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When to Plant Parsley in Paulding County, GA

Paulding County, Georgia Zone 8a May

Your May game plan for Paulding County, Georgia

Here's what deserves your attention in Paulding County, Georgia this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 8a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost March 31
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Start parsley under lights

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

  2. Harvest parsley as they ripen

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: parsley

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Parsley is a biennial herb available in flat-leaf (Italian) and curly varieties. It is a nutritional powerhouse rich in vitamins C and K and adds fresh flavor to countless dishes.

Paulding County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 299 feet, Paulding County receives approximately 56.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Parsley, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Parsley root diseases.

Paulding County, GA (Zone 8a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
215 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1
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Paulding County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 14

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Paulding County

How your county's soil matches Parsley's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Parsley prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The clay loam soil in Paulding County is excellent for Parsley — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Parsley.

How to Plant Parsley

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Parsley

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Parsley

Parsley needs approximately 0.6 inches of water per week (2.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Parsley Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.6" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.6" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.6" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.6" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 5.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Paulding County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Parsley Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Parsley needs ~1,435 GDD — county provides 4,407 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Paulding County, GA

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 – Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 – Apr 7
Harvest May 26 May 26 – Jul 28
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 – Sep 6

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.6"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Paulding County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Paulding County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after March 31 in Paulding County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Paulding County's clay soil (26% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Parsley. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Common pests for Parsley in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Soak seeds overnight as germination is slow. Harvest outer stems first to keep plants productive. Parsley attracts swallowtail butterflies.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Mint
  • Lettuce

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Parsley in Paulding County, GA?

Paulding County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Paulding County, GA?

Paulding County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 1.

🌱

Your Paulding County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Paulding County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Paulding County, GA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.