Plant Parsley in Zone 8b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 8b
Zone 8b averages 245 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around March 15 to a first fall frost around November 15. Parsley needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 31 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 18, about 8 weeks ahead of the Zone 8b last frost. Transplants go out around Mar 1. Starting earlier than that in Zone 8b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 75 days to harvest, a 245-day Zone 8b season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting parsley for a fall harvest in Zone 8b
Yes. Plant parsley between October 4 and October 18 in Zone 8b, 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 8b 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 8b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Jan 18 | Mar 1 | May 15 |
| Fall | by Oct 18 | Oct 18 | 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 8b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start parsley in Zone 8b?
Start parsley seeds indoors around Jan 18 (Zone 8b).
Can I direct sow parsley in Zone 8b?
Parsley is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 8b rather than direct sown.
Can I plant parsley in the fall in Zone 8b?
Yes. Plant parsley between October 4 and October 18 in Zone 8b, roughly 6 to 4 weeks before the average first frost, so it roots before the ground freezes.
Will parsley survive frost in Zone 8b?
Parsley is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 8b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of parsley fit in a Zone 8b season?
About 2. Zone 8b averages 245 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.