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When to Plant Parsley in Baker County, OR

Baker County, Oregon Zone 6b May

May in Baker County, Oregon — your action list

Each item below is timed to Baker County, Oregon's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 30
Avg. first frost September 12
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Time to transplant parsley

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

  2. Plant parsley from seed, right in the garden

    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.

Baker County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 105 days.

At an elevation of 1,398 feet, Baker County receives approximately 16.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Parsley successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Baker County, OR (Zone 6b) Short season
105 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
105 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

Baker County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

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 25 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 26
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 16

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 Baker County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.5) is more acidic than Parsley prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Parsley.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 97 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 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 1.1" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.6" 0.6" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 0.2" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.6" 0.3" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.6" 0.8" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Baker 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 ~1,015 GDD — county provides 1,522 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Baker County, OR

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Transplant Outdoors May 23 May 23 – Jun 6
Direct Sow May 16 May 16 – Jun 6
Harvest July 25 Jul 25 – Sep 26
Fall Sowing July 4 Jul 4 – Jul 18

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 · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

105 days in Baker County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Baker County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after May 30 in Baker 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 Baker County, OR?

Baker County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 30. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baker County, OR?

Baker County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and first fall frost is September 12.

🌱

Your Baker County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Baker 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 Baker County, OR. 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.