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A young parsley plant with flat leaves
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When to plant parsley in John Day, OR

Plant parsley in the garden in John Day Apr 30 – Jun 18, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Mar 5–19.

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

John Day's typical last spring frost is May 28. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

How to grow parsley in John Day

  1. Start seeds indoors Mar 5–19 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 Apr 30 – Jun 18, 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 John Day, OR?

Typically May 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for John Day.

Is it too late to plant parsley in John Day?

The spring planting window runs through June 18. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

When should I start parsley from seed indoors in John Day?

March 5 to March 19, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the April 30 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 John Day around the same time

Planting dates for parsley in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for John Day · Parsley in every city