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When to Plant Parsley in Danville City, VA

Danville City, Virginia Zone 7b May

This month in Danville City, Virginia

Each item below is timed to Danville City, Virginia's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Time to start parsley inside

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

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Danville City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 970 feet, Danville City receives approximately 52.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Parsley during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Parsley root diseases.

Danville City, VA (Zone 7b) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29
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Danville City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Aug 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 28

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 Danville City

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–7.1) overlaps with Parsley's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 10 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 20.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/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 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.6" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.6" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.6" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.6" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.6" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.6" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Danville City). 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 ~1,330 GDD — county provides 3,781 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Danville City, VA

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 20
Harvest June 8 Jun 8 – Aug 10
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3

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 Fall Sowing
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 7b

📆 Growing Season

199 days in Danville City

Growing Tips for Parsley in Danville City

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after April 13 in Danville City 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 Danville City, VA?

Danville City is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Danville City, VA?

Danville City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 29.

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Your Danville City Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Danville City (Zone 7b). 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 Danville City, VA. 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.