How to grow Parsnip

This plant can be harvested as soon as it’s mature, however it’s best let them overwinter in the ground, as that increases their flavour. The frost changes the starchy structure of the root – the cold transforms that starch into a sugar. If planning to overwinter in the ground, mulch heavily to avoid the roots rotting. Some varieties of parsnip are better for overwintering than others.

As soon as the first frost hits, you can start to harvest, but the flavour won’t be to its full capacity until next spring.

Parsnips can also be planted in the fall, and will be ready for the next fall harvest.

Parsnips can grow quite deep, so loosen soil around root before harvesting. Before planting seeds, loosen soil and remove all rocks and gravel.

Quite similar to the growing of carrots.

Do not transplant, sow directly outdoors as this vegetable does not like to be transplanted.

It’s best to overplant and then thin the seedlings, as germination rates for parsnips can be low and irregular.

As parsnips are biennials, seeds will not be produced until the following year. To obtain seed from your parsnips you can either leave the whole root in the ground until it flowers and seeds, or you can harvest, cut off the top (with the greens still on) and replant for the following season. Note: the root will not regrow to edible form.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 0.98 inches (2.5 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.47 inches (1.2 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Parsnip about 15 days after your last frost date .

Double digging is a good practise when planting parsnips. As with carrots, if the soil is too hard or rocky, the growth will be stunted and splits will form in the root.
Choose a sunny spot and always plant in a straight at regular intervals, as this makes it easier to spot the baby plants amongst the weeds as germination is slow. Alternatively, plant parsnip and then between plat radish. The radish will mark the row and be ready long before the parsnip needs the room

Ensure that temperatures are mild (minimum night temperatures should be around -5°C / 23°F) and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Parsnip is a half hardy plant.

Use a trowel or hand fork to loosen the earth around the long root to be sure to pull it up whole

Parsnip is biennial and will flower after the first winter if seeds are required.

Seed viability is one year.

These estimates for how long Parsnip takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Our when to plant Parsnip estimates are relative to your last frost date.

From the middle English passenep, a modification of Old French pasnaie. From Latin pastinaca, from pastinum meaning “2-pronged dibble”

This plant can trace its origins to Eurasia and the Mediterranean.

Until the potato arrived in Europe, the parsnip was widely used in its place, and dominated many dishes.

Roman writings have been found that refer to parsnips being eaten.

Until parsnips were brought to northern Europe during Roman expansion, they were harvested in autumn and eaten in their starchy state. It wasn’t until in the North when the ground froze and parsnips were left to overwinter did people realize that letting the frost hit them converted their starch to sugar and made them sweet.

Pastinaca sativa L.