When to Plant Parsley in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Sow March to July. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is March.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Parsley guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane 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.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | S | S/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D | - | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 10–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Parsley in Tropical Australia
When to Plant
Best Mar-Sep. Struggles in wet season.
- 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
Tropical Growing Tips for Parsley
Recommended Varieties
- Italian flat-leaf (more heat tolerant)
- Giant of Italy
Key Challenges
- Bolts in heat
- Fungal diseases
- Crown rot
Pro Tips
- Flat-leaf handles heat better than curly
- Part shade essential
- Raised beds for drainage
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.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon 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): Jan to Jun
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): all year
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Jun
- Mediterranean (Perth): all year
Does parsley grow all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to Jul. 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.