Plant Parsley in Zone 5a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 5a
Zone 5a averages 156 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 30 to a first fall frost around October 3. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 48 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 5, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 5a last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 16. Starting earlier than that in Zone 5a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 5a
Yes. Plant parsley between August 22 and September 5 in Zone 5a, 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 5a 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 5a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar 5 | Apr 16 | Jun 30 |
| Fall | by Sep 5 | Sep 5 | 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 5a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 5a?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Mar 5 (Zone 5a).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 5a?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 5a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 5a?
Yes. Plant parsley between August 22 and September 5 in Zone 5a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 5a?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 5a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.