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When to Plant Parsley in Lander County, NV

Lander County, Nevada Zone 6b May

Lander County, Nevada gardeners: here's your May plan

A quick May briefing for Lander County, Nevada gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 27
Avg. first frost September 22
Soil temp (4") 39°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant parsley

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Scatter parsley into prepared beds

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

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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.

Lander County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 118 days.

At an elevation of 6,987 feet, Lander County receives approximately 9.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Parsley will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Parsley successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lander County, NV (Zone 6b) Short season
118 days
Last Spring Frost May 27
118 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Lander County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 15
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 22 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 23
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 13 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 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 Lander County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–8.4) is more alkaline than Parsley prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lander County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Parsley will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Parsley.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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

2
successive plantings in your 118-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 561 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 0.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 0.2" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.6" 0.4" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 1.8" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.6" 1.9" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.6" 1.3" 1.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Lander 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 ~1,278 GDD — county provides 2,153 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Lander County, NV

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 13 May 13 – Jun 3
Harvest July 22 Jul 22 – Sep 23
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 – Jul 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.6"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

118 days in Lander County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Lander County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after May 27 in Lander County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lander County dries quickly — mulch Parsley with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Lander County, NV?

Lander County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 27. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lander County, NV?

Lander County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and first fall frost is September 22.

🌱

Your Lander County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lander County (Zone 6b). 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 Lander County, NV. 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.