herb · transplant
Parsley: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating parsley a few times a week needs about 67 plants in ~34 sq ft, worth about $201 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$10.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 17 | ~9 sq ft | ~23 | ~$51 |
| 2 people | 34 | ~17 sq ft | ~46 | ~$102 |
| 4 people | 67 | ~34 sq ft | ~90 | ~$201 |
| 6 people | 100 | ~50 sq ft | ~134 | ~$300 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
50 from transplant (75 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 22 | Jun 15 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – May 17 | Jun 25 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – May 7 | Jul 5 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 27 | Jul 15 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Apr 12 | Jul 25 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 27 | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Feb 7 | Sep 14 – Oct 30 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut outer stems at the base once stems carry three leaflet segments; the center keeps producing all season.
Yield
About 0.3 bunchs per plant over ~16 productive weeks (~0.3 lb).
Watch for
Carrot rust fly · Parsleyworm · Aphids, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with tomato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
36 kcal · 3.3 g fiber · 133 mg vitamin C · 554 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Parsley planting questions
How many parsley plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 17 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 67 plants, which takes around 34 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does parsley need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant parsley?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing parsley worth it?+
At about $10.00/lb retail and ~0.3 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $201 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.