Plant Parsley in Zone 10a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 10a
Zone 10a averages 323 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around January 31 to a first fall frost around December 20. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 23 percent of that window. Parsley is a hardy crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Because parsley needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Dec 6, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 10a last frost. Transplants go out around Jan 17. Starting earlier than that in Zone 10a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 75 days to harvest, a 323-day Zone 10a season has room for about 3 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 10a
Yes. Plant parsley between November 8 and November 22 in Zone 10a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Parsley planted in late summer survives most winters with light cover and gives you leaves months before a spring sowing does.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 10a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall parsley in Zone 10a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Dec 6 | Jan 17 | Apr 2 |
| Fall | by Nov 22 | Nov 22 | Next spring |
Parsley in nearby zones
Further reading on parsley
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How a cold frame keeps parsley producing into winter, and when to sow it.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for parsley, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving parsley seedlings outdoors.
Other crops in Zone 10a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 10a?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Dec 6 (Zone 10a).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 10a?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 10a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 10a?
Yes. Plant parsley between November 8 and November 22 in Zone 10a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 10a?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 10a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of parsley fit in a Zone 10a season?
About 3. Zone 10a averages 323 frost-free days and parsley needs roughly 75 days plus a couple of weeks of turnaround, so sowing every 45 days keeps a supply coming.