Plant Parsley in Zone 8a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 8a
Zone 8a averages 228 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around March 25 to a first fall frost around November 8. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 33 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 Jan 28, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 8a last frost. Transplants go out around Mar 11. Starting earlier than that in Zone 8a usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 75 days to harvest, a 228-day Zone 8a season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 8a
Yes. Plant parsley between September 27 and October 11 in Zone 8a, 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 8a 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 8a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Jan 28 | Mar 11 | May 25 |
| Fall | by Oct 11 | Oct 11 | 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 8a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 8a?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Jan 28 (Zone 8a).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 8a?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 8a rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 8a?
Yes. Plant parsley between September 27 and October 11 in Zone 8a, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 8a?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 8a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of parsley fit in a Zone 8a season?
About 2. Zone 8a averages 228 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.