jan 13–27 Mar 10–24 Mar 3–17
Raleigh, NC (8a) Mar 28 Jan 17–31 Mar 14–28 Mar 7–21
Philadelphia, PA (7b) Mar 30 Jan 19 – Feb 2 Mar 16–30 Mar 9–23
Boston, MA (7a) Apr 4 Jan 24 – Feb 7 Mar 21 – Apr 4 Mar 14–28

In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow parsley from fall through winter.

Parsley spacing

In a square-foot bed, plant 4 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 8 inches apart with 12 inches between rows.

Slow to sprout. Soak seed overnight. Host plant for swallowtail caterpillars.

One square foot planted with parsley, as drawn in the planner.

How to grow parsley

Parsley is a biennial grown as an annual for its leaves. It is slow to start but then produces from late spring until hard freezes, and it often survives winter to give an early flush the next spring before flowering. It is also a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars.

Sun and soil

Full sun to light shade, with afternoon shade helpful in hot Southern summers. Rich, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.0–7.0.

Planting

  1. Soak seed overnight to speed germination, which can still take 2–4 weeks.
  2. Start indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost, ¼ inch deep, in individual cells to avoid disturbing the taproot.
  3. Transplant from 2 weeks before the last frost to the frost date, or direct-sow 1–3 weeks before it once soil reaches 50°F.
  4. Space plants 8 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.

Care

  • Keep soil evenly moist and feed lightly once or twice in summer.
  • Mulch to keep roots cool. In fall, a layer of straw helps plants survive winter.
  • Replant every year; second-year plants bolt in spring and the leaves turn bitter.

Harvest

Once plants are bushy, cut the outer stems at the base and leave the center to keep growing. Harvest regularly. Parsley keeps for a week or more with the stems in water in the refrigerator, and freezes well.

Common problems

  • Swallowtail caterpillars: Green caterpillars striped with black and yellow. They become black swallowtail butterflies; most gardeners plant extra parsley or move them to a spare plant.
  • Slow or patchy germination: Soak seed, keep the soil surface moist, and be patient; starting indoors helps.
  • Septoria leaf spot: Brown spots with dark specks. Remove spotted leaves, water at the base, and rotate.

Varieties to try

  • 'Moss Curled' — classic curly parsley
  • 'Giant of Italy' — large flat-leaf parsley with strong flavor
  • Hamburg (root parsley) — grown for its parsnip-like root

Crop rotation

Parsley belong to the carrot family (Apiaceae). Carrot rust fly and leaf blights carry over. Light feeders. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: carrot, parsnip, celery, cilantro, dill.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant parsley?
Start parsley indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks before your last frost, or sow seed outdoors 1–3 weeks before your last frost. Type your ZIP code above for exact dates, or see the city table.
What grows well with parsley?
Good neighbors for parsley include tomato and cherry tomato. Each one is listed above with the reason and how strong the evidence is.
What should not be planted with parsley?
Keep parsley apart from mint. Mint spreads by runners and will overrun slower herbs. Keep it in a pot.
How far apart should I plant parsley?
In rows, space parsley about 8 inches apart with rows 12 inches apart. In a square-foot bed, plant 4 per square foot.
How long do parsley take to grow?
About 70–90 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on the variety and the weather.
Can parsley handle frost?
Yes. Parsley handle frost well and are planted before the last frost in spring.

Sources

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