Plant Parsley in Zone 4a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4a
Zone 4a averages 135 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 10 to a first fall frost around September 22. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 56 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 Mar 15, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 4a last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 26. Starting earlier than that in Zone 4a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 4a
Yes. Plant parsley between August 11 and August 25 in Zone 4a, 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 4a 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 4a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar 15 | Apr 26 | Jul 10 |
| Fall | by Aug 25 | Aug 25 | 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 4a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 4a?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Mar 15 (Zone 4a).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 4a?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 4a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 4a?
Yes. Plant parsley between August 11 and August 25 in Zone 4a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 4a?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 4a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.