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When to Plant Parsley in Fields, OR

Parsley
Harney County, Oregon Zone 6a July

July to-do list for Harney County, Oregon

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this July, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost June 17
Avg. first frost September 6
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.9 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for parsley

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

Before August arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Fields, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 17 and the first fall frost is September 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 81 days.

At an elevation of 679 feet, Harney County receives approximately 22.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season.

Fields, OR (Zone 6a) Very short season
81 days
Last Spring Frost June 17
81 growing days
First Fall Frost September 6

Fields Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Parsley Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 8 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 9
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 13 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 14
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 20 Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Aug 19 – Oct 21

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 Fields

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.4) overlaps with Parsley's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.5%) — 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.

Parsley Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/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 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 2.6" 0.9" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 0.4" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.6" 0.4" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.6" 0.9" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Harney 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 ~1,068 GDD — county provides 1,235 GDD Good fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Fields, OR

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Transplant Outdoors June 10 Jun 10 – Jun 24
Direct Sow June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 24
Harvest August 12 Aug 12 – Oct 14
Fall Sowing June 28 Jun 28 – Jul 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

81 days in Harney County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Fields

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after June 17 in Harney County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 81.0-day growing season in Harney County is tight for Parsley (60.0-80.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 →

🌱

Your Harney County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Harney 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.

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 Harney County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.