When to Plant Parsley in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
Sow February to October. Right now in October you can sow.
Grow Parsley in your space
- Planting window
- Best sown from March to October. Seed germinates poorly in midsummer heat.
- Days to harvest
- about 10 weeks
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade. Part shade in hot zones extends life.
- Water needs
- Regular, consistent. More moisture-demanding than Mediterranean herbs.
- Spacing
- 20cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Parsley guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The workhorse herb of the Australian kitchen garden. Flat-leaf (Italian) has stronger flavour; curly-leaf is milder with better garnish qualities. Biennial. Widely adapted across all zones. Slow to germinate but worth the wait.
See what grows now in your own postcode
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | S/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | T | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 21.8°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant
That figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 14:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
How to Grow Parsley in Subtropical Australia
When to Plant
Best sown from March to October. Seed germinates poorly in midsummer heat.
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Heavier feeder than most herbs.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade. Part shade in hot zones extends life.
- Spacing
- 20cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Watering
- Regular, consistent. More moisture-demanding than Mediterranean herbs.
Companion plants: Tomato, Asparagus, Rose, Chives
Avoid planting near: Lettuce, Mint
Subtropical Growing Tips for Parsley
Recommended Varieties
- Italian flat-leaf
- Giant of Italy
- Triple Curled
Key Challenges
- Summer heat causes bolting in year 2
- Caterpillar damage
Pro Tips
- Autumn sowing (Mar-May) produces longest-lasting plants
- Part shade extends life
Harvesting Parsley
When ready: Begin harvesting outer stems when plant has 8+ stems.
How to harvest: Cut outer stems at base, leaving inner growing point. Never strip more than 1/3.
Common Parsley Pests in Subtropical Zones
Aphids, risk: HIGH (score: 87/100)Organic prevention (Aphids): Healthy, well-fed plants resist damage.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon Questions About Parsley
When do you plant parsley in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Jun, Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Feb to May, Aug to Oct
Does parsley grow all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Feb to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.