When to Plant Parsley in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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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.
- Planting window
- Mar to Jul
- Days to harvest
- about 10 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 20 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
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.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S
- Apr S/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul T/D
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Parsley in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Heavier feeder than most herbs.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- 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.
- Good companions
- Tomato, Carrot, Chives, Dill, Cabbage
- Keep away from
- Lettuce (competes for same nutrients), 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
Pests and problems for Parsley in Tropical
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.
Storing and preserving parsley
How to keep it
- Freezing (best method). Chop finely, freeze in ice cube trays with water or oil. Retains colour and flavour well. Keeps: 6-9 months.
- Drying. Hang bunches or dehydrate at 35C. Colour and flavour diminish significantly. Keeps: 12 months.
- Chimichurri. Blend 2 cups parsley, olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, chilli flakes. Freeze portions. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
- Gremolata. Chopped parsley + lemon zest + garlic. Freeze small portions. Keeps: 3 months frozen.
What parsley costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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Common 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
Can you grow parsley 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.
When should I plant Parsley in Cairns?
Sow from March to July in the dry season. Parsley struggles and bolts once the wet season heat arrives, so grow it as an annual.
What soil temperature do Parsley need?
Parsley germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Parsley are ready to harvest?
Begin harvesting outer stems when plant has 8+ stems.
What are the best Parsley varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Italian flat-leaf (more heat tolerant), Giant of Italy.
What grows well with Parsley?
Good companion plants for Parsley include: Tomato, Carrot, Chives, Dill, Cabbage.
Are parsley salt tolerant?
Only a little. Parsley are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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.