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A young parsley plant with flat leaves
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When to plant parsley in Cottage Grove, OR

Plant parsley in the garden in Cottage Grove Mar 27 – May 15, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
8 inches apart
Planting depth
¼ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 75 days after planting

Why these dates

Cottage Grove's typical last spring frost is April 24. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

How to grow parsley in Cottage Grove

  1. Start seeds indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Mar 27 – May 15, 8 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Cut outer stems at the base and let the center keep growing.

Key numbers

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Soil, sowing and slow sprouting

Parsley likes rich, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.0 to 7.0. Its seeds contain natural compounds that slow sprouting, which is why they can take three weeks or more to come up. Soaking seeds overnight in warm water helps, and so does keeping the soil surface damp the whole time. Many Northwest gardeners skip the wait and buy young plants. Feed lightly with compost or a balanced fertilizer, and water during dry spells.

Why parsley flowers in its second year

Parsley is a biennial. It grows leaves the first year, survives winter, then sends up a flower stalk the next spring and finishes. West of the Cascades, plants often keep going through a mild winter and give you fresh leaves into early spring. Once they bolt, the leaves get tough and bitter, so sow or plant fresh parsley each spring. East of the Cascades, colder winters may kill plants outright, so mulch them or treat parsley as an annual.

Pests and harvest

Parsley is mostly trouble-free. You may find striped green and black caterpillars on it: those become swallowtail butterflies, and many gardeners plant a little extra to share. Slugs can chew young plants in wet weather. Harvest by cutting outer stems at the base and letting the center keep growing. Flat-leaf types like Italian Flat Leaf and Giant of Italy have stronger flavor for cooking, while Moss Curled is the frilly garnish type. Store stems in water in the fridge, or freeze chopped leaves.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Cottage Grove, OR?

Typically April 24. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Cottage Grove.

Is it too late to plant parsley in Cottage Grove?

The spring planting window runs through May 15. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When should I start parsley from seed indoors in Cottage Grove?

January 30 to February 13, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the March 27 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Why won't my parsley seeds sprout?

Parsley is naturally slow, often taking two to four weeks. Soak seeds overnight and keep the soil constantly moist, since a dry crust stops them. If you need it sooner, buy young plants.

Does parsley come back every year?

Not exactly. Parsley lives two years, flowering and dying in its second summer. West of the Cascades it often lasts through winter, but plant new parsley each spring for a steady supply.

What are the caterpillars eating my parsley?

Green caterpillars with black stripes and yellow dots are usually swallowtail butterfly larvae. They rarely eat enough to harm a healthy patch. You can move them to a spare plant if you want to save your harvest.

Also plant in Cottage Grove around the same time

Planting dates for parsley in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Cottage Grove · Parsley in every city