Plant Parsley in Zone 12b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 12b
Zone 12b is effectively frost-free, so the Zone 12b calendar for parsley is set by heat, not cold. There is no last frost to count backward from and no first frost to beat, which means the question is not whether parsley will finish but whether it will sit through the hottest stretch of the year. Parsley is a hardy crop needing about 75 days from sowing to harvest.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 12b
Zone 12b has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow parsley here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
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 12b 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 12b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 1 | Feb 1 | Apr 17 |
| Fall | Oct onward | Oct onward | 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 12b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 12b?
Direct sow outdoors around Feb 1.
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 12b?
Yes, direct sow around Feb 1.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 12b?
Zone 12b has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow parsley here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 12b?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 12b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.