Plant Parsley in Zone 6a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6a
Zone 6a averages 176 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 20 to a first fall frost around October 13. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 43 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 Feb 23, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 6a last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 6. Starting earlier than that in Zone 6a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 6a
Yes. Plant parsley between September 1 and September 15 in Zone 6a, 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 6a 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 6a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 23 | Apr 6 | Jun 20 |
| Fall | by Sep 15 | Sep 15 | 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 6a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 6a?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Feb 23 (Zone 6a).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 6a?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 6a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 6a?
Yes. Plant parsley between September 1 and September 15 in Zone 6a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 6a?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 6a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.