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When to Plant Parsley in Kings County, NY

Kings County, New York Zone 7b May

May to-do list for Kings County, New York

Here's what deserves your attention in Kings County, New York this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 7b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost March 29
Avg. first frost November 12
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: parsley

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

  2. Collect parsley at their peak

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Kings County, New York is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 505 feet, Kings County receives approximately 48.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season.

Kings County, NY (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Kings County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Aug 6

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 Kings County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.4) is more acidic than Parsley prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). 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 228-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.6" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.6" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.6" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.6" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Kings 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 ~1,172 GDD — county provides 3,819 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Kings County, NY

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 – Apr 5
Harvest May 24 May 24 – Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 – Sep 17

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
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December

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 7b

📆 Growing Season

228 days in Kings County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Kings County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after March 29 in Kings 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 Kings County, NY?

Kings County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kings County, NY?

Kings County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 12.

🌱

Your Kings County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Kings County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Kings County, NY. 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.