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Growing Parsnip

(Pastinaca sativa)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
							P	P	P

(Best months for planting Parsnip in Australia - temperate regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 6°C and 21°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 8 - 10 cm apart
Harvest in 17-20 weeks. Best flavour if harvested after a frost..
Compatible with: Swiss Chard (Silverbeet), Capsicum, Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Garlic
Avoid growing with: Carrot, Celery, Brassicas

A freshly dug parsnip
Parsnip leaves

Best grown in deep sandy, loamy soil. After planting keep seeds moist - can cover with a wooden plank or mulch - until seeds germinate. Difficult to grow in summer as the seed dries out fast and won't germinate. Leave in the ground until after frost or at least a couple of weeks of really cold weather. The cold results in the starch in the roots being converted into sugars which give the parsnip its sweet taste. Use a spade to dig the parsnip out of the ground.

Germination rates of parsnip seed are not great so sow about 3 seeds per inch and at a depth of around half an inch. Germination may take up to 20 days. Thin seedlings down so they are about 8cm (4in) apart. If you are planting in rows then space the rows about 50cm (20in) apart.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Parsnip

Peel and roast with vegetables or meat. The sweetish flavour of parsnips enhances most other vegetables.

Your comments and tips

12 Aug 11, (Australia - tropical climate): someone suggested to twist off the tops from parsnips so the leaves do not draw moisture from the roots. is this correct? if so at what stage of growth.
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09 Jun 11, Meg (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I would like to grow parsnips on a large scale any suggestions?
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28 Apr 11, (Australia - tropical climate): I wish to grow parsnips on a larger scale like market gardenening... any suggestions?
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11 Sep 10, angela seeckts (Australia - temperate climate): Strange shaped parsnips and in the same garden bed, cauliflowers with leaves only. Can you tell me why?
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13 Sep 10, Kit (Australia - temperate climate): My parsnips are a little undersized but ok. My Cauliflowers are leaves only as well. Anyone got any ideas? -Kit Houston
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18 Jan 12, Derek (Australia - temperate climate): Sounds likes excess nitrogen. Carrots and parsnip will split and deform with a lot of nitrogen in soil. Fruit/flowering plants including cauliflowers will produce a lot of foliage with nitrogen. Try to reduce heavy nitrogen based fertiliser for fruiting, flowering and root veg.
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11 Jun 10, Matty (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Just harvested a great crop of parsnips, it helps to grow them in well drained soil, (keep the water up to them) and in raised garden beds are ideal.
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19 Mar 10, Peter G (Australia - temperate climate): I now grow my seedlings in 3-4 inch pots.Take a stryropor brocolli box,cut off to make it about 4-5 inchs high. place in pots, sieve in and around to fill all spaces. mix ; mush compost, my own compost and garden soil in equal proportions. always keep moist and best covered until germination. plant out when roots poke through base of pot.result, good even rows, no gaps. when planting , add your choice of fertiliser in base of hole, cover a little and back fill with your best growing soil.It is worth the trouble Thanks Muddy knees - who also has his own method of transplanting.Have not tried it with parsnip , but I know it will work!
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29 Dec 09, Bill Marshall (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I have difficulty getting parsnips to germinate - can you help me
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22 Nov 09, Kiwi Exile in Melbourne (Australia - temperate climate): Parsnip Germination: I've not had any issues in two years, and have used packet seeds 2 years running with success (I always roll up the inner foil packet tightly after opening. I plant in a narrow drill & cover with seed raising mix. I keep surface damp AT ALL TIMES long after germination. (damp down night & morning, even more often if very hot.) - Thanks to my water tank. Easier to get started in spring and Autumn than in a hot dry summer. I find parsnips easy to grow than carrots.
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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