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When to Plant Parsley in Dubois County, IN

Dubois County, Indiana Zone 6a April

Top priorities for Dubois County, Indiana gardeners in April

Here's what deserves your attention in Dubois County, Indiana this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 21
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13 hrs
  1. Time to transplant parsley

    Frost risk is low now in Dubois County, Indiana. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

A few tasks this April that'll pay off in May
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 589 feet, Dubois County receives approximately 33.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season.

Dubois County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21
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Dubois County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 25

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 Dubois County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.3) overlaps with Parsley's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Parsley will thrive.

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

3
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 12.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.6" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.6" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Dubois 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 ~1,120 GDD — county provides 3,072 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Dubois County, IN

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 – Aug 9
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 – Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Dubois County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Dubois County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after April 12 in Dubois County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 21.

🌱

Your Dubois County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dubois County (Zone 6a). 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 Dubois County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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