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When to Plant Parsley in Pend Oreille County, WA

Pend Oreille County, Washington Zone 6a May

May in the garden — Pend Oreille County, Washington

May is a pivotal month for Pend Oreille County, Washington gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 23
Soil temp (4") 48°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Plant out parsley

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

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Pend Oreille County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 3,807 feet, Pend Oreille County receives approximately 13.2 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.

Pend Oreille County, WA (Zone 6a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Pend Oreille County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Sep 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 26 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 27

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 Pend Oreille County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.6) is more acidic than Parsley prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Pend Oreille 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 (5.0%) — 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.

Succession Planting Parsley

2
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 05 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 451 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 0.8" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.6" 0.5" 2.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 0.2" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.6" 0.2" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.6" 0.6" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Pend Oreille 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 1,972 GDD Excellent fit

Parsley Planting Timeline — Pend Oreille County, WA

Parsley Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 – May 17
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 – Sep 6
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 – Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
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_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Pend Oreille County

Growing Tips for Parsley in Pend Oreille County

Direct sow Parsley outdoors after May 10 in Pend Oreille 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 Pend Oreille County, WA?

Pend Oreille County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Parsley planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pend Oreille County, WA?

Pend Oreille County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 23.

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Your Pend Oreille County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pend Oreille 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.

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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 Pend Oreille County, WA. 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.