Herb

When to Plant Parsley in Colorado

More than a garnish. Parsley is a biennial that produces abundantly its first year and is one of the most nutritious herbs.

The Short Answer

Parsley are planted in fall in Colorado, 8 weeks before your first frost date. That means planting around Sep 25 - Oct 10 in Front Range (Denver).

Colorado Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Colorado you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Front Range (Denver) 5a, 5b, 6a May 1 - May 15 Sep 25 - Oct 10
Western Slope 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a May 10 - Jun 1 Sep 15 - Oct 5
Mountain Regions 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b Jun 1 - Jun 20 Aug 25 - Sep 15

Parsley Planting Schedule for Colorado

Front Range (Denver) (Zones 5a, 5b, 6a)

Average last frost: May 1 - May 15 · Average first frost: Sep 25 - Oct 10

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks before frost
Direct Sow
3 wks before frost
Fall Planting
8 wks before first frost

Western Slope (Zones 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a)

Average last frost: May 10 - Jun 1 · Average first frost: Sep 15 - Oct 5

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks before frost
Direct Sow
3 wks before frost
Fall Planting
8 wks before first frost

Mountain Regions (Zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b)

Average last frost: Jun 1 - Jun 20 · Average first frost: Aug 25 - Sep 15

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks before frost
Direct Sow
3 wks before frost
Fall Planting
8 wks before first frost

Growing Parsley in Colorado

Parsley in Colorado's Climate

Parsley is one of your most reliable herbs — the biennial handles frost, grows through your moderate summers, and keeps producing from May through November. Start seeds indoors in February (parsley germinates notoriously slowly — 14-28 days). The plant is biennial: lush leaves year one, flowers and seeds year two.

Soil Considerations for Colorado

Alkaline clay soils common along Front Range. Rocky, thin soils in mountains. Amend heavily with compost and sulfur to lower pH.

Colorado Climate & Growing Season

High altitude means intense sun but cool nights. Low humidity. Hail risk in late spring. Short but intense growing season at elevation.

Growing season length varies across Colorado: Front Range (Denver) (5a, 5b, 6a) has a last frost around May 1 - May 15, while Mountain Regions (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) sees frost end around Jun 1 - Jun 20. This difference matters for parsley — adjust your planting dates to match your specific region.

Growing Tips

Parsley seeds are notoriously slow to germinate — soak overnight before planting. It's a biennial: lush leaves year one, seeds year two.

Companion Planting

Plant parsley alongside these companions for better growth:

Tomatoes Asparagus Corn

The Bottom Line

Parsley can be grown successfully across Colorado, but your exact planting dates depend on which region you're in. Front Range (Denver) gardeners should plan around a May 1 - May 15 last frost, while those in Mountain Regions can typically plant later. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Parsley Growing Guide National planting guide with all states Colorado Planting Calendar All plants for Colorado Parsley in Alabama Alabama planting dates Parsley in Alaska Alaska planting dates Parsley in Arizona Arizona planting dates Parsley in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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