When should I plant parsley in zone 7?

In zone 7a, direct sow or transplant parsley on March 8, about 4 weeks before the average last frost (April 5). For zone 7b, plant on February 28 (4 weeks before last frost on March 28). Start seeds indoors on January 25 (7a) or January 17 (7b) for an earlier harvest.

Can parsley survive a frost?

Yes — parsley tolerates light frost down to about 20°F (-6°C) and often overwinters in zones 6 and warmer. Mulch the crown in late fall to protect it. In zones 4-5, treat parsley as an annual or move containers indoors.

How long does parsley take to germinate?

Parsley is slow to germinate — typically 14-28 days. Soaking seeds overnight in warm water before planting can shorten germination by about a week. Keep soil consistently moist at 60-70°F until seedlings emerge.

When can I start harvesting parsley?

Begin harvesting outer stems 70-90 days after sowing, once the plant has at least 3 stems with full leaves. Always cut from the outside, leaving the center growing point intact — the plant will keep producing for the rest of the season.

Is parsley an annual or perennial?

Parsley is a biennial — it produces leaves the first year and flowers/seeds the second, then dies. Most gardeners treat it as an annual and replant each spring for the best leaf flavor, since second-year leaves turn bitter as the plant prepares to bolt.

When to Plant Parsley — Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Your USDA Hardiness Zone:

Find my zone

Zone	Last Frost	Start Indoors	Transplant	Direct Sow
Zone 2A	May 30	Mar 21	May 2	May 2
Zone 3B	May 15	Mar 6	Apr 17	Apr 17
Zone 4A	May 8	Feb 27	Apr 10	Apr 10
Zone 4B	May 1	Feb 20	Apr 3	Apr 3
Zone 5A	Apr 25	Feb 14	Mar 28	Mar 28
Zone 5B	Apr 18	Feb 7	Mar 21	Mar 21
Zone 6A	Apr 21	Feb 10	Mar 24	Mar 24
Zone 6B	Apr 10	Jan 30	Mar 13	Mar 13
Zone 7A	Apr 5	Jan 25	Mar 8	Mar 8
Zone 7B	Mar 28	Jan 17	Feb 28	Feb 28
Zone 8A	Mar 20	Jan 9	Feb 20	Feb 20
Zone 8B	Mar 12	Jan 1	Feb 12	Feb 12
Zone 9A	Feb 28	Dec 20	Jan 31	Jan 31
Zone 9B	Feb 15	Dec 7	Jan 18	Jan 18
Zone 10A	Feb 1	Nov 23	Jan 4	Jan 4
Zone 10B	Jan 15	Nov 6	Dec 18	Dec 18
Zone 11A	Jan 1	Oct 23	Dec 4	Dec 4

When to plant parsley in zone 7

In USDA zone 7, plant parsley by direct sowing or transplanting on March 8 (zone 7a) or February 28 (zone 7b) — about 4 weeks before the average last frost. For an earlier harvest, start seeds indoors on January 25 (7a) or January 17 (7b). Parsley tolerates light frost, so early planting is safe.

For other zones, see the planting calendar above — dates are calculated from each zone’s average last frost.

Parsley is a biennial herb that’s far more versatile than just a garnish, rich in vitamins A, C, and K.

Top Growing Tips

Slow to germinate (2-3 weeks) — soak seeds overnight to speed up
Flat-leaf (Italian) has stronger flavor; curly is more decorative
Harvest outer stems first, leaving the center to keep growing
Overwinters in mild zones and produces seed the second year
Excellent container plant for windowsill gardens

Companion Planting

Good companions: tomatoes, asparagus, roses, corn

Avoid planting near: lettuce (some sources suggest competition)

Harvest Timeline

70-90 days from seed; harvest outer leaves continuously

🌿 When to Plant Parsley

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

When to plant parsley in zone 7

Top Growing Tips

Companion Planting

Harvest Timeline

Related Herbs