Parsley Root (Hamburg Parsley) in Zone 3a & 3b
Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum
Yes, parsley root (Hamburg parsley) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Plant it outside May 30–Jun 6.
When to plant parsley root (Hamburg parsley) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 30–Jun 6 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 28–Sep 4 (~90 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of parsley root (Hamburg parsley) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilJun 13–Jun 20
- BorageMay 30–Jun 6
- DillMay 23–May 30
- AniseMay 30–Jun 6
- CatnipMay 30–Jun 6
- Chamomile (German)May 30–Jun 6

Parsley root, also called Hamburg parsley, is grown for its long, white, parsnip-like root rather than its leaves, though the foliage is edible too and tastes just like standard parsley.
How parsley root (Hamburg parsley) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Parsley root (Hamburg parsley) needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.
Parsley Root (Hamburg Parsley) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 20–May 27 | Aug 18–Aug 25 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Not usually | May 30–Jun 6 | Aug 28–Sep 4 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 15–May 22 | Aug 13–Aug 20 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 10–May 17 | Aug 8–Aug 15 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 25–May 2 | Jul 24–Jul 31 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Jun 23–Jun 30 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 15–Feb 22 | May 16–May 23 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 30–May 7 |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for parsley root (Hamburg parsley).
Where to buy parsley root seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries parsley root seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing parsley root (Hamburg parsley)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Parsley Root (Hamburg Parsley) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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