When Should You Plant Parsley?
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GardenSays
Sow parsley plants outside May 5 – May 12 — after frost danger passes and soil has warmed.
- Sow from
- May 5 – May 12
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
Parsley plants are tolerant of light frost and germinate poorly in cold, wet ground — unlike peas or lettuce, you wait until AFTER the last frost (May 5) and until the soil warms. Sowing too early into cold spring soil rots the seed. The safe window in Minneapolis, MN opens around May 5.
Do this this week
- 1.The main sowing window closed May 12
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Sow through the warm months; parsley plants stop producing once nights turn cold.
- Warm-season crops need warm soil to germinate: cold, wet spring ground causes seed rot and poor stands, which is why they go in after frost, not before.
- Days-to-maturity versus your frost-free season sets how late you can keep sowing.
When this doesn't apply
- UMN's own instruction is to sow after frost danger has passed, even though parsley (a biennial grown as an annual) tolerates cool weather once established — the direct-sow window follows the source, not general herb-hardiness assumptions.
- A cold snap after sowing can still kill seedlings — hold off if a late frost is forecast, even inside the window.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. First sowing windowMay 5 – May 12Calculated result
Parsley is tolerant of light frost — sow only after frost danger passes AND soil has warmed (0-7 days after the last frost)
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing parsley in home gardens — Sow seeds directly in the ground after danger of spring frosts has passed. Cover seeds with 1/8 inch of soil, keep moist. Thin or transplant seedlings at 2-3 inches high to a final spacing of 10-12 inches. Full sun (6-8 hrs), tolerates some light shade. Germination takes 2-5 weeks depending on seed freshness. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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