Plant Parsley in Zone 10b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 10b
Zone 10b averages 350 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around January 15 to a first fall frost around December 31. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 21 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 Nov 20, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 10b last frost. Transplants go out around Jan 1. Starting earlier than that in Zone 10b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 75 days to harvest, a 350-day Zone 10b season has room for about 3 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 10b
Yes. Plant parsley between November 19 and December 3 in Zone 10b, 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 10b 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 10b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Mar 17 |
| Fall | by Dec 3 | Dec 3 | 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 10b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 10b?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Nov 20 (Zone 10b).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 10b?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 10b rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 10b?
Yes. Plant parsley between November 19 and December 3 in Zone 10b, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 10b?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 10b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of parsley fit in a Zone 10b season?
About 3. Zone 10b averages 350 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.