When to Plant Parsley in Zone 10

Petroselinum crispum

Last updated: Apr 29, 2026 ยท Sources: USDA, NOAA, Cooperative Extension
Action Plan

Plant Parsley in Zone 10

  • Start indoors: Dec 30
  • Transplant: Feb 17 โ€” after last frost (Feb 10)
  • First harvest: May 19 (70โ€“90 days after planting)
โš ๏ธ Don't plant before last frost (Feb 10) โ€” cold snaps kill young transplants.
Last frost
Feb 10
First frost
Dec 10
Growing season
303 days
Quick Facts
Sunlight โ›… Partial Sun
Water Needs ๐Ÿ’ง๐Ÿ’ง Moderate
Spacing 10 inches apart
Planting Depth 0.25 inch
Min Soil Temp 50ยฐF
Germination 14โ€“28 days
Days to Maturity 70โ€“90 days
Frost Tolerance Moderate frost tolerance
Soil pH 6.0โ€“7.0
Difficulty Easy
What you'll need โ€” Zone 10
๐Ÿ›’ Parsley โ€” Seeds & Supplies
  • ๐ŸŒฑ Flat-Leaf Parsley Seeds
  • ๐ŸŒฑ Herb Seed Starting Kit
  • ๐ŸŒฑ Indoor Herb Grow Light

Search for these at your local garden center or nursery.

Growing Tips

  • Parsley is biennial โ€” it overwinters in most zones and comes back in spring before bolting.
  • Soak seeds overnight before planting to speed up notoriously slow germination.
  • Start indoors 8โ€“10 weeks before transplanting.
  • Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley has more flavor than curly for cooking.
  • Cut outer stems at the base โ€” never strip from the center.

Common Mistakes

  • Expecting fast germination โ€” parsley can take 3โ€“4 weeks. Be patient.
  • Not soaking seeds โ€” significantly speeds up germination.
  • Harvesting from the center โ€” always take outer stems to keep the plant productive.
  • Letting it go to seed in year 2 without harvesting โ€” once it flowers, leaf production stops.

Companion Planting

Companion planting improves growth, deters pests, and makes better use of garden space.

โœ“ Good Companions

Parsley Schedule โ€” All Zones

ZoneStart IndoorsTransplant Direct SowHarvest StartHarvest End
Zone 3 Apr 3 May 22 โ€” Aug 21 Sep 12
Zone 4 Mar 29 May 17 โ€” Aug 16 Sep 22
Zone 5 Mar 19 May 7 โ€” Aug 6 Sep 25
Zone 6 Mar 4 Apr 22 โ€” Jul 22 Sep 10
Zone 7 Feb 22 Apr 12 โ€” Jul 12 Aug 31
Zone 8 Feb 6 Mar 27 โ€” Jun 26 Aug 15
Zone 9 Jan 17 Mar 7 โ€” Jun 6 Jul 26
Zone 10 Dec 30 Feb 17 โ€” May 19 Jul 8
Zone 11 Dec 17 Jan 22 Jan 22 Apr 23 Jun 12

Other Zones for Parsley

Zone 3 ยท Zone 4 ยท Zone 5 ยท Zone 6 ยท Zone 7 ยท Zone 8 ยท Zone 9 ยท Zone 11

๐Ÿ“š Data Sources
Frost dates: NOAA Climate Normals 1991โ€“2020, National Centers for Environmental Information.
Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Agricultural Research Service.
Growing requirements: Cooperative Extension Services โ€” NC State, Penn State, University of Florida IFAS.
Companion planting: Cornell University Cooperative Extension.
Data compiled from public agricultural sources. Always verify with your local extension office for micro-climate adjustments.