When to plant parsley in Washington, District of Columbia

March 3 – March 17

Transplant outdoors · typical Washington year

Climate basis: NOAA station Washington Reagan AP, VA (USW00013743), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Washington (ZCTA 20004 centroid), elevation 10 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant parsley outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (March 24). One year in ten still freezes after April 6.

Last spring freezeMarch 241-in-10 after Apr 6

First fall freezeNovember 181-in-10 before Nov 5

Frost-free season≈ 241 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Mar 12 – Dec 3kills even hardy greens

The Washington year

Start seeds indoorsDec 23 – Jan 6

Transplant outdoorsMar 3 – Mar 17

Direct-sow outdoorsFeb 24 – Mar 10

indoors under lights
in the garden
frost-free season
1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 6

Parsley in Washington · freeze context from Washington Reagan AP, VA, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Start seeds indoors

Dec 23 – Jan 6

Wisconsin: start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost (UNH: 9–10 weeks from seed to transplant). Parsley germinates slowly. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 24). University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture) · University of New Hampshire Extension

Transplant outdoors

Mar 3 – Mar 17

UNH: set out 2–3 weeks before the last frost; Oklahoma State plants 3–4 weeks before. The later UNH range is used. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 24). University of New Hampshire Extension · Oklahoma State University Extension

Direct-sow outdoors

Feb 24 – Mar 10

Oklahoma State Table 1: plant parsley three to four weeks before the last spring frost. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 24). Oklahoma State University Extension

Variety assumption: Leaf harvest begins about 70–90 days from seed.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:

Crop rule sources (3)

University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture): Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (accessed 2026-07-24)
"Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost."
University of New Hampshire Extension: Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden [fact sheet] (accessed 2026-07-24)
Per-crop 'time from seed to transplant' and 'safe to set out in garden' relative to last frost.
Oklahoma State University Extension: Culinary Herbs for Oklahoma Gardens: Culture, Use and Preservation (accessed 2026-07-24)
Table 1 planting times relative to last spring frost for common herbs.

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