Growing Parsnip

Pastinaca sativa : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 43°F and 70°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 3 - 4 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-20 weeks. Best flavour if harvested after a frost..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Swiss Chard (Silverbeet), Capsicum, Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Garlic
  • Avoid growing close to: Carrot, Celery, Brassicas

Your comments and tips

24 Oct 21, Edwin S Bedford (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It is Spring in South West Victoria , my daughter has planted Parsnip and growing well. Suddenly they have all bolted, can you help please. regards Edwin.
26 Oct 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My thoughts would be- your soil is not very rich and they went to seed or you planted too late in the season. I'm sub tropical and Gardenate suggests I can plant as late as Sept. They take approx 5 months to grow. So I would be picking mid to late Feb. Probably too wet and way too hot in my book to grow in summer. We are having 30 degree temps now. To me they are a winter crop. I have been eating mine for the last 4-5 weeks, so I must have planted in May. You say you are cool/mountain climate, are you having high temperatures.
26 Aug 23, Veronica (Australia - temperate climate)
I’m in WA temperate climate so your comment speaks volumes to me. I always thought Parsnips was a winter crop so sowing in spring didn’t seem correct to me.
02 Mar 21, John Drake (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I have found that germinating the seeds first in a plastic tray with a lid works best for me, I place a paper towel on the bottom of the tray and dampen it with water and then sprinkle the parsnip seeds onto the paper towel. I then snap the lid on and leave the tray on top of the refrigerator where it will stay warm. I'll check on the moisture level every so often and before too long the root will appear. At that point is when I carefully lift the seed out with a spoon and plant in the prepared bed.
04 Mar 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Great idea - I will give it a try when it cools down next month.
01 May 20, Murdock Halliday (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am trying to germinate and plant parsnips now in Christchurch. The weather is amazingly warm for this time of the year. Am I wasting my time? Should I have tried earlier in the year? Thanks and take care.
05 May 20, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
It says from March onwards - subject to local conditions. When the weather turns cooler go for it. We just had a drop from 17-18 at night to 6.4 and 7.9. 10 days ago max was 32 yesterday 24. For most plants it is about soil temperature required to germinate. A cheap thermometer from Bunnings or gardening centre.
16 Sep 19, Lois Wattis (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm interested in giving parsnips a try. I've read the seed planting guides and also the idea of planting seeds paper towel rolls to encourage a straight root crop. I've also got a parsnip top growing in water and cotton wool and google tells me it won't become a parsnip if I plant it, but it might grow and flower, and I can collect seeds - is this right? Also, do the seeds grow well in a deep pot of good loose compost rich soil or do they HAVE to be planted in a garden bed? I've got some garlic planted in a tall pot (just shooting now) and wondering if I can put some parsnips in with it. Thanks for guidance, Lois
17 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Most root vegetables do not like or need a rich soil. Rich soil produces a lot of leaf. You want the root (parsnip) to grow. Growing anything in pots requires a lot more attention than in the ground. More watering and fertilising. I'm not a believer in mixing up plantings of different vegetables. I plant rows of different crops so as to cultivate easier for weeds and access.
01 Mar 22, brian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
carrots parsnips,ect do not like manures or fertilizers,causes leaf growth and also root deformity,I grow them in a bed after heavy fed crop such as greens ,tomato family or beans,
Showing 11 - 20 of 102 comments

hello - i also need some help with parsnips - i have a raised bed and put in plenty of compost most years - this last year i managed to get a whole row of parsnips to grow but - they are so tiny no bigger than my fingers and wrinkly like norah batties stockings but taste so darn good - my question is - how do i get them to grow into proper big parsnips - have i got something missing from the soil of my garden that they need to grow long and big??? thanks

- liz

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.